Dr. Bruce Gourley – Baptist historian, blogger, owner of BaptistLife.com and Interim Director of the Center for Baptist Studies @ Mercer University – has written an insightful post (with great links) on his A Baptist Perspective blog titled “Baptist Women in Ministry: A Journey Unfinished.”
Here’s a snippet:
Last month conservative-turning-moderate Southern Baptist Wade Burleson, pastor in Oklahoma, spoke of his newfound acceptance of women as full partners in ministry. This month, the moderate-turning-conservative Baptist General Convention of Texas retreated from open organizational support of women as full partners in ministry. Meanwhile, a Barna survey indicates that 10% of churches in the United States now have women senior pastors.
And Gourley concludes:
The sometimes-slow change taking place at the state level means that specific advocacy-focused moderate, independent Baptist organizations, such as Baptist Women in Ministry, are vital to the shaping of contemporary Baptist thought and life.
Take a moment and read Gourley’s post.
Do you think that the BGCT’s action represents a change in planned destination, or merely a change in proposed timeline?
Wade Burleson is not “turning moderate”. A more accurate description would be “coming out of the closet” or “showing his true colors”. And kudos to the BGCT for turning to a biblical approach to ministry.
Joe,
Did you ever call Wade and promptly apologize?