Surry Baptist Association (SBA) messengers voted July 25 to remove fellowship from Flat Rock Baptist Church in Mount Airy.
The church recently named its new pastor, Bailey Edwards Nelson, a female. She began duties July 10 at the church. A three-page addendum to the August newsletter explaining events said the SBA Membership Committee invited Flat Rock’s leadership to discuss the situation.
“Flat Rock refused their invitation and thereby closed the door on any reconciliation with the Association,” the letter said. The addendum also said the motion to remove fellowship passed by a “very large majority.”