Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Never Assume

Advertised in the Classifieds:
_______ Baptist Church seeks a full-time pastor, preferably with a seminary/divinity degree with some experience. We are a relatively small church with approximately 100 resident members. We are on a "Pursuing Vital Ministry" journey. A mission-minded fellowship, we believe in the autonomy of the church, the priesthood of the believer and ordain women deacons.

My email to the search committee:
I have a question regarding the classified advertisement in the _______. It says that you ordain women deacons. Does the inclusion of this statement mean that the church will accept and seriously consider a woman to be pastor? If so, I will send my resume.

The response I get today:
We would like to thank you for your interest in ______; however, the Pastor Search Committee feels that the congregation would not be in agreement regarding a woman serving as our senior pastor.
Jeremiah 29:11

At least they told me up front. I would have assumed that ordaining women as deacons would make them at least consider a woman in the role of pastor. Never assume....

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog - it is good. I feel your angst! I have been home for six years (8yo boy, 4yo girl, 2yo boy). I will begin div school in the fall. I was Southern Baptist (I mean I was a "GA cutie cutie pie" life long Baptist-- and then CBF --now I am a United Methodist. Hang in there - it is exciting to be called to challenge what people think about God - honestly - I am jealous of your call to teach that lesson -- since I was so clearly called away from the same -- I love a good fight - probably why I am not asked by God to teach this lesson in the Baptist church - I tend to yell -and I think this calls for more doing and less yelling -- God Speed in your quest to understand and live out your call to mother and to minister!