Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa’s public affirmation that it ordains women to pastoral ministry has drawn objections from other Calvary Chapel pastors, who say the practice departs from the movement’s longstanding biblical convictions.
Lead Pastor Char Brodersen, a grandson of Calvary Chapel movement founder Chuck Smith, outlined the California congregation’s position during a Nov. 1 sermon. Brodersen succeeded his father, Brian Brodersen, as lead pastor in January 2025.
The church has followed the practice for nearly a decade, according to Brodersen’s published sermon notes, which say women already serve throughout its leadership.
“We aren’t changing anything in our current practice but want to simply clarify our biblical position and conviction,” Brodersen said, according to the church’s published sermon notes.
Brodersen grounded the position in the priesthood of all Christians and the Holy Spirit’s distribution of spiritual gifts. He cited passages including Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. He described women’s ordination as a secondary issue and urged Christians against judging those with a different interpretation as less committed to Scripture.
In a Nov. 6 statement published on Pastor Josh Blevins’ website, Blevins and the Calvary Chapel Association’s Heartland Regional Team called Costa Mesa’s position a “significant departure from the biblical convictions that have historically shaped our Calvary Chapel family.”
The team cited 1 Timothy 2:11-14 and 3:1-7 in defending its position that qualified men should hold the offices of pastor and elder. It also affirmed women’s dignity, spiritual gifts and contributions to church ministry.
The statement acknowledged that the disagreement does not determine salvation but said it carries consequences for biblical interpretation and church leadership. It encouraged affiliated churches to retain the Calvary Chapel name and left individual pastors to decide whether their congregations needed a public response.
Pastor Lloyd Pulley of Calvary Old Bridge in New Jersey also criticized Costa Mesa’s direction. In a Nov. 7 statement published by Calvary Chapel Magazine, he objected to the congregation’s continued use of the Calvary Chapel name and website and warned against treating longstanding doctrinal convictions as nonessential.
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The association’s published ministry philosophy continues to reserve pastoral authority and doctrinal teaching in the church for qualified men. Costa Mesa listed a second sermon on the subject Nov. 8, addressing 1 Timothy.
Smith’s own teaching upheld restrictions on women exercising spiritual authority over men.
“The only thing that is prohibited here is the teaching of men and usurping authority over them in spiritual things,” Smith said in his exposition of 1 Timothy 2, preserved in a transcript published by SermonIndex.
Smith argued that Paul based the instruction on creation rather than local culture. He also affirmed women praying, prophesying and exhorting in church, along with teaching women and children.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
