surrounded her when she became pastor of Nineteenth Avenue Baptist Church in San Francisco, Calif., and Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, earlier in her career. “This role doesn’t feel all that unique to me,” said Pennington-Russell. “That being said, I try always to choose to see situations as opportunities rather than burdens or obstacles. When people for one reason or another want to shine a spotlight on me, it gives me a chance to point to God in some ways that I might not otherwise be able to do.” The Fellowship was founded, in part, around issues of gender equality. Since it began, CBF has encouraged the calling of women in ministry and intentionally included women in positions of leadership — including coordinating council, moderator and national staff. In 2005, Joy Yee, who succeeded Pennington-Russell as pastor of Nineteenth Avenue Baptist Church, became the first female senior pastor to serve as moderator of the Fellowship. “Female pastors continue to face external and internal challenges,” said Yee. “Externally, churches need to be educated and exposed to women in leadership and specifically pastoral leadership. Internally, women who are called to pastor need to develop self-confidence, a unique pastoral voice, especially if that style does not match the bold, charismatic style of [traditional] leadership.” The Fellowship addresses the challenges female clergy face in a number of ways, including partnering with seminaries that encourage the call of women to ministry. According to the State of Women in Baptist Life, 38 percent of students at CBF partner seminaries are female. In the 2007-08 school year, the Fellowship provided 35 of its 81 scholarships to female students. CBF also encourages and assists partner churches in being open to God’s direction in calling women as pastors. The Fellowship’s reference and referral service connects
congregations with qualified female candidates, and CBF staff members are available to consult with churches during the hiring process. See pages 11-12 for additional CBF resources. “From our beginning CBF has celebrated God’s call and gifting for every believer in Christ,” said Vestal. “We have affirmed the ministry role of women as well as men, laity as well as clergy. This is rooted in our conviction that all are created in the image of God, that Christ died for all, and that the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe. Our commitment to women in congregational leadership at all levels is out of our commitment to scripture with Christ being the interpretative key.” By Patricia Heys, CBF Communications The photos above represent female pastors who responded to a request for photos and chose to be featured in this issue of fellowship! This does not
Emily Roberts, Neverfail Community Church, Sparta Tenn.; Nancy Rock Poti, Trinity Church, Richmond, Va.; Third row: Michelle Kimlick, Bruington Baptist Church,
reflect all female pastors serving at CBF partner
Bruington, Va.; Mimi Walker, Druid Hills Baptist Church,
churches.
Atlanta, Ga.; Wendy Joyner, Fellowship Baptist Church,
From top to bottom, first row: Connie Stinson, Luther
Americus, Ga.; Ruth Cuellar, Iglesia Bautista, El Buen,
Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Silver Springs, Md.; Cheryl
Newnan, Ga.; Virginia Taylor, Lystra Baptist Church,
Moore Adamson, Palmetto Missionary Baptist Church, S.C.;
Chapel Hill, N.C.;
Vallerie King, Emmaus Baptist Church, Providence Forge, Va.; Second row: Mary Beth Caffey, Pathway Community
Fourth row: Kathy Shereda, High Hills Baptist Church, Jarratt, Va.; Susan Joyce, Antioch Baptist Church,
Church, Lewiston, Me.; Maureen Freshour, Chevy Chase
Enfield, N.C.; Katrina Brooks, North Broad Baptist Church,
Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.; Brenda Lynn Kneece,
Rome, Ga.; Robin Norsworthy, University Baptist Church,
New Hope Christian Fellowship, West Columbia, S.C.;
Montevallo, Ala.
support women pastors, go to www.thefellowship.info/femalepastors. fellowship!
September/October 2008
|
7