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?