Saddleback Church

==History==
[[File:Saddleback Church Children's Building.jpg|thumb|right|Saddleback Church Children's Building in [[Lake Forest, California]].]]
In 1979, [[Rick Warren]], recently graduated in theology, settled with his wife [[Kay Warren (author)|Kay]] in the [[Saddleback Valley]] area of [[Orange County, California]].<ref> Malcolm Gladwell, [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/09/12/the-cellular-church The Cellular Church], newyorker.com, US, September 12, 2005</ref> He began to probe the people in his neighborhood to find out what prevented them from coming to church.<ref> Malcolm Gladwell, [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/09/12/the-cellular-church The Cellular Church], newyorker.com, US, September 12, 2005</ref> The answers that emerged were boredom, distance from everyday life, lack of welcome for visitors, insistence on money and inadequate programs for children. It is with these concerns that the church began in 1980, with a Bible study group, with six people, the pastor Rick Warren and his wife, in their condo.<ref> Richard D. Hunt: [https://www.klove.com/news/faith/rick-warren-stepping-down-as-senior-pastor-of-saddleback-church-but-he-has-new-mission-33055], klove.com, June 3,2022</ref> The first [[Worship service (evangelicalism)| worship service]] took place in the "Little Theatre" of [[Laguna Hills High School]] on Palm Sunday,in 1980.<ref> Justin G. Wilford, ''Sacred Subdivisions: The Postsuburban Transformation of American Evangelicalism'', NYU Press, US, 2012, p. 9 {{ISBN?}}</ref> In 1995, it [[Dedication of churches|dedicated]] a new building in Lake Forest including a 3,500-seat auditorium. <ref> Bob Allen, [https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/baptists/saddleback-church-pledges-71-million-over-three-years/ Saddleback Church pledges $71 million over three years], baptiststandard.com, US, June 12, 2015</ref>

In 2003, Saddleback Church, Kay and Rick Warren founded the [[P.E.A.C.E. Plan]], a [[Christian humanitarian aid|humanitarian]] development program for churches.<ref> Nicola Menzie, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/saddleback-pastor-rick-warren-visits-rwanda-to-advance-peace-plan.html Saddleback Pastor Rick Warren Visits Rwanda to Advance PEACE Plan], christianpost.com, US, August 29, 2013</ref><ref> Justin G. Wilford, ''Sacred Subdivisions: The Postsuburban Transformation of American Evangelicalism'', NYU Press, US, 2012, p. 115</ref>

In November and December 2006, Saddleback Church played host to the second annual Global Summit on AIDS and the Church. The summit featured 60 speakers, including Senators [[Barack Obama]] and [[Sam Brownback]].<ref> Jill Serjeant, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aids-evangelicals/u-s-evangelicals-strive-to-change-attitudes-on-aids-idUSN2751659320071128 U.S. evangelicals strive to change attitudes on AIDS], reuters.com, UK, November 28, 2007</ref>

In 2018, the church said it had baptized 50,000 people since its founding.<ref> Stoyan Zaimov, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/rick-warren-saddleback-church-first-baptize-50000-people.html Rick Warren's Saddleback Church Becomes First in US to Baptize 50,000 People; Pastor Hails 'Miracle'], christianpost.com, US, August 13, 2018 </ref>

[[File:Driveway to Saddleback Church, Rancho Capistrano.jpg|thumb|right|The driveway to Saddleback Church of Rancho Capistrano campus in [[San Juan Capistrano]].]]

On August 16, 2008, Rick Warren arranged a meeting between Senators [[John McCain]] and Barack Obama at Saddleback called the [[Civil Forum on the Presidency]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Barboza |first=Tony |title=John McCain, Barack Obama will appear together at Orange County church | date= July 21, 2008 |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|url = http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-saddleback22-2008jul22,0,4225424.story?track=rss |access-date = 2008-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080722194652/http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-saddleback22-2008jul22,0,4225424.story?track=rss | archive-date = 2008-07-22}}</ref> The format of the forum was structured such that Warren first asked Obama a series of questions; he then asked McCain very similar ones subsequently. It was broadcast live on national news networks and streamed online.  Tickets were distributed to the public through a raffle with seats listing as high as $1,000 and the event was sold out.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://saddlebackcivilforum.com/ |title=Saddleback Civil Forum | access-date = 2010-09-29}}</ref>

In 2022, Andy Wood became lead pastor.<ref> Leonardo Blair, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/rick-warren-drives-home-the-purpose-driven-life-in-final-sermon.html In final sermon at Saddleback Church, Rick Warren drives home the purpose driven life], christianpost.com, US, August 30, 2022</ref>

In 2021, the church was audited for compliance by the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], after ordaining three women pastors that year and thus acting contrary to the Convention's [[confession of faith]] ([[Baptist Faith and Message]]) which believes that the pastoral ministry is reserved for men.<ref> Adelle M. Banks, [https://religionnews.com/2021/06/16/saddleback-churchs-ordination-of-women-pastors-to-be-considered-by-sbc-committee/ Saddleback Church’s ordination of women pastors to be considered by SBC committee], christianpost.com, US, June 16, 2021</ref> As of February 21, 2023, the church was removed from the SBC membership list due to the hiring of a female pastor in 2022, Stacie Wood, the wife of new senior pastor Andy Wood.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2023/02/21/southern-baptist-convention-disfellowships-saddleback-church/69927465007/ | title=Southern Baptist Convention disfellowships Saddleback Church over role of women as pastors | website=[[The Tennessean]] }}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last1=Howe |first1=Jonathan |last2=Porter |first2=Brandon |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Saddleback Church deemed 'not in friendly cooperation' with SBC |url=https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/saddleback-church-deemed-not-in-friendly-cooperation-with-sbc |access-date=2023-02-26 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smietana |first=Bob |date=2023-02-24 |title=How did Saddleback get kicked out of the SBC? It's complicated. |url=https://religionnews.com/2023/02/24/how-did-saddleback-get-kicked-out-of-the-sbc-its-complicated/ |access-date=2023-02-26 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> On May 16, the Southern Baptist Convention announced that Saddleback was seeking an appeal to be reinstated in fellowship. In June 2023, when it requested a review of the decision, church representatives present at the annual convention voted 88% to uphold this decision. <ref>Michael Gryboski, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/saddleback-churchs-ousting-from-sbc-upheld-at-annual-meeting.html SBC upholds ousting of Saddleback Church over woman teaching pastor], christianpost.com, USA, June 14, 2023</ref> The church wanted to maintain its affiliation with the [[California Southern Baptist Convention]], <ref> Adelle M. Banks, Bob Smietana, [https://religionnews.com/2023/06/14/ouster-of-saddleback-and-fern-creek-from-sbc-for-having-women-pastors-is-affirmed/ Ouster of Saddleback and Fern Creek from SBC over women pastors is affirmed], religionnews.com, USA, June 14, 2023 </ref> but in October 2023, it decided to leave the state convention as well, in a desire to avoid divisions.<ref> Mark Wingfield, [https://baptistnews.com/article/saddleback-and-fern-creek-churches-have-left-their-state-conventions/ Saddleback and Fern Creek churches have left their state conventions], baptistnews.com, USA, November 14, 2023 </ref>

According to a church census released in 2023, it claimed a weekly attendance of 30,000 people and 15 [[Campus (church)|campuses]] in different cities. <ref> Outreach Magazine, [https://outreach100.com/churches/saddleback-church Saddleback Church], outreach100.com, USA, retrieved November 2, 2023</ref>