By Vicki Brown
A Southern Baptist church in Missouri is under scrutiny by its local association for replacing a pastor who resigned for health reasons with his daughter.
Melody Pryor, pastor of First Baptist Church of Stanton, Mo., said she first had a notion of being a pastor while in the second grade but “blew it off” as something a girl couldn’t do. It resurfaced after she lost her son to cancer in 1997 and was taking classes at Oklahoma Baptist University. A professor told her he saw “a pastor in you” and introduced her to Baptist Women in Ministry, a national support organization.
Melody Pryor accepts a plaque for her service as secretary for Churchnet during the organization’s recent annual meeting. (Bill Webb photo)
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Knowing that Southern Baptists as a denomination do not accept women as pastors, “I thought I would have to change denominations,” the retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant said. “But I’m loyal to Baptists, and I was torn between whether to do it. I thought I might start a church, but then I thought I might be fortunate enough to find a church that would hire me.”
When her father, Harry Pryor, pastor of First Baptist Church since 1978, was sidelined by illness in June, the church didn’t have enough time to call someone immediately to fill in. Melody had led January Bible studies at First Baptist, and her father had allowed her to preach a couple times. So she filled in, believing he would be back in the pulpit in a few weeks.
But under his doctor’s advice, Harry Pryor resigned as pastor Aug. 8. The congregation elected a search committee and asked her to continue to fill in until a new minister was hired.
Remembering that her father had been opposed to women pastors, she recalled: “I met with Dad but I was ready to fight. I told him that I think women could be pastors if God calls them. Dad told me his feeling had changed. Mom and Dad have been supportive.”
Still, she hesitated to submit her resume to the search committee, because “I didn’t want them to think that they were stuck because of Dad.”
She also knew the church might face difficulties for calling a woman as pastor. Committee members pursued her, asking her parents and siblings why Melody had not applied for the position. “At that point, I talked with them and tried to help them realize that there would be problems,” she said.
Though there was some opposition, the congregation voted to call her. Some members left the church after the vote, and a few others have moved elsewhere since then. “Some members who had supported the decision have listened to those outside the church who have said that having a woman pastor is unscriptural,” Melody noted.
Franklin County Baptist Association, which counts First Baptist as a member church, has asked Melody to resign or the congregation to rescind its call to her. Otherwise, the church faces being removed from the association.
But Pryor knows that all ministers have problems. “Any pastor … has difficulties,” she said. “Mine may have a different flavor. I don’t want it to be seen that my problems are any harder than anyone else’s.”
Pryor said all pastors need a support system, and while she may not have it from the association or state convention, she’s found it through a group of women in ministry who meet once a month. “It’s a comfortable place to unload and sound off,” she said. “I had so many doubts and fears and I’ve been able to share them.”
Her primary support comes from her parents, especially from her father as a ministry mentor. “I would love to be like my dad — so humble, compassionate and very slow to anger. He didn’t do anything to fuel conflict,” she said. “He is always so calming.”
Even though he is retired, Harry Pryor has ministered alongside his daughter, including two baptisms, since she stepped into the post. She said she is thankful not only to be able to work with her father, but just for the ministry that is still closed to many women. She said she doubts she would have the position if not for her dad. “I know women who are called and who have more education than I do,” she said, who cannot find a church.
Though the theological controversy still creates problems, Pryor and the congregation concentrate on ministry. She wants to build on the church’s strong missions heritage and to strengthen its youth program. She also hopes to “reach other people unlike us,” to be a welcoming church.
“Change is difficult, but this is a very positive experience,” she said, “and overall is a blessing. I feel honored and I am thrilled. To have the opportunity to serve God in this way is overwhelming.”