Jann Aldredge-Clanton was one of the most complex and compassionate people I’ve ever met. Her combination of Southern charm and progressive theology could be both disarming and alarming to those she encountered. She was a trailblazer for sure, setting plenty…
Get ready for the Kamala backlash
Like many in our country, the political events of the past few weeks have left me stunned and cautious. I feel as if I’m in the middle of a dystopian novel, wondering what unanticipated turn will happen next. In the…
Books help us learn, but books also help us love
There is a certain magic lost in the absence of books. Deep connections are forged through the intimacy of gathering close to turn well-loved pages, eagerly anticipating the words and illustrations waiting for us on the other side. Books help…
On women’s issue, the SBC reminded us who they are
As an ordained Baptist minister, I always knew I was unwelcome at the Southern Baptist Convention. But after my experience at their annual meeting this month, my body will always carry with it the sting of knowing I am not…
Being single isn’t a sin
Several months ago, I was riding in the passenger seat of a hearse from the funeral home to the cemetery to officiate a church member’s funeral. The driver kindly asked me about myself: Where I went to school, how long…
Looking in the mirror of women in ministry
God called women to ministry in the Bible. God is calling women to ministry now. God will continue calling women to ministry in the future. That is a truth I wished to convey with the mosaic I designed and created…
A playlist for women in ministry
Ever since I was a child, I have felt a connection to music and the way it draws on an artist’s experiences and ideas to invoke new experiences and ideas within the listeners. Throughout my journey, whether as a woman…
Why pastoral qualifications in the Bible aren’t really about gender
The Southern Baptist Convention somewhat surprisingly failed to pass the proposed Law Amendment that, if affirmed, would have changed the SBC Constitution to place restrictions on Southern Baptist churches hiring or appointing women to any staff position with the title…
Where will churches leaving the SBC go?
In the past week, I’ve been asked two questions related to the back-to-back meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: Will churches leaving the SBC because they support women in ministry join CBF? What is the…