Delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting had voted overwhelmingly to boot a Virginia church from its ranks because of its declaration that it believes women can serve in any pastoral ministry. More than 90 percent of them voted to deem First Baptist Church of Alexandria not in "friendly cooperation." The Southern Baptists' statement of doctrine says that only men are biblically qualified to be pastors. Some say that only applies to senior pastors, but that interpretation is disputed. The Virginia church has a female pastor to children and women, but it asserts women can serve as a senior pastor, too. The Baptists' two-day annual meeting in Indianapolis concludes Wednesday.
