In February, Fern Creek Baptist in Louisville, Kentucky, was one of 5 churches across the country disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention because they had ordained and were led by women."Linda has been the pastor for all the whole time I've been here," said recently ordained pastor, the Rev. Renee Bryant, who signs many of the churches services for those members who are deaf."I've never seen anybody with a more dedicated heart for the lord than Linda," said longtime Fern Creek Baptist member Rick Pryor."Some Southern Baptist circles, they would say that a woman could not receive the calling to be a preacher, a pastor, a minister," said Phil Shewmaker, a deacon at Fern Creek Baptist. "But it's evident in her life. She's got that calling," he said of the Rev. Linda Barnes Popham, who has been leading Fern Creek Baptist for 40 years.The Rev. Popham, who grew up baptist in Alabama, said she always knew there were disagreements within the SBC."But I've always held firmly to the priest, to the believers, and the autonomy of the local church, and that we could vary on different things," she said. "There are some practices in other Baptist churches that would never occur here. But I don't want to kick those people out."The Rev. believes there are dark deeds occurring within the organization.Like many members, Kevin Keranen and his family feel the need to speak out against the SBC decision. Popham was a large reason they chose Fern Creek Baptist Church, and even recently became baptized."I have a little one here who might want to be a minister. And if that's what she wants to do, I want her to be able to pursue that," said Keranen. "If they try to decide if it's one way or the other, then she might not have the opportunity."He believes the Rev. Popham has held the door open for many young women called to serve.And 21-year-old Holly Blansette, who has attended Fern Creek Baptist with her family since she was a child, believes the SBC is fueling the conservative politically ideology which she said will be damaging in the long run."Especially when you do lose out on great churches like Saddleback or Fern Creek Baptist that contribute so much, not just financially where they can, but also in service and other things to the community too," said Blansette.A vote on the appeal will be held next week at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.