December 2022 News from BWIM

We’re inviting you to take the next step in affirming, valuing, and elevating women in ministry among Baptists in March 2023. BWIM Month of Preaching is now BWIM Month of Advocacy!

BWIM Month of Advocacy is different from BWIM Month of Preaching in three ways.

We are still encouraging churches to invite women to preach during the initiative. But we are also urging churches to choose an additional way to further their advocacy. We provide a list of suggested ways to advocate for women in ministry on the BWIM Month of Advocacy webpage.
In addition to church participation, individuals can also participate by engaging one of the forms of advocacy we suggest or by creating a way to advocate for women in ministry in their context.
BWIM Month of Advocacy will be in March instead of February to align with Women's History Month. We encourage churches to promote initiatives related to racial justice and reconciliation in February which is Black History Month.

Go to Month of Advocacy webpage to read more about the why behind the changes and to find more information on how you can participate.

Learn more about BWIM Month of Advocacy

BWIM is committed to elevating women, their voices, experiences, and gifts. One significant way we advocate for women in ministry is through building partnerships with organizations who influence the broader Baptist landscape so that women are uplifted across Baptist life.

BWIM is raising $30,000 by December 31 to strengthen our ability to develop more advocacy-focused partnerships. Will you support us so that women in ministry are elevated in partner organizations throughout Baptist life?

Changing the Baptist world to fully affirm, value, and respect women in ministry is something BWIM cannot accomplish on its own. Your generous gift will help establish and reinforce more partnerships so that your belief in women’s equality is amplified among Baptists.

Give to BWIM today

In 2023, BWIM will be celebrating its 40th anniversary! Stay connected to learn more about the ways in which we intend to remember and honor our first 40 years while also looking forward toward the ways in which our organization will continue the work of supporting and elevating women in ministry among Baptists in the years ahead.

The next BWIM Book Club will be reading When God Whispered My Name: Stories of Journey Told by Baptist Women. Books can be ordered most places where books are sold. Order your copy today and we will share more details about the dates of the Book Club around the first of the year. Consider reading this book and participating in the book club as a part of your BWIM Month of Advocacy participation!

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

Heather Burke, minister to preschool and children, First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, TN.

Julia Carr, pastor, Morse’s Corner Baptist Church, Corinna, ME.

Hanna Castelland, assistant director of music, Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh, NC.

Natasha Gordon, pastor, Georgiaville Baptist Church, Smithfield, RI.

Rev. Allison Henderson-Brooks, senior pastor-elect of the Historic Hill First Baptist Church, Athens, GA.

Melissa Reeves Hughes, co-pastor, Hominy Baptist Church, Candler, NC.

Deborah Scott, interim minister to senior adults, First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, MO.

Angela Zimmerman, pastor, Starling Avenue Baptist Church, Martinsville, VA.

Mahogany Thomas, womanist theologian in residence, Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, DC.

Rev. Ciarra Smith-Bond, senior pastor, Faith Community Baptist Church, Richmond, VA.

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 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.

RECENT ORDINATIONS:

Kelley Kennedy (pictured) ordained October 23 by Emerywood Baptist Church in Highpoint, NC.

OPEN POSITIONS

We are now posting information online for any church/organization who contacts us directly to advertise their open position so that candidates can have access to the information as soon as we have it.

Find positions posted with BWIM HERE!

New positions posted online since the last newsletter include:

Children and Youth Pastor, First Baptist Church, Shelby, NC
Pastor for Worship Ministries, First Baptist Church, Waynesville, NC
Senior Pastor, Northminster Baptist Church, Jackson, MS
Ministry Fellow for Youth and Community, Second Baptist Church, Memphis, TN
Associate Pastor for Children and Community Life, Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
Program Director, San Antonio Mennonite Church, San Antonio, TX
Youth Ministry Associate, First Baptist Church, Austin, TX
Children's Ministry Associate, First Baptist Church, Austin, TX
Associate Minister, First Christian Church, Jefferson City, MO