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Lauren Trowbridge is a vibrant nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience connecting people to causes they care about—and showing them the tangible change they help create. Known for her high energy and people-first approach, Lauren excels at building lasting donor relationships, developing strategic fundraising plans, and bringing innovative ideas to life.

Originally from Lynchburg, Virginia, Lauren now resides in Memphis, Tennessee, where she has most recently served as the Director of Development at the Southern College of Optometry. Her development experience also includes fundraising roles with Make-A-Wish Mid-South, the American Cancer Society, and March of Dimes. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Liberty University. During her time in college, she felt called to full-time ministry, but had to wrestle with the idea of what that meant for her as a woman and faced obstacles similar to those faced by many other women. Since then, Lauren has become a fierce advocate for gender equality in the church. Lauren has been inspired to use her personal experiences to further inspire and promote other women into fulfilling God's calling for their lives. 

A dedicated volunteer and active member of the Junior League of Memphis, she enjoys giving back to the Memphis community. Outside the office, Lauren can often be found at her local Pure Barre studio, working in her garden, or spending time outdoors with her husband, John Michael, and their standard poodle, Titus.

Lauren will begin her work with BWIM on July 28. If you would like to welcome her, you can email her at laurentrowbridge@bwim.info. Heather Deal's final day with BWIM will be August 8.

BWIM’s Luncheon at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly in St. Louis was an inspiring time for over 500 people to gather with other BWIM supporters, receive a BWIM update from Executive Director, Meredith Stone, and to learn from author Rev. Angela Denker about how contemporary masculinity narratives are shaping the church and society, as well as how to re-form those narratives to match the example of Jesus. The luncheon closed with attendees boldly donating over $15,000 to support the efforts of BWIM in dismantling patriarchal structures in the church, such harmful masculinity narratives, and to build new Baptist communities where the voices and gifts of all are celebrated.

BWIM's Peer Community Groups are an opportunity for Baptist women who are in congregational or non-congregational ministry to connect with and learn from one another.

BWIM's Peer Community Groups program seeks to provide an opportunity for women in ministry to connect with peers, combat the isolation which highly contributes to clergy burnout, and have a safe space to examine aspects of their overall wellbeing.

BWIM's Mentoring Program offers new ministers an opportunity to participate in 18 months of intentional mentoring with a seasoned Baptist minister and a groups of peers. These mentoring groups serve as communities of support, encouragement, and guidance. The BWIM Mentoring Program is open to Baptist women who have served in their current area of ministry for less than three years and are ministering in churches, chaplaincy, non-profit work and other non-congregational ministry settings.

NOVEMBER 6-8, 2025

SECOND-PONCE DE LEON BAPTIST CHURCH

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Now there are even more ways to support Baptist Women in Ministry! And we've brought back and updated an old favorite with new options! Multiple colors and sizes available!

Becoming the Pastor’s Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman’s Path to Ministry by Dr. Beth Allison Barr is an insightful historical evaluation of what women’s roles in ministry have looked like since the earliest church. Barr tells stories of women that have been long lost in male-focused church history narratives which have dominated attention. Weaving historical narrative with modern day stories, as well as anecdotes from her own experience as a pastor’s wife, Barr makes a powerful case for how the role of pastor’s wife was created and utilized in service of protecting the power, wealth, and influence of male leaders in the church. Perhaps most meaningful were the stories of women who persisted and survived these structures that were designed to diminish their humanity. I highly recommend this book! If you want to hear more from Dr. Barr, you can listen to BWIM’s conversation with her on the state of women in the SBC which we held during the SBC Annual Meeting as a counter-event.

Have you transitioned to a new role? Have you recently been ordained? Let us know so we can celebrate you!

If you know a Baptist woman who has transitioned to a new ministerial role, been ordained or will be ordained soon, please send information nikkihardeman@bwim.info. Please also include pictures from ordinations as well! BWIM wants to share in celebrating congregational affirmation of all women in ministry, and it helps us keep records of all of the women ordained in Baptist life.

Rev. Nicole Guns accepted a call to be the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Gary, Indiana

Rev. Katrina Tatum accepted a call to be the executive pastor at Baptist Grove Church in Gary, IN

Rev. Leslie Park accepted a call to be the executive director of BWIM North Carolina

Rev. Ruth Perkins Lee accepted a call to be the executive coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia

Rev. Lindsay M. Karbach was ordained at McGill Baptist Church in Concord, North Carolina on March 30, 2025

Rev. Paxton Vaughn was ordained at Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky on April 6, 2025

Rev. Bethany Legget (pictured) was ordained at First Baptist on Fifth in Winston Salem, NC on May 8, 2025

Rev. Cathy Storey was ordained at Triangle Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC on June 1, 2025

Rev. Catherine Kern Haynes was ordained at First Baptist Church of Southern Pines in NC on June 8, 2025

Rev. Kristi Yeatman was ordained at Warsaw Baptist Church in Warsaw, VA on June 8, 2025

Rev. Ana Marie Podgaiskaya was ordained at Mars Hill Baptist Church in Mars Hill, NC on June 21, 2025

Rev. Cassie Buhlig was ordained at FBC Dixon, IL on June 29, 2025

New positions posted online since the last newsletter include:

• Associate Minister for Congregational Life and Discipleship (Full Time): First Baptist Church, Greater Cleveland, OH
• Director of Youth and Community Engagement (Part Time): First Baptist Church, Greater Cleveland, OH
• Associate Pastor (Full Time): Richmond's FBC, VA
• Pastor (Full Time) Calvary Baptist Church, Waco, TX
• Director of Music Ministries (Full Time): American Church in Paris, France
• Pastor (Full Time): FBC Omaha, NE
• Minister of Music (Part Time): Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham, NC
• Ministerial Intern (Part Time): Church at Ponce and Highland, Atlanta, GA
• Pastor (Full Time): Glendale Baptist Church, Nashville, TN

Be sure to connect with your state or regional BWIM group for

events happening near you!