April 2023 News from BWIM

Over 3,300 people have signed the Open Letter to Baptist Women!

In light of recent actions of an SBC pastor in an attempt to get numerous churches disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention for having women on their staff with the title of "pastor," Baptist Women in Ministry began circulating an open letter to Baptist women on April 5. The letter grew out of a desire of women named on a list of these churches to send a message of affirmation to Baptist women. The pastors targeted by this move wanted to let Baptist women know that they are fully valued by God and they deserve to be fully valued by God's people.

The response to the open letter has been overwhelming with signatures from across the United States including Puerto Rico, and also from the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, and beyond! SBC leaders have taken notice of the letter and its response, and even though their remarks have been negative, we hope that their mention of it spreads our positive message of hope in the midst of persistent exclusion.

Some people have asked if there are plans to deliver or send this letter to the SBC leadership in an effort to change the current movement against women ministers. The answer to that question at this time is no. The letter is simply an attempt to help women hear a message of their value despite the numerous messages they hear to the contrary. Even if it is a seed planted in people's heads that there are Baptists who believe there are no limits to how women can participate in God's work, that is a win! The more patriarchy is asserted among these Baptist groups, the less safe women are emotionally, spiritually, and physically. If one person finds greater safety and health because of this letter, it is worth every signature.

If you haven't signed the open letter yet or have family or friends who need to hear its message, we hope you will sign and forward.

Read and Sign the Open Letter to Baptist Women

Information Meeting

about Non-SBC Baptist Resources for ministers and churches

Recognizing that many churches who have women serving as pastors rely on resources from the SBC for health insurance, retirement, and more, BWIM is hosting an information session for people to learn more about other Baptist options.

The Zoom session will be on Monday, May 22 at

12:00 Eastern / 11:00 Central / 10:00 Mountain / 9:00 Pacific.

If you have interest in attending this session,

please register using the link below.

Did you or your church participate in BWIM Month of Advocacy?

We want to know!

We are so grateful for all the the churches, organizations, and individuals that participated in our first BWIM Month of Advocacy. All of your actions add up to a loud voice stating that everyone deserves to live into the calling God has placed on their life.

We're still counting up all the participants. You can join in the count by clicking the button below and completing the short form! And please send us your pictures! We will do one final day of posting pictures of preachers next week!

Tell us about your participation here!

We want to welcome our newest members of the Salome Community and say thank you so much for your ongoing commitment to support BWIM's work. Because of your dedicated monthly support we are able to:

provide support and community to women ministers and leaders that help them to succeed in their ministries.
provide consultation and support to women ministers and leaders who are facing challenges.
advocate for change in the Baptist congregations and challenge traditional gender roles.

Instead of hosting our annual gathering prior to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's General Assembly, we will have a BWIM Celebration Dinner at the Hyatt Regency, Downtown Atlanta on Thursday evening, June 29, 2023 during CBF General Assembly. At this dinner we will honor our first 40 years and look forward into BWIM’s future as we reveal our new logo, share about new directions in our work, and hear from a panel of leaders in the BWIM community.

Tickets are now available for purchase!

Purchase tickets

BWIM has partnered with Baptist News Global (BNG) to celebrate and promote the strong writing voices of women! BWIM is advocating for women's equal representation in Baptist media by uplifting women's writing and encouraging women's increased participation in shaping Baptist life, culture, and theology.

To find out more about BWIM's partnership and to read articles written as the result of the partnership, click below. If you are interested in becoming a potential writer for BNG, email Laura Ellis for more information at lauraellis@bwim.info

Learn More Here

MINISTRY TRANSITIONS

Hannah Brown, college minister, First Baptist Church, Temple, TX.

Darlene Dudley, pastor, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Fort Worth. TX.

Dixie Ford, pastor, Crosscreek Baptist Church, Pelham, AL.

Malinda Fillingim, interim pastor, Nobles Creek Baptist Church, Sims, NC.

Emilie Flaherty, associate minister for children and families, Cliff Temple Baptist Church, Dallas, TX.

Sheryl Joe, interim care pastor, Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, VA.

Catherine Miller, pastor, First Baptist Church, Westwood, MA.

Andre Morgan, pastor, First Baptist Church, Wollaston, MA.

Melody Slaton, associate pastor missions and outreach, Sugar Land Baptist Church, TX.

Esther Pearson, pastor, Beth Eden Baptist Church, Waltham, MA.

Lisa Porter, youth pastor, University Heights Baptist Church, Springfield, MO.

Cadance Tyler, campus minister for Longwood/Hampton-Sydney Baptist collegiate ministry, Baptist General Association of Virginia’s Kairos collegiate/young adult team.

Alissa Vance, minister to youth, Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, KY.

ORDINATIONS

We Want To Celebrate Your Ordination!

If you know a Baptist woman who has been ordained or will be ordained, please email names and pictures (if possible) to heatherdeal@bwim.info. BWIM wants to share in celebrating congregational affirmation of all women in ministry, and it helps us to keep records of all of the women in Baptist life who are ordained.

RECENT ORDINATIONS:

Rev. Kinsley Cobb, was ordained as a chaplain by Baptist Grove Church, Raleigh, NC, March 5. (pictured)

Sharon Brown, ordained to ministry on March 18 by New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Kent, Wash.

Rhonda Byrd, ordained to ministry on March 19 by Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Ga., where she serves as pastor of congregational care/assistant to the senior pastor.

Rachel Copeland, ordained to ministry on March 19 by First Baptist Church, Dalton, Ga., where she serves as minister to youth and their families.

Ellee Hilley, ordained to ministry on March 5 by First Baptist Church, Griffin, Ga., where she serves as minister of worship arts.

Bryan Howard, ordained to ministry on Feb. 26 by Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., where he serves as minister to students.

Jana Atkinson Morga, ordained to ministry on March 19 by Woodland Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas.

Janice Spinks, ordained to ministry on March 18 by New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Kent, Wash.

OPEN POSITIONS

BWIM posts information online for any church/organization who contacts us directly to advertise their open position so that candidates can have access to a current list of open positions.

Find positions posted with BWIM HERE!

New positions posted online since the last newsletter include:

Multiple positions, Richmond Hill Ecumenical Retreat Center, Richmond, VA
Minister to Students and Families, Richmond's First Baptist Church, Richmond, VA
Formations Pastor, Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, GA
Middle School Pastor, First Baptist Church, Plainview, TX
Minister of Engagement, First Baptist Church, Mobile, AL
Hospice Chaplain, VITAS Healthcare, Kyle, TX
Pastor for Children, Students, and Families, First Baptist Church, Waynesville, NC
Associate Coordinator, CBF Virginia
Associate Director, South Plains Baptist Student Ministries, Levelland, TX
Teaching Pastor, Ekklesia, Maryville, TN