December 2023 News from BWIM

BWIM Thriving Assessment

We need your help!

BWIM’s vision is for women to thrive as they minister and lead within Baptist communities.

As we are in the early stages of implementing our strategic plan, we need to hear from you so that we can measure if our efforts over the next 3 years make a difference.

If you are a woman ministering and leading among Baptists, will you fill out this brief anonymous survey?

Today is the last day to respond!

Take Survey

BWIM Month of Advocacy is almost here!

BWIM Month of Advocacy will be here before you know it! We're busy updating our resources for you including our 2024 Month of Advocacy Calendar. In the meantime, beginning planning with your church, small group, or Sunday School class to participate! Need ideas? Visit our BWIM Month of Advocacy page on our website.

Learn More About BWIM Month of Advocacy

Listening Session

BWIM is making plans to support women who continue to be affected by the actions of the Southern Baptist Convention. If you are serving at a church which is affiliated with the SBC in any way, we want to hear how we can best support you. Since the beginning of public targeting of women serving as pastors of various kinds began last March, our responses have been shaped by listening to the women who are directly affected.

We will be hosting a listening session on Thursday, January 4 at 11:00 AM Eastern / 10:00 AM Central and would love for you to join us. Please complete the short sign up form below if you are interested in attending and we will send you a Zoom link close to the date of the meeting.

Announcing BWIM Documentary Screening Dates!

Do you want to attend a screening of Midwives of a Movement? We are excited to announce screening dates and locations across the country Winter/Spring 2024.

Click image above to watch documentary trailer.

Midwives of a Movement chronicles the stories of the women who boldly birthed a movement to seek greater visibility and opportunities for women in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Despite great opposition, their courage blazed pathways for advancing women in ministry and leadership among Baptists.

But challenging religious patriarchy, and specifically Baptist patriarchy, is not only a subject of the past. It is as relevant today as it was forty years ago.

In this film, audiences today will find heartfelt stories, painful anecdotes, profound insights, and lighthearted remembrances which will inspire continued confrontation of patriarchy and advocacy efforts so that women find equality and equity among Baptists.

Find a Screening Near You!

Don't Forget Your Year-End Gift!

Our collective voice is vital to grow our movement toward equity for women in every Baptist community. Thank you for all the ways you fight for the equality of women in ministry every day, and for making your gifts to BWIM a part of your steadfast commitment.

Will you once again join us in using your voice and taking action by giving a year-end gift to BWIM so that together we can create a Baptist world where women are quieted no longer?

Give Today!

BWIM partners 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

MINISTRY TRANSITIONS

Amantha L. Barbee, consultant, PneuMatrix and the Center for Healthy Churches, Clemmons, NC.

Ellen Baxter, consultant, PneuMatrix and the Center for Healthy Churches, Clemmons, NC.

Sharon Felton, CBF Global Congregational Advocacy Manager.

Lou Ann Gilliam, ministerial equipping director, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC.

Jennifer Hawks, CBF Global Director of Advocacy.

Cara Morgan, minister to children and families, First Baptist Church, Commerce, GA.

Janet Pace, pastor, First Baptist Church, Winfield, Kansas.

Lindsay Wiles, minister of youth, Orange Baptist Church, 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 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. Sherry Edwards (pictured), Associate Pastor of Embrace Church in High Point, NC was ordained November 4th.

Rev. Hannah Moody, ordained October 29th at Calvary Baptist Church, Lexington, KY.

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:

Pastor (Part-Time), New Covenant Baptist Church, DeLand, FL
Senior Pastor (Full-Time), Village Baptist Church, Bowie, MD
Minister of Youth and Families (Full-Time), Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, VA