In my work advocating for women in ministry for more than a decade, there have been many instances in which a conversation with a male pastor or religious leader has included some form of the following: “Our church/organization decided about…
Women in ministry face daily slights that add up, BWIM leaders explain
While women face well-known and painful obstacles to ministry, the little, daily slights can be just as hurtful and draining, Laura Ellis said during a June 29 workshop hosted by Baptist Women in Ministry. “The smaller but not-insignificant microaggressions really…
Annual report on Baptist women in ministry finds some gains but serious losses due to COVID
Women in ministry continue to feel blocked in their callings and ignored in their ministry settings because they are female, according to an annual report released June 21 by Baptist Women in Ministry. “The State of Women in Baptist Life,”…
This is more than just sin
The Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee refused to act on hundreds of reports of abuse. This is more than just sin. The efforts of survivors and advocates to bring the truth to light was called, “a satanic scheme to completely…
If you’re glad women were the first Easter preachers, what are you doing about it now?
During Easter weekend this year, my social media feed was filled with posts about women preaching on the first Easter. The main theme of the posts was that if we want to be biblical, then women should be preaching the…
Lesson learned: While lifting up women we unwittingly put down those who cannot stand
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” — Maya Angelou On March 1, the first day of Women’s History Month, Baptist Women in Ministry introduced a new name for its monthly…
Sexual harassment at 30,000 feet
I recently got on an airplane for a trip to preach at a Baptist Women in Ministry partner church despite some hesitations I had about flying. My hesitations were because of health concerns related to the current Delta variant spike,…
When it comes to shaming women, the SBC isn’t the only perpetrator among Christians
The Southern Baptist Convention has made headlines not only in Baptist circles but in secular publications in the days after this year’s annual meeting. In addition to Critical Race Theory, the media has been reporting on the SBC’s commitment to…
It’s time to ‘untangle the embedded patriarchal strongholds,’ BWIM leader declares
New manifestations of the church emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic will include more openness and opportunities for women called to ministry, but it may take decades for that acceptance to become widespread in Baptist and other Christian spaces, Meredith Stone…