Baptist Women In Ministry (BWIM) Celebrates 25 Years

In its 25^th year, Baptist Women in Ministry (BWIM) will be celebrating its historic anniversary during the General Assembly of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship which is meeting in Memphis. BWIM’s Annual Gathering and 25^th Anniversary Celebration Dinner will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 5pm with music from Kate Campbell. For information about this event and tickets, click here.

Here’s a snippet from BWIM’s “The State of Women in Baptist Life – 2007.” If you’re interested in a brief history of BWIM and the plight of ordained women in Baptist life from the time of Addie Davis’s ordination in 1964 to 2007, be sure to read this new report (here).

Baptist Women in Ministry (BWIM) in 2008 celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary. Since the 1983 founding of BWIM, the status of women in Baptist life has been through many changes. In some seasons, it has flourished. In other seasons, women’s status in Baptist life has seemed to languish on the vine. In the past twenty-five years, Baptist women have made modest gains in leadership and contributed to the renewal of Baptist life in many sectors. Most notably, Baptist women (and men) committed to the equality of all God’s people have helped reshape and reenvision the church generally, and Baptist churches in particular, as more inclusive, more creative places of worship, spiritual formation, and service.

Baptist women have not made these contributions without struggle. In the last quarter century, they have face opposition, difficulties, and challenges, both from detractors who do not share their vision for ministry and church, and at times, from within their own ranks. Challenges have been numerous and sometimes overwhelming to the organization and to individual women in ministry.

And here are a few notable statistics from that report:

• Following the 1964 ordination of Addie Davis, no other woman was ordained until 1971
• Between 1971 and 1978 an estimated 59 women were ordained by Southern Baptist churches
• By 1986, 232 ordained Southern Baptist women had been identified
• By 1993, it was estimated that over 1,000 women had been ordained
• According to the BWIM Registry, around 2000 Baptist women in the South have been ordained since 1964.
• 85 women were ordained in 2005, 49 ordained in 2006 and this past year 73 women were ordained.
• The largest number of ordinations took place in Georgia (18), North Carolina (15), Tennessee (13), and Virginia (4). Oh yea, 11 women were ordained in Texas.
• In most years over the past two decades, ordinations in North Carolina. North Carolina is home to three moderate Baptist seminaries. Because of Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology, Georgia has been at the top of this list in recent years.

• In 1982, women accounted for 10.8% of elected boards of SBC Agencies.
• In 2007, that number was 10.5%.
• # of Women on Governing Boards: Alliance of Baptists (45%), BGCT Exec. Board (24%), CBF Coordinating Council (38.5%), SBC Executive Committee (8%).
• # of women endorsed as Chaplains & Counselors: AB (77 or 52%), BGCT (66 or 15%), CBF (178 or 30%), SBC (215 or 8%)
• By 1993 (ten years after founding of BWIM), 51 women were serving as pastors or co-pastors
• In 2007 that number had increased to 113 – 75 as pastors and 38 as co-pastors.
• As of 2007, Virginia led the way with 18 women pastors or co-pastors. North Carolina was second with 17, Georgia has 13, Texas has 11 and Tennessee with 6 women pastors or co-pastors.
• Of the 5,600 churches that affiliate with the BGCT only .196% are have a female pastor or co-pastor and only 5.9% of CBF churches have a female pastor.
• In 2005, women accounted for around 21.7% of the student bodies as SBC seminaries (virtually no increase between 1979-2005). 4 of these seminaries have programs designed especially for women. Despite these programs, the numbers of women students enrolled in and graduating from SBC seminaries has dropped in the past 25 years.
• With 2,145 students in 14 seminaries, theology schools and Baptist studies programs affiliated with CBF, 825 or 38.5% were women. 40.4% of Spring 2007 graduates at these schools were women.
• Among the CBF affiliated schools with the highest percentage of female students: Emory (53%), McAfee (52%), BTSR (52%) and Wake Forest (50 %).
• The most female students can be found at Mercer’s McAfee (124) and Baylor’s Truett (118).
• Women make up 25.5% of the total faculty teaching in these schools.

In the next couple of days, www.thebigdaddyweave.com will be hosting a few reflections from a young Baptist woman (read: Alexis) who attended both of the BGCT’s inaugural conferences on Baptist Women in Ministry.

Women In Ministry Conference Or Hot Cookies?

Ok, so BDW has been busy the last few weeks. I've got 2 papers to write, a few books to read, a Final Exam to take and most importantly a thesis to finish. I have, however, made much progress on the thesis front. The words of James Dunn have been flying from my pen!

But on Monday (after a long night of thesisizing), I got up and went to the SECOND semi-annual Women In Ministry Conference held at Truett Seminary on the campus of Baylor University and hosted by the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The theme of the conference was "And Your Sons AND Daughters Will Prophesy!" The purpose of the conference is as follows:

Women in Ministry Conference is designed for Ministry students (undergraduate and graduate) from Texas Baptist universities and seminaries, as well as Texas Baptist men and women who are interested in Women in Ministry. The conference will encourage, support, and connect women who sense a call to vocational ministry, and offer a venue for women and men to learn more about working together in ministry.

I had the privilege of hearing BGCT President Joy Fenner speak and then hear Amelia Fulbright Howard, daughter of Ruby Fulbright who is the state WMU director in North Carolina.

My girlfriend Alexis Cooper jotted down the following for me about the event:

There are many different ways to approach the topic of Women in Ministry. If you are a woman minister, you can defend your right to preach, Biblically. OR you can preach biblically.

Amelia Fulbright Howard, ordained Baptist minister from Austin, TX, did the latter on Monday afternoon. She didn't defend her call to preach, but instead looked to Scripture to bring a message to other women ministers about the challenges of being both a woman and a minister.

Her message was one of hope to ministers who sometimes forget the importance of self-care when ministering to others. While love is risky, and may involve pain, she said, pain and suffering is not the end goal, it is the risk taken when taking up one's cross. Howard reminded us that we follow the resurrected Christ, and we cannot understand the meaning of the crucifixion until we accept the gift of the resurrection.

Perhaps some of her ideas were radical- it may have made the men in attendance (about 40%) uncomfortable to hear words such as 'oppression' used in the context of female experience. But for women who have been silenced by their culture, their family, and their religious experience, it was a word that rang true. The sermon was not about being a victim, but how to more fully serve Christ as a woman minister. The whole conference, and the worship service the night before, was entirely about rejoicing together in being a part of God's creation, trusting that when God calls, you answer (whether you are a woman or a man).

This sermon didn't make headlines. This conference didn't make headlines. Perhaps women (and men) meeting together to worship and encourage faithfulness to God's call isn't newsworthy in Baptist life. Perhaps Baptist news sources are afraid of what happens if people find out about that Baptist women have been called to preach and DO IT WELL. Maybe, if Baptists are allowed to hear the Holy Spirit in action, much like the events in the 2nd chapter of Acts, their world will be changed.

Not to sidetrack from Amelia's excellent message as relayed by Alexis. But I want to follow up on Alexis's last paragraph. The ONLY second Women In Ministry conference hosted by the BGCT featured words/messages from George Mason, BGCT President Joy Fenner and many Texas Baptist seminary professors. The conference began Sunday night and ended Monday night. I think it's safe to say that enough time has elapsed that this story ain't getting covered.

As of Thursday morning, no Baptist media outlet here in Texas has covered the rather historic (and always important) event. No mention of the WIM conference on the official blog of the BGCT. That blog has posts that highlight April as "Camp Appreciation Month" and "Homemade Cookies" but no mention of the women who preached at the Paul Powell Chapel on Sunday and Monday.

You'll find more mention of "homemade cookies" on the website of the Texas Baptist Standard. But no mention of BGCT President affirming the calling of an ordained female minister. Check out the Texas Baptist Communication website of the BGCT. No women preaching. But daggumit you'll find more mention of "homemade cookies." You'll also see a couple shirtless fellas known as "Beach Reachers." Kudos to them! But again, no women.

Why? Why does this important and historic occasion not get covered by the Communications Department of the BGCT? I'm curious. Cookies for the Troops and Beach Reachers get lots of attention but women preaching at the flagship Texas Baptist university at an event hosted by the BGCT (don't forget that) receives absolutely no attention from the kind folks in the Baptist Building. I know a few people who are a little peeved to say the least.

In a recent op-ed over at the Baptist Standard, the now former interim Executive Director Wm. Jan Daehnert wrote about the "overwhelming need for all Texas Baptist leaders to continue welcoming those who align with the Southern Baptist Convention." He concluded his column with this sign off - "Welcome, Texas Baptists and Southern Baptists, Welcome."

Perhaps the question should be asked - Are the Women Preachers among us Welcome as well? Or has the PR-arm of the BGCT decided to avoid the reality of an increasing number of Texas Baptist women who are trying to answer their specific call to ministry. And when the BGCT apparently decides that sending homemade cookies to the troops is more newsworthy than only the second Women In Ministry conference EVER - then what does that say? What message does that send to these Texas Baptist women???

How are we going to break that stupid Glass Ceiling as long as Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are more important than women preaching the Gospel, trying to smash and shatter that stupid Glass Ceiling?

The State of Women in Baptist Life - 2006 Report

The State Of Women in Baptist Life 2006 commissioned by Baptist Women in Ministry was presented by Dr. Pamela Durso on Thursday.

Rob Marus of the ABP and Bob Allen of EthicsDaily.com covered the report.

But I would like to provide several tidbits of info and statistics from the 15-page report:

When it comes to women in ministry, the attitudes of moderate and progressive Baptists continue to outpace the reality of women's ordination, leadership, and service among Baptists. Although the novelty of women entering professions of law, medicine, and teaching has long since waned, ministry remains one of the last professions to be entered in any significant numbers by women. And while thousands of Baptist women in the North and South have received theological training and ordination for ministry, only about 600 women currently serve as pastors or co-pastors in Baptist churches in the United States. Women continue to be underepresented in the elected and paid leadership of Baptist agencies, but the fare better in ministry roles such as chaplaincy, counseling, church staff ministry and missionary service.

From the 2007 survey conducted by BWIM....

A vast majority (93%) of respondents reported that they support ordination for women, and nearly two-thirds of them noted that their churches have ordained women; yet, the role of pastor continues to remain nearly out of reach for Baptist women. At best, 6.2% of CBF churches and 9.1% of ABC-USA churches are pastored by women.

1,464 individuals complted the survey between March 4 and May 8, 2007. Respondents were asked to identify their primary Baptist affiliation, the largest of which was CBF (43%) followed by the SBC (20%), the BGCT (10%), ABC-USA (9%), Alliance of Baptists (5%), and the BGAV (3%). However, 68% chose CBF as either their primary affiliation or one of several affiliations. More than a third of respondents to the study (507 or 34%) identified themselves as Southern Baptist, either as their primary affiliation or one of several affiliations.

Agreed with the following statements:

According to your understanding of the Bible, does the possibility exist for women to serve in pastoral roles?
-SBC (85.8%), CBF (97.3%)

Do you approve of the ordination of women to the pastoral ministry?
-SBC (85.8%), CBF (97.3)

If a qualified woman were available for the pastorate of your Baptist church, would you be oepn to calling her? -SBC (78.49%), CBF (95.3%)

If an equally qualified man and woman were available for the pastorate of a given Baptist church, which would you honestly choose?
-Choose a Man (SBC - 31.7%), (CBF - 11.6%)
-Choose a Woman (SBC - 11.4%) (CBF - 24%)
-Unsure (SBC - 85.8%) (CBF - 64.4%)

WOMEN AND THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

In 2006, CBF's fourteen seminaries, theology schools, and Baptist studies programs had a combined enrollment of nearly 2,100. The enrollment numbers for each of these schools, with the exceptions of the Baptist Houses of Study at Duke University, Emory University, and Texas Christian University, include all students, Baptist and non-Baptist, and include the numbers enrolled in all progressional degrees. The enrollment numbers for Duke, Emory, and TCU include only Baptist students.

Thus, in 2006, CBF schools had a total of 2,087 students, of which 806 were women (39%). These numbers reflect a slight increase from 2005, when the school had 1,999 total students with 752 women students (38%). The schools with the greatest increase in women students were Baptist Seminary in Kentucky (29% in 2005, 40% in 2006); Wake Forest University Divinity School (33% in 2005, 48% in 2006); and TCU's Brite Divinity School (23% in 2005, 32% in 2006)

American Baptist Churches, USA

In 2006, the ABC-USA had six theological institutions. The enrollment numbers for each of these schools include all students, Baptist and non-Baptist, and include the numbers enrolled in all professional degrees.

Thus in 2006, the six ABC-USA schools had a total of 1,536 students, of which 854 were women (56%). In 2005, only five ABC-USA schools provided enrollment information. That year, those schools enrolled 1.081 students, of which 615 were women (57%). Four of the five ABC-USA schools that reported enrollment in 2005 actually decreased one to three percentage points in female enrollment in 2006.

Southern Baptist Convention

In 2006, the SBC had six seminaries. Enrollment information for 2006 was obtained from only four of the seminaries. The enrollment numbers for each of these schools include all students, Baptists and non-Baptist, and include the numbers enrolled in all professional degrees.

Thus, in 2006, these four SBC schoolshad total of 6,407 students, of which 1,358 were women (21%). These numbers reflect an 8% increase in total enrollment of students but only a .3% increase in female enrollment from 2005, when these four schools had 5,925 students, of which 1,354 were women (23%). The percentage of female students at three of the SBC schools decreased in 2006. Golden Gate dropped from 27% in 2005 to 22% in 2006. Midwestern dropped from 21% in 2005 to 14% in 2006. Southern dropped from 18% in 2005 to 14% in 2006. ONLY Southwestern increased in female enrollment moving from 26% in 2005 to 27% in 2006.

Concluding Thoughts

Baptist attitudes about women in ministry have made revolutionary changes during this time. At the same time, more conservative Baptists have worked to keep traditional roles for women in place. Among moderate and progressive groups, attitudes continue to favor the expansion of women's roles in society and in the church, but those attitudes continue to outpace reality. Changes to the Baptist reality, however, seem to be on the horizon. Responses to the SWBL Survey challenged the conventional wisdom that Baptist churches are not ready for women's pastoral leadership.

As with the 2005 report, the compilation data, stories and analysis about the state of women in Baptist life presents a picture vivid in its diversity and vitality. It also paints a sobering tableau with its evidence of ongoing "professional marginality" which continues nearly fifty years after Bock's intial observation that women made up only a small percentage of total ministers and were not increasing substantially.

In order to expand the understanding of this 21st century situation, future reports need to examine more closely the experiences of clergywomen themselves and the settings where they serve. As a more comprehensive database of women is build, women serving in churches, mission settings, campuses and other institutions need to be polled for their experiences of minstry. Moving beyond the questions of ordination and calling to employment, compensation, advancement and the related challenges could enrich understanding of the state of women in Baptist life.