As Meredith Stone of Baptist Women in Ministry announced the results of the State of Women in Ministry 2025 report, she said this: “BWIM has counted 2,856 Baptist women ordained to the gospel ministry.” My immediate reaction was, there has to be more of us than that — and I am certain there are.
While BWIM’s methodology of capturing this data is limited, mostly self-reported and social media scraping, I felt the spirit of the unsung heroes calling out to be heard, literally and figuratively. I do not mean this as a critique of BWIM, their methodology or their findings. I commend them for continuing their efforts to celebrate and honor the progress of women affirmed and ordained to leadership in our gospel mission.
Rochelle E. Samuels
For me, this statistical reporting of ordained female ministers highlights the importance for churches and congregations not just to acknowledge a woman’s call to preach. Providing opportunities for females to preach an initial sermon only to license and send them back to their previous assignments or “award” them with additional assignments does not “match professions of affirmation” for female ministers.
While we see progress in the acceptance of female ministers, there is still a divide in leadership opportunities and paths to ordination compared with our male counterparts.
“There is still a divide in leadership opportunities and paths to ordination compared with our male counterparts.”
I believe God’s vision of humanity (and purposed call) is diverse and not designed for division (race, age, gender, denominations). Our Loving God sees value in diversity because of the unique and varied aspects of humanity that should work together for God and God’s purpose. Diversity, equity and inclusion always has been in the Creator’s plan.
The church must acknowledge the importance and relationality of all creation and their purpose. As an ordained minister in the Baptist tradition, I contend that the church, regardless of denomination, needs to take an official stance on the indispensable work of female ministers in God’s kin-dom-building journey. We must move from affirmation to action in the ordination of women.
This does not require a formal or mandated DEI “policy” to rectify the oppressive imbalance of ordained male and female ministers. It does not require a specified ratio of female-to-male ministers that aligns with congregational composition. It does require a female minister’s calling be affirmed beyond “relying on women’s willingness to serve in multiple capacities.”
A minister’s calling is a spiritual beckoning to greater servant leadership. I believe ordination candidacy should be granted based on the servant leadership ministers already are doing. I will not debate nor can I provide statistics on levels, standards or comparisons of male versus female servant leadership work. Observations and patterns of behavior that signify exclusivity in certain leadership roles and responsibilities can be a deterrent to anyone wrestling with a call to ministry.
I will share a statistic that is glaringly obvious of gender disparity and oppression in respect to ordination. I acknowledge this is a particular example that cannot and should not be universally applied, especially with local church independence within the Baptist tradition.
Plans were in motion for an ordination service at a Baptist church for six ministers. At the service, three were ordained — all were male. In this church, 58% of all ministers are male; 79% of male ministers are ordained and only 45% of female ministers are ordained.
Again, this is just one example — and it should still be cause for concern. This is one example of gender bias in church leadership and it needs to be addressed.
Why is it that God ordained a woman to deliver the word, and females are less likely to be ordained to deliver a word? What do oppressive ordination practices say about a church’s social justice practice? Before thoughts wander into a debate on whether or not Jesus’ teachings reflect a social gospel, the focus should remain on what needs to be done to attain even greater progress toward gender equality among ministers, among the Christian body.
What can we do to address this issue? Because it is an issue. What would Jesus say to you and your church if it persists in its ordination restraint on female ministers?
I know that my preaching sisters and I are called, willing, preordained, capable, ready and already doing the same work (minimally) as our brothers and not receiving the same respect. Why is that, and what are you going to do about it?