Baptist Women in Ministry News
December 2021
A WOMEN'S LECTIONARY FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH, by Wilda Gafney
A suggestion BWIM often makes to congregations and ministry leaders who are seeking to move their congregations toward greater affirmation of women in ministry is to regularly preach and teach the women of the Bible.

Dr. Wilda Gafney has created an excellent resource to aid ministry leaders in this important work, A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church (Church Publishing, 2021). Gafney's new lectionary highlights the stories and experiences of women EVERY week of the liturgical year. Many congregations are using Year W of this lectionary series for the 2021-2022 liturgical year, including some among the BWIM community.

Because we believe telling women's stories makes a difference we are joining with the Year W beloved community! BWIM has started a blog series which offers a devotional on one of the passages from A Women's Lectionary, Year W each Friday. You can find the first three blogs written by the BWIM staff here:


We hope you'll join us in highlighting women of the Bible by following our devotional blog series this year, and maybe even begin following Year W in your worship or Bible study series as well!
JOIN OUR WORK THROUGH GIVING
BWIM has a vision for every Baptist congregation to be a place where women can thrive in all aspects of ministry and leadership. As a part of the BWIM community, you have led the charge in educating people about the case for women in ministry and advocating for women to be provided opportunities to use their God-given callings. But many congregations have still not turned their support into empowering actions.

By 12/31, BWIM is raising $20,000 to develop and grow the resources we offer congregations so that they might translate their support for women in ministry into bold, intentional, and consistent actions. To date, we have received $16,750 toward this goal!

Join our donors like Carrie Veal, Katrina Tatum, Rob & Janie Sellers (pictured above), and support our work of building more women-empowering Baptist congregations by giving today!
BWIM MONTH OF PREACHING

BWIM Month of Preaching is coming soon!

BWIM will continue this annual celebration in February 2022, however in 2023, BWIM Month of Preaching will shift to a different month. Stay tuned for more information and be sure to watch the video about the history of this annual celebration by clicking this link: BWIM MOP History
BWIM CONVERSATIONS
In previous years, BWIM has hosted Zoom conversations around areas of interest to and about women in ministry. In January, February, and March 2022, we are planning to host three conversations around the ministry search process.

These conversations will be informative and dialogical in nature, and will be designed for anyone who is interested in the unique aspects of the ministry search process for women (women currently searching, women imagining a future search process, advocates for women in search processes).

If you are interested, mark your calendar for January 20, February 24, and March 24 at 12:30 Eastern / 11:30 Central. We will send out an email with more information and a link to register in early January.
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY Coming 2022!
Beginning in January 2022, Baptist Women in Ministry will share weekly wellness photos of women ministers engaged in self-care activities. If you would like to share a self-care photo in 2022, send your pic and a brief description about how the activity helps your personal well-being to lynnbrinkley@bwim.info. Stay Well!
MINISTRY TRANSITIONS

Bri Law, pastor of NextGen ministries, First Baptist Church, Topeka, KS.

Haley Seanor, staff chaplain, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL.

Lesley-Ann Hix Tommey, assistant minister, Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, NY.
 
ORDINATIONS

Alyssa Chester was ordained on November 14 by The Church at Ponce & Highland, Atlanta, GA.

Colleen DeGraff Holtz was ordained on November 14 by The Church at Ponce & Highland, Atlanta, GA.

Masyn Evans-Clements was ordained on December 5 by The Church at Highland Park, Austin, TX.

Haley Seanor (*pictured*) was ordained on October 24 by Dayspring Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.



**If you know a Baptist woman who has been ordained or will be ordained, please email names and pictures (if possible) to lynnbrinkley@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.
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.  Positions which are highlighted are from requests that came directly to BWIM.

ALABAMA
Birmingham-Minister of Community Engagement (part-time)-Baptist Church of the Covenant-posted 10-4-21
Mobile--Connections Minister-First Baptist Church-posted 8/18/21

ARIZONA
Tucson-Pastor-Pantano Baptist Church-posted 8/17/21

FLORIDA
St. Petersburg--Pastor-First Baptist Church

GEORGIA
Alpharetta-Worship Pastor-Johns Creek Baptist church-posted 7/6/21
Cornelia-Pastor-First Baptist Church-posted 9/20/21
Dunwoody-Discipleship Pastor-Dunwoody Baptist Church
Forsyth-Pastor-Rocky Creek Baptist Church
Hawkinsville-Associate Pastor to Families and Children-First Baptist Church
Manchester-Assistant Pastor with a Focus on Youth-First Baptist Church
Troutville-Pastor-Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

ILLINOIS
Anna-Pastor-First Baptist Church-closes 1/1/22
Carmi-Houseparent Couples-The Baptist Children’s Home

INDIANA
Camden-Pastor-First Baptist Church
Terre Haute-Associate Pastor-First Baptist Church
West Lafayette-Pastor-Federated Church of West Lafayette

KENTUCKY
Danville-Minister to Children/Middle School Students-Lexington Avenue Baptist Church 
Mayfield-Minister of Music-Trace Creek Baptist Church

MINNESOTA
Saint Paul-Pastor-Central Baptist Church.

MISSOURI
St. Joseph-Pastor-Wyatt Park Baptist Church
Liberty-Pastoral Resident-Second Baptist Church-closes 1/24/22

NEW YORK
Syracuse-Pastor-Bellewood Baptist Church

NORTH CAROLINA
Benson- Pastor-Bethlehem Christian Church
Boone-Associate Pastor-First Baptist Church
Burlington-Associate Pastor of Families and Digital Engagement-Grove Park Baptist Church, posted 8/20/21
Clemmons-Minister of Youth and Discipleship-First Baptist Church
Fayetteville-Pastor of Youth-LaFayette Baptist Church-closes 1/31/22
Fuquay-Varina-Pastor-Bazzel Creek Missionary Baptist Church
Greenville-Associate Pastor of Families, Formation and Community Engagement-The Memorial Baptist Church-posted 9/7/21
High Point-Director of Music-Emerywood Baptist Church, High Point, NC, posted 9/1/21
High Point-Senior Minister-First Baptist Church-closes 1/11/22
Morganton-Director of Music and Media-First Baptist Church-closes 1/16/22
Pendleton-Senior Pastor-Roberts Chapel Pastor Search Committee-closes 1/15/22
Taylorsville-Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church-closes, 1/22/22
Mount Holly-Minister of Music-First Baptist Church
Warrenton-Pastor-Warrenton Baptist Church-closes 1/15/22
Warrenton-Pastor-Wise Baptist Church-closes 2/9/22

SOUTH CAROLINA
Aiken-Minister of Youth (and Additional Role)-First Baptist Church-posted 7/23/21
Charleston-Associate Pastor-Providence Church-posted 10/25/21
Greenville- Associate Youth and College Minister-First Baptist Church-closes 1/31/22
Rockhill- Associate Pastor for Spiritual Formation and Missions-Oakland Baptist Church

TENNESSEE
Clinton-Minister of Children & Young Families, First Baptist Church-posted 8/18/21

TEXAS
Beaumont-Pastor-Calder Baptist Church-posted 8/16/21
Belton-Pastor-Meadow Oaks Baptist Church-posted 10/20/21
Dallas-Children's Minister-Cliff Temple Baptist Church
Houston-Pastor-River Oaks Baptist Church
Longview-Minister for Discipleship and Connections-First Baptist Church
Temple-Pastor-Meadow Oaks Baptist Church-posted 10/20/21
Universal City- Children's Minister-First Baptist Church

VIRGINIA
Alexandria-Pastor to Youth-First Baptist Church-posted 8/11/21
Altavista-Pastor-First Baptist Church-closes 2/8/22
Annandale-Pastor of Youth and Young Adults-Parkwood Baptist Church
Ashland-Executive Director of Missions-Dover Baptist Association
Charlottesville-Associate Minister of Music & Worship-University Baptist Church-posted 9/1/21
Glen Allen-Director of Communications-Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Hampton-Associate Pastor Children and Youth Discipleship-Hampton Baptist Church
New Kent County-Pastor-Emmaus Baptist Church
Richmond--Minister to Children and Families-First Baptist Church-posted 07/13/21
Richmond-Missions Pastor-Bon Air Baptist Church-closes 12/31/21
Suffolk- Pastor-Bethlehem Christian Church
Troutville-Pastor-Troutville Baptist Church
State and Regional BWIM
Be sure to connect with your state or regional BWIM group for
events happening near you!
Alabama
Laura Stephens-Reed

Arkansas
Brittany Stillwell

Florida
Courtney Jones
courtney@circle.faith

Georgia
Katie Faison
katienfaison@gmail.com 

Heartland (Kansas/Missouri)
Laurel Cluthe

Robin Sandbothe
robinrsandbothe@gmail.com

Kentucky  
Laura Levens
North Carolina
Ka'thy Gore Chappell

South Carolina
Cara Morgan
bwimsc@gmail.com

Tennessee
Eileen Campbell-Reed

Texas
Anyra Cano

Virginia
Nancy McDaniel