ATLANTA (ABP) – An annual emphasis that encourages Baptist churches for the first time to invite a woman to preach is also an opportunity for churches that fully support women in ministry, say sponsors of Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching.
Launched by Baptist Women in Ministry in 2007 with 54 churches, the program that recruits churches to open their pulpit to a female preacher during at least one Sunday in February recorded its highest participation in 2011 with 185 churches.
Even though the original aim was to provide a first-time opportunity for Baptists who have never heard a woman preach, participation doesn’t have to be just one-time, according to a news release.
“If your church has never had a woman preach, our hope is that you can prayerfully and thoughtfully take small steps and help move your church toward being open,” the release said. “For churches that have a woman pastor or that often have women preach, this event is a great opportunity for you to stand with and support Baptists who are still hoping for and dreaming of the day that their church will have a woman preach.”
BWIM leaders said one way to do that is to invite a woman who has never had an opportunity to preach. “Use Martha Stearns Marshall Month as a time to invite and support a first-time preacher,” they suggested.
Churches participate by reserving any Sunday in February as Martha Stearns Marshall Day of Preaching. A certificate can be downloaded for presentation during the service. Many churches order the Smyth and Helwys book This Is What a Preacher Looks Like: Sermons by Baptist Women in Ministry as a memento.
There is a bulletin insert, along with a fact sheet about Martha Stearns Marshall, an 18th-century Baptist preacher largely ignored in Baptist histories written during the 20th century by men.
Courtney Krueger, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pendelton, S.C., wrote a hymn especially for Martha Stearns Marshall Month first sung in 2010.
Finally, participating churches should send their church name, city, state, pastor, name of the guest preacher and contact information to Aimee Day for listing in the Spring Issue of Vocare, the BWIM newsletter.
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Bob Allen is managing editor of Associated Baptist Press