The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest protestant Christian denomination in the United States will be expelling two churches with female pastors.

The church asserted that only qualified males can serve as pastors as described by the Holy Bible. 

The members of Saddleback Church in Southern California and the Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, which are led by women pastors were expelled in February, but were given the opportunity to appeal the decision at the church’s annual meeting in New Orleans, which ends on Wednesday.

Over 10,000 delegates of the church rejected the appeal of the two churches led by women and voted for the expulsion of its members on Tuesday. 

While pleading with her case at the convention on Tuesday, Linda Barnes Popham, said she dedicated her life to Jesus at the age of 8, noting that she will follow the gospel to the “ends of the earth”

Similarly, Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback and author of the “The Purpose Driven Life” who has for many years encouraged the church to embrace reformed doctrines, asked the church not to “change their theology” but “agree to disagree” on their doctrines in order to share a common mission.

While the churches are independent, thereby female pastors can freely lead the church, their congregations will desist from being members of the church.

The church will be voting later to amend its constitution to ban women from leadership roles in the church.