SBC Megachurch Recommends Functional Egalitarian To Be Their Next Senior Pastor
Bellevue Baptist Church, one of the largest Southern Baptist Convention congregations, is recommending Lifeway CEO Ben Mandrell as its senior pastor, with a vote scheduled after the 10:00 AM service this Sunday.
Mandrell will almost certainly succeed Steve Gaines, who followed Adrian Rogers, and will oversee a church with a $30 million budget and an average weekly attendance of 6,000. Mandrell said in a statement:
“Our entire family is deeply grateful for these years in Nashville with Lifeway. This ministry is filled with salt-of-the-earth people, and it’s truly heartbreaking to think we won’t see their faces as often in the years to come. Even so, the Lord has made it crystal clear that it’s time for us to return to the pastorate and to join the Bellevue family. We are humbled to have been entrusted with such a meaningful role in a significant Southern Baptist church, and we are genuinely excited to see what God has in store for both Lifeway and Bellevue.”
Lifeway’s CEO since 2019*, Mandrell previously pastored Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, Tennessee, growing it from 1,600 to 2,500 members, and founded Storyline Fellowship in Arvada, Colorado, expanding it from 200 to 1,600 in just four years.
In his “Meet Ben Mandrell” profile he states: “I align with the Baptist Faith & Message and believe that Scripture teaches the office of pastor is reserved for qualified men, but that doesn’t mean men are the only ones with spiritual insight to offer.”
However, in a now-deleted clip from a Lifeway Women’s Marked podcast, Mandrell appears to pay lip service to “doctrinal boundaries” while advocating for ways to “get creative” and challenge them.
SBC Pastor Tom Buck notes on X:
Likewise, The Center for Baptist leadership notes:
If you listen to the full conversation, you will hear Mandrell argue for functional egalitarianim, essentially claiming that the divine design for men and women is essentially irrelevant to the roles God has assigned to each.
He also “applauds” the defeat of the Law Amendment, distorts a plain reading of the Baptist Faith & Message, and uses the same logic and language that is frequently employed by egalitarians throughout.
In addition, Mandrell defends his claims with stories and emotional appeals instead of clear reasoning from the Scriptures.
*Under Mandell’s leadership, Lifeway’s progressive leanings haven’t been surprising. A few examples include:
Lifeway Employee Political Contributions Favor Democrats 4:1.
Does Lifeway Only Carry Women Authors?
Lifeway Bible Study ‘The Psalms Don’t Fully Reflect the Ethic Taught By Jesus’
Lifeway Prominently Promotes Female Pastor to Southern Baptists
Lifeway’s Sunday School Quarterly Written by Lady Pastor?
Lifeway Children’s Bible Study Highlights Pro-Abortion Democrat Senate Candidate
Lifeway Eats Itself from Within as Golden Goose Continues to Create Women Pastors
Lifeway DOESN’T Carry Voddie Baucham’s #1 Best-Selling ‘Fault Lines,’ but Has Entire Landing Page for Christine Caine
Lifeway Worship Choral Club, Featuring Songs Written by Steven Furtick and Roman Catholic, Shuts Down Forever
LifeWay’s Spring 2022 Curriculum Written By Non-SBC Pastor Who Denies BFAM, Has 5 Pastrixes on Staff
Lifeway to Sell $100,000,000 Headquarters 3 Years After Moving in
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