Baptist Women in Ministry News
September 2019
A Word from Pam Durso
I recently spent three days with my Baptist historian friends. Since 2002, we have gathered for a reading seminar, where each of us presents on an assigned primary source. Among our readings for this year's seminar was an essay written in 1894 by Adoniram Judson Gordon, an American Baptist theologian and preacher who founded Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

The essay titled "The Ministry of Women" includes a story about Adele Fielde, who went as a Baptist missionary to China in 1866. Gordon tells the story this way:

We vividly remember, in the early days of woman’s work in the foreign field, how that brilliant missionary to China, Miss Adele Fielde, was recalled by her Board because of repeated complaints of the senior missionaries that in her work she was transcending her sphere as a woman. “It is reported that you have taken upon you to preach,” was the charge read by the chairman: “Is it so?”

She replied by describing the vastness and destitution of her field--village after village, hamlet after hamlet, yet unreached by the Gospel--and then how, with a native woman, she had gone into the surrounding country, gathered groups of men, women and children--whoever would come--and told out the story of the Cross to them. “If this is preaching I plead guilty to the charge,” she said.
"And have you ever been ordained to preach?” asked her examiner.

“No,” she replied with great dignity and emphasis--"no; but I believe I have been foreordained.”

Adele was not the first Baptist woman to be questioned for her preaching tendencies, and she certainly would not be the last.

If you are looking for a solid biblical defense of women preaching, you should check out Gordon's essay here. He makes a very strong case in favor of the calling and gifting of women ministers.

If you are looking to read about a radical Baptist woman, who lived out her faith and rejected conventional restrictions of her day, check out the Memorial Biography of Adele M. Fielde: Humanitarian.

Thanks be to God for a trailblazer like Adele!
SUPPORTING BWIM
All the work Baptist Women in Ministry does and all the ways in which this organization contributes to the shift in Baptist culture are happening because of people like you who believe in and support our ministry and who share in our mission of affirming all those whom God has gifted for ministry.

Please consider this an invitation to be part of all these good things that BWIM is doing. Your support makes all of this possible.  
LET'S HAVE LUNCH . . . OR COFFEE
Join Baptist women ministers all over the country as we share a meal or coffee during the week of September 15. These gatherings offer space for forming friendships, offering and receiving encouragement, and sharing life.

Take the initiative to reach out to just one other Baptist woman minister or gather a group! Those who are geographically isolated are invited to "brown bag it" with the BWIM staff for an online gathering via the Zoom platform on Tuesday, September 17, at 12:30 p.m. EST. Email  [email protected]  for the link to join the call.

Or if you need assistance in finding a women ministers in your area, contact Julie Long at [email protected] or contact your state and regional BWIM leaders.
MONTHLY CONVERSATIONS
ORDINATION RESOURCES
Baptist Women in Ministry has gathered ordination resources that can help with the planning of an ordination service, including litanies, poems, blessings, responses, and charges, all used in previous ordination services.

Our website also has resources for pastoral installation services. We hope these resources will be helpful to you as you prepare for your significant days of celebration.
Tarsha Banister was ordained July 25, 2019 at Union Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
THE BWIM BLOG
Baptist Women in Ministry posts blogs every Wednesday and Friday. The 2019 Wednesday blog theme has been "Find Your Voice and Use It" and has featured numerous writers. Every Friday, the blog , "THIS IS WHAT A MINISTER LOOKS LIKE," features an interview with an amazing minister. Last Friday, September 13, Bethany Busby was the minister interviewed. Bethany IS what a minister looks like!
MINISTRY SEARCH RESOURCES
Baptist Women in Ministry offers resources and assistance both to churches searching for a minister and ministers searching for a new position.

Churches and candidates in need of assistance may now submit information, job descriptions, and resumes online via BWIM’s Ministry Search Registration Forms. BWIM’s assistance is provided as a ministry, and there are no fees for these services. 
SAFE CHURCHES and MINISTERS:
CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE RESOURCES
The Clergy Sexual Misconduct Task Force, a joint partnership between Baptist Women in Ministry and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, have released two significant resources developed for use by churches, seminaries, and partnering organizations.  "Safe Churches and Ministers"  is an educational video that introduces this tough topic and provides much-needed definitions, statistics, and stories that are designed to help churches, students, and leaders take seriously their responsibility in preventing abuse. The video is accompanied by a leader guide and a discussion guide and is available in both English and Spanish.

"Clergy Sexual Abuse Prevention Recommendations for Churches"  is a collection of prevention guidelines and documents intended to prompt congregations to create their own policies, procedures, processes and covenants.  This resource will assist churches in holding clergy and lay leaders accountable and will prepare churches to respond appropriately if abuse is reported.  

The release of these two resources marks an important milestone in the work of the Task Force and we are committed to continue forward in our efforts. We ask that you pray for the task force as we keep working to bring attention to and educate those in our Baptist circles about clergy sexual abuse.
STATE AND REGIONAL NEWS
BWIM of Heartland
Baptist Women in Ministry of the Heartland hosts monthly lunches for ministers in the Kansas City area. Visit the Baptist Women in Ministry - Missouri Facebook page for more information.
BWIM of North Carolina
BWIM of North Carolina will host a "Come to the Table" lunch on Wednesday, September 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the Loop on Stratford Road in Winston-Salem. For more information, contact, Ka'thy Gore Chappell at [email protected].
BWIM of Georgia
BWIM of Georgia and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia will host a celebratory dinner on Sunday, November 3 at 5:30 p.m. followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. The dinner and worship will be held at First Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia, and the preacher for worship is Emily Hull McGee. Both BWIM of Georgia and CBF of Georgia will present their annual awards and recognitions during the dinner.
Virginia BWIM
Virginia Baptist Women in Ministry will host a dinner on November 12 during the annual Baptist General Association of Virginia meeting. The dinner will be held at Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke, and the cost is $10. To reserve and pay for your meal, visit the BGAV website.

Save the date for the annual Feast on May 1, 2020, which will be held at University Baptist Church in Charlottesville.
Texas BWIM
Texas Baptist Women in Ministry will host its 2020 conference on February 18, 2020 at Truett Seminary in Waco, Texas.
RESOURCES FOR WOMEN MINISTERS
Nevertheless She Preached
The third annual celebration of women in the pulpit, Nevertheless She Preached, will be held September 22-24 at First Baptist Church in Austin, Texas.

Featured preachers, lecturers, and worship leaders include Margaret Aymer, Traci Blackmon, Cathy AJ Hardy, Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Namsoon Kang, Emmy Kegler, Kim Kort, Lai Ling Ngan, and Alicia Reyes-Barrientez.
Scholastica
Scholastica will host lunches on September 20, October 18, and December 6 at Glendale Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee.

Nora Lozano, professor of theological studies at Baptist University of the Américas and executive director of the Christian Latina Leadership Institute in San Antonio, Texas, is the speaker on Friday, September 20. The lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. and will be catered by Moe's.
Women in Ministry Conference-Princeton
The Women in Ministry Initiative of Princeton Theological Seminary is pleased to offer "Leadership in a Time of Division and Fear" for women leaders of the church, both clergy and lay, who work within the church and beyond.

The conference will be held October 23-25 and the cost is $195.
Women at the Wellsprings
Women at the Wellsprings is a new program sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters at Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman, Alabama.

They will host five eight-day sessions over two and a half years for twenty women ministers, who will engage in theological, scriptural and experiential reflection in addition to simply having time to rest, renew, and experience community with other women ministers. Applications are due by November 1.
Holy Women Icon Project
Holy Women Icon Project Retreat will host "Holy Woman Within: A New Year's Retreat for Spiritual Creatives" on December 31, 2019-January 4, 2020 in Volcano, Big Island, Hawaii.

The retreat will feature guided painting and journaling, rituals, yoga, creativity, and radial self care and will be led by Angela Yarber, executive director of Holy Women Icon Project.

Early bird registration available through September 20.
ORDINATIONS
Elizabeth Arnold was ordained on September 8 by Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Brittany Darst was ordained on September 8 by Macedonia Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina.
ON THE MOVE
Lucy Cauthen is minister of youth and mission at Boulevard Baptist Church, Anderson, South Carolina.

Zoricelis Davila is assistant professor of counseling in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, Texas.

Leah Grundset Davis is pastor of Ravensworth Baptist Church, Annadale, Virginia.

LuCresia Fields is youth ministers at Ridgemont Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas.

Emily Holladay is pastor of Village Baptist Church, Bowie, Maryland.

Stacy Sergent Lawton is chaplain at the Medical University of South Carolina's Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston South Carolina.

Heather Follard is co-pastor of Jubilee, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Erica Saunders is pastor of Peace Community Church in Oberlin, Ohio.

Jennifer Schneider is associate executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Central Region.
OPEN POSITIONS
Positions are listed by state, city, open position, church name. BWIM collects these openings from a wide variety of sources, and the degree of openness to women ministers among the listed churches varies. In its effort to advocate, network, and connect, BWIM provides this list as a resource to those searching for ministry positions. 

ALABAMA
Birmingham- Pastor-Baptist Church of the Covenant
Huntsville- Minister of Contemporary Worship-First Baptist Church

ARKANSAS
Little Rock- Pastor-Pulaski Heights Baptist Church

CALIFORNIA
Vallejo -Executive Pastor-Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

FLORIDA
Jacksonville -Pastor-Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church
Jacksonville -Pastor-Riverside Baptist Church
Orlando -Minister to Children and Families-Church on the Drive
Venice -Pastor-South Venice Baptist Church

GEORGIA
Alpharetta- Youth Pastor-Johns Creek Baptist Church
Atlanta- Pastor-Wieuca Road Baptist Church
Athens -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Cartersville - Associate Pastor for Youth/Families and Outreach-Heritage Baptist Church
Dalton- Minister of Children and their Families-First Baptist Church
Dahlonega -Associate Pastor of Family Ministries-Dahlonega Baptist Church
Gwinnett County -Pallative Care Chaplain-Gwinnett Medical Office
Harlem -Minister of Music and Media-Harlem Baptist Church

ILLINOIS
Springfield -Worship and Family Ministries Director-Central Baptist Church

INDIANA
Columbus -Worship Pastor-First Baptist Church
Evansville -Pastor-American Baptist East
Various -Multi-Bi-vocational Positions-ABC of Indiana and Kentucky

KANSAS
Shawnee -President-Central Baptist Theological Seminary

KENTUCKY
Corbin -Associate Pastor to Youth-First Baptist Church
Corbin -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Eminence -Pastor-Eminence Baptist Church
Lexington- Pastor-Calvary Baptist Church
Louisville -Director of Operations-Broadway Baptist Church
Louisville -Pastor - Highland Baptist Church
Louisville- Pastor-Ridgewood Baptist Church
Louisville -Youth and Young Adult Minister-Woodland Baptist Church

MARYLAND
Ellicott City- Minister of Youth-Bethany Church

MASSACHUSETTS
Melrose -Pastor-First Baptist Church

MICHIGAN
Detroit- Pastor-Second Baptist Church

MISSOURI
Ozark -Student Pastor-Firsts Baptist Church
Springfield -Pastor-University Heights Baptist Church

NEW JERSEY
Haddonfield -Minister of Music-First Baptist Church

NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque- Pastor-Del Note Baptist Church  

NEW YORK
Glenville -Pastor-East Glenville Community Church

NORTH CAROLINA
Autryville -Pastor-Clement Missionary Baptist Church
Chapel Hill- Minister of Children-Mount Carmel Baptist Church
Clayton- Director of Music-First Baptist Church
Elizabethtown -Pastor-Elizabethtown Baptist Church
Enfield- Pastor-Enfield Baptist Church
Henderson- Pastor-Island Creek Baptist Church
Hickory Rock -Pastor-Hickory Road Baptist Church
Hudson - Chaplain and Faith Community Liaison -Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care
Kannapolis- Minister of Children-First Baptist Church
Louisburg -Pastor-Hickory Rock Baptist Church
Morehead City -Associate Minister of Children and Youth-First Baptist Church
Murfreesboro -Associate Minister to the University-Chowan University
New Bern- Associate Pastor for Youth and Family Life - First Baptist Church
Newton- Pastor-Trinity Baptist Church
Pendleton -Pastor-Roberts Chapel Baptist Church
Raleigh -Minister to Youth-Forest Hills Baptist Church
Raleigh -Youth Minister-Millbrook Baptist Church
Raleigh - Fund Development Coordinator -North Carolina Council of Churches
Raleigh -Chaplain-Springmoor Retirement Community
Rowland -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Shelby -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Statesville- Associate Pastor for Youth-First Baptist Church
Sylvia -Teaching/Lead Pastor-The Summit Church
Valdese- Pastor-Cornerstone Baptist Church
Wilson -Pastor-Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church
Windsor -Pastor-Cashie Baptist Church
Winston- Salem-Church Administrator-Ardmore Baptist Church
Winterville -Pastor-Winterville Baptist Church

OHIO
Middletown -Associate Pastor of Worship and Discipleship-First Baptist Church

OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City -Staff Chaplain-Integris Hospital

RHODE ISLAND
Middletown -Bi-Vocational Pastor-Middletown Baptist Church 
Newport -Pastor-Community Baptist Church
Warwick -Pastor-Warwick Central Baptist Church  

SOUTH CAROLINA
Anderson -Staff Minister (Administration plus Senior Adult or Children's Ministry-First Baptist Church
Conway -Next Generation Pastor-First Baptist Church
Darlington -Associate Youth Pastor-Black Creek Baptist Church
Greenville- Pastoral Residence-First Baptist Church
Greenwood- Associate Pastor and Minister of Students-First Baptist Church
Lakeview -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Piedmont -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Rock Hill -Associate Minister for Spiritual Formations and Missions-Oakland Baptist Church

SOUTH DAKOTA
Buffalo -Pastor-Community Bible Church
Sioux Falls -Pastor-First Baptist Church

TENNESSEE
Erwin -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Knoxville -Chaplain-Amedisys Hospice of Knoxville
Knoxville -Associate Minister of Worship and Arts-Central Bearden

TEXAS
Austin -Administrative Pastor-Sunrise Community Church
Buda- Student Minister-First Baptist Church
Crawford -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Cureo -Youth and Family Minister-First Baptist Church
El Paso -Executive Director-El Paso Baptist Association
Grandview -Student Pastor-First Baptist Church
Grapeland -Pastor-Grapeland Baptist Church
Killeen -Minister of Children-First Baptist Church
Orange -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Perryton -Worship Pastor-First Baptist Church
Port Arthur -Pastor-First Baptist Church
Port Lavaca -Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries-First Baptist Church
Rosenberg -Pastor-First Baptist Church
San Antonio -Pastor-Covenant Baptist Church
San Antonio -Student Minister-Parkhills Baptist Church
Sanger- Youth Pastor-First Baptist Church
Snyder -Minister of Music-Colonial Hill Baptist Church
Tye -Minister of Youth-Tye Baptist Church
Victoria -Student Pastor-First Baptist Church

VIRGINIA
Blackridge -Next Generation Pastor-Olive Branch Baptist Church
Burkeville -Pastor-Burkeville Baptist Church
Chesapeake- Minister for Family Ministry and Media-Churchland Baptist Church
Chester- Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults-Chester Baptist Church
Clifton Forge -Pastor-Clifton Forge Baptist Church
Franklin -Pastor-Sycamore Baptist Church
Glen Allen -Associate Pastor for Students-Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Glen Allen -Minister of Children and Families-Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Glen Allen -Associate Pastor for Worship Arts and Missions-Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Hampton -Youth Pastor-Hampton Baptist Church
Kenbridge -Pastor-Kenbridge Baptist Church
Lebanon -Associate Pastor-Green Valley Baptist Church
Lebanon- Minister of Children and Youth-Green Valley Baptist Church
Lowesville -Pastor-Piney River Baptist Church
Mechanicsville -Minister of Youth and Discipleship-Broadus Memorial Baptist Church
Nathalie -Pastor-Clover Bottom Baptist Church
Nathalie -Pastor-Mulberry Baptist Church
Palmyra -Family Minister-Effort Baptist Church
Red House -Pastor-Providence Baptist Church
Richmond -Student Pastor-Bon Air Baptist Church
Richmond -Worship Leader-Branch's Baptist Church
Richmond -Associate Pastor for Music and Adult Ministries-Central Baptist Church
Richmond -Church Administrator-Fifth Street Baptist Church
Scott Hill- Pastor-First Baptist Church
Smithfield- Minister of Youth and Children-Smithfield Baptist Church
Warrenton -Pastor-Warrenton Baptist Church

WASHINGTON, DC
Washington, DC -Executive Pastor-First Baptist Church

WEST VIRGINIA
Princeton- Pastor-New Zion Baptist Church
Wardensville -Pastor-First Baptist Church
State and Regional BWIM
Contact Information
Alabama
Terri Byrd


Arkansas
Megan Pike


Florida
Christy Correll-Hughes

Rachel Gunter Shapard


Georgia
Jessica Asbell


Heartland (Kansas/Missouri)
Laurel Cluthe

Robin Sandbothe


Kentucky  
Alix Davidson Keller 

Emily Holladay
North Carolina
Ka'thy Gore Chappell


South Carolina
Anna Burch

Mary Frances Thompson 


Tennessee
Eileen Campbell-Reed


Texas
Anyra Cano


Virginia
Nancy McDaniel 
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