2/2 WORKING DOCUMENT - 2025 BWIM NC Symposium program book
BWIM NC Leadership Board
OFFICERS 2025
Convener: Breana van Velzen
Treasurer: Esther Soud Parker
BOARD MEMBERS–CLASS OF 2025
Shannon Stewart Hall, Music Educator, Choral Instructor, Orange County School System
Will Raybon, Minister of Youth and Children, Benson Baptist Church, Benson
Breana van Velzen, Executive Director, Congregations in Action, Durham
BOARD MEMBERS—CLASS OF 2026
Karen Metcalf-Eickhoff, Associate Pastor of Education and Discipleship, Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh
Liz Britt Johnson, Campus Ministry & Motherhood
Regina Johnson, Weaverville
Alicia Porterfield, Minister of Missions, Oakmont Baptist Church, Greenville
Sarah Wilson, Hospice Chaplain, Amedisys, Henderson
BOARD MEMBERS—Class of 2027
Katrina Tatum, Executive Pastor, Baptist Grove Church, Raleigh
Rebecca Hewitt-Newson, Pastor, Emmaus Way Church, Durham
Claire Dillashaw, Interim Director of Children and Youth,
Binkley Baptist Church, Chapel Hill
Lynnette Sills, former Interim Executive Director, BWIM NC, and Parish Associate, Tryon Presbyterian Church, Tryon
STAFF/EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS
Leslie Park, Executive Director
Esther Soud Parker, Treasurer, BWIM NC, and Minister of Children and Congregational Life, Watts Street Baptist Church, Durham
Virginia Ross Taylor, Program Director, Compelling Preaching Initiative Grant, BWIM NC
Special thanks to the Building Community Team and Symposium Planners
Shannon Hall
Will Raybon
Virginia Ross Taylor
Rebecca Hewitt-Newson
Lynnette Sills
Breana van Velzen
Celebrating 30 Years of Scholarship
The Kay Simpson Memorial Scholarship Endowment seeks to carry on the tradition of Baptist Women in Ministry of North Carolina to provide scholarships to selected female divinity schools students in our state. Kay Simpson was a dear and cherished friend and supporter of BWIM NC for many years, until her death in 2006. She received her MDiv from Duke University (one of the four seminaries we support with scholarships to students). She was ordained into ministry in 1997 at FBC Laurinburg, served on the General Board of the Baptist State Convention of NC and the Coordinating Council of CBFNC. Kay served as a minister in several North Carolina churches along with teaching and working with children with special needs and we were the recipients of her gifts and service as a board member and Convener.
Following her death in 2006, the BWIM NC chose to honor her life and ministry by naming our scholarship fund after its biggest advocate. And we are honored to have been given the privilege and call to support women who have received scholarships in the past 30 years.
Since 1995, BWIMNC has given over $205,000 in scholarships to more than 70 women pursuing their Master of Divinity degrees at Campbell University, Duke University, Gardner-Webb University, and Wake Forest University. And in recent years, we have also funded personal advancement scholarships. The first women to receive scholarships in 1995 were Mary Meadows, Beth Tolar, and Jessica Evans.
Be Part of the Change!
TODAY— Celebrate 30 years of providing scholarships, make a donation of at least $30.00 while you are here for our Symposium. Our goal for giving at Symposium is $3,000.
TOMORROW— Encourage your church to put BWIMNC in their Budget for 2026 (and beyond) to support scholarships and the operations of our organization.
GOING FORWARD— Become a sustainer of BWIM NC by:
n Giving monthly to our operating budget.
n Giving monthly to the scholarship fund.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT CHALLENGE— Pay it forward!
n Make a yearly contribution of $300 to the scholarship fund.
n Make a monthly contribution of $30 to the scholarship fund.
Scholarship Recipients for 2025 - 2026
For the 2025-2026 academic year, we are pleased to award scholarships totaling $10,000 to:
Kim Wilkinson, Campbell University
Kim Wilkinson is enrolled in seminary at Campbell University School of Divinity, seeking a Master of Divinity degree, with a focus on Chaplaincy. At Campbell, she has served as a member of the Student Assistance Leadership Team and participated in the Empowering Families Retreat. She is a member of First Baptist Church on Fifth in Winston-Salem, where she has served as a lay leader and deacon. Kim a resident of King, North Carolina, where she has served as chair of the King Public Library Board, Volunteers at the State Employees Credit Union Family House and the Forsyth County Jail as a prison minister. For 30 years, she was a teacher and librarian at Stokes County Schools.
Cristal Ocampo-Ruiz, Duke Divinity School
Carol Jones, Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity
Carol Jones is enrolled in seminary at Gardner-Webb University School of Divinity seeking a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in pastoral care and counseling. Carol is a resident of Shelby and she is a member of New Ellis Baptist Church, Shelby. In her church, she has served as a youth leader, worked with their summer camp, and served in their missionary ministry and on their intercessory prayer team. Carol has worked as a counselor and as an assistant in Gaston County Schools.
Wake Forest University School of Divinity scholar to be announced
Annual Awards
The Church Award.
This award is given to congregations who are exemplary in supporting and encouraging the cause of women in ministry.
The “Cloud of Witnesses” Quilt.
This quilt was created in 2008, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of BWIM NC and serves as a reminder of interdependence with one another. Before the quilt was created, an invitation to fund the Kay Simpson Endowment was extended. The recipient of our annual Church Award has the honor of keeping and displaying the quilt for a full year.
Past Recipients of The Church Award
1996 Antioch Baptist Church (Enfield) 2011 Providence Baptist Church (Hendersonville)
1997 College Park Baptist Church (Greensboro) 2012 Flat Rock Baptist Church (Mt. Airy)
1998 St. John’s Baptist Church (Charlotte) 2013 Westwood Baptist Church (Cary)
1999 Wake Forest Baptist Church (Wake Forest) 2014 Ahoskie Baptist Church (Ahoskie)
2001 Millbrook Baptist Church (Raleigh) 2015 First Baptist Church of Raleigh (Raleigh)
2002 First Baptist Church of Wilson (Wilson) 2016 Northwest Baptist Church (Winston-Salem)
2003 Cullowhee Baptist Church (Cullowhee) 2017 Greenwood Forest Baptist Church (Cary)
2004 Weldon Baptist Church (Weldon) 2018 First Baptist Church on Fifth (Winston-Salem)
2005 Watts Street Baptist Church (Durham) 2019 Greystone Baptist Church (Raleigh)
2006 Park Road Baptist Church (Charlotte) 2020 Lakeside Baptist Church (Rocky Mount)
2007 Memorial Baptist Church (Buies Creek) 2021 Trinity Baptist Church (Raleigh)
2008 Ridge Road Baptist Church (Raleigh) 2022 First Baptist Church of Laurinburg (Laurinburg)
2009 Sardis Baptist Church (Charlotte) 2023 First Baptist Church of Smithfield (Smithfield)
2010 Knollwood Baptist Church (Winston-Salem) 2024 Oakmont Baptist Church (Greenville)
The Church Award for 2025—Hominy Baptist Church, Candler, North Carolina
Hominy Baptist Church in Candler is a 213-year-old congregation that has a long history of supporting women in ministry. In 1981, Polly Bryson was ordained as their first female deacon, and then in 1988 they ordained Mary Caldwell as a minister. They felt so strongly about the priesthood of all believers, Hominy Baptist leaders sent a letter in August 1998, declaring that they were withdrawing from the Southern Baptist Convention as a response to their ongoing edicts that attempted to limit that priesthood.
In October of 2022, Hominy called Rev. Melissa Hughes and Rev. Paul Raybon to serve as co-pastors of the church. Rev. Raybon has been on staff since 2006 and Rev. Hughes since 1997. It speaks volumes of a church and its treatment of a minister when they feel comfortable enough to stay with a church for almost 30 years! Rev. Hughes started at the church working in the office and serving as an associate pastor before moving into the co-pastor role. She is deeply loved
and appreciated by her church and fellow staff members. Also serving on staff are Associate Pastor Kevin McDaniel and Minister of Music Kristen Dominguez.
This church staff models mutual respect and support of one another in ministry while also promoting the advancement and celebration of women in ministry. Most recently, Hominy Baptist hosted a screening of the BWIM national documentary “Midwives of a Movement.” The church has made a commitment to faithfully giving their financial support to BWIM NC each year. Additionally, ministers Melissa and Kristen plan and coordinate a lunch fellowship for women ministers in Western North Carolina each month at a restaurant in Asheville.
The Board of Directors of Baptist Women in Ministry of North Carolina celebrates the ministry and service of Hominy Baptist Church and joyfully congratulates them on being the recipient of this award.
The Anne Thomas Neil Award.
This award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cause of women in ministry.
Past Recipients of The Anne Thomas Neil Award
1988 Anne Thomas Neil
1989 Donna Forrester
1990 Elizabeth Barnes
1991 Sue Fitzgerald
1992 Dot King
1993 Caralie Brown
1994 Sara Ann Hobbs
1995 Mary Caldwell
1996 Geneva Metzger
1997 Velma Ferrell
1998 Paula Clayton Dempsey
1999 Tyanna Day
2001 Tom and Eunice Bland
2002 T. Furman Hewitt
2003 Judith Powell
2004 Anne Compere
2005 Paula Settle
2008 Ruby Fulbright
2009 Mary Margaret Brooks
2010 Jessie Bell Lewis and Claudeline Lewis
2011 Wanda Kidd
2012 Carolyn McClendon
2013 Gail Coulter
2014 Alicia Davis Porterfield
2015 Ka’thy Gore Chappell
2016 Michael Usey
2017 Janice Haywood
2018 Faithe Beam
2019 Charlotte Cook Smith
2020 Louise Dawson (Laity) Esther Soud Parker (Clergy)
2021 Joy Gambill (Laity) Karen Metcalf-Eickhoff (Clergy)
2022 Mary Foskett (Laity) Kheresa Harmon (Clergy)
2023 Les Davis (Laity) Allison Farrah (Clergy)
2024 Leslie Sessoms and Bobbie Furr (Laity)
2006 Linda McKinnish Bridges Anna Daniels Anderson (Clergy)
2007 Beatrice Kay Simpson
The Anne Thomas Neil Award Laity for 2025: Karen Brewer
Karen Brewer has been a member of Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh since March 2000. In her 25 years of membership and service, Karen has established herself as a servant leader and as an exceptional model for women in ministry. From leading and participating in international mission work in Ecuador, Ukraine, and Belize to teaching children and adults to serving as a deacon and on numerous ministry teams, she has demonstrated a passion for serving neighbors and serving God. Her impressive resume also includes working with disaster relief efforts in Lumberton and in Western North Carolina, volunteering with VBS, and singing in the choir.
Rev. Jerry Chiles shared in his nomination of Karen: “As a minister, I am happy to say that Karen is the kind of lay leader you want in your church. She is open and eager to roll up her sleeves and become involved in the work of the church. She is also willing to give her honest opinion in all situations.”
The Board of Directors of Baptist Women in Ministry of North Carolina celebrates the ministry and service of Karen Brewer and joyfully congratulates her on being the recipient of this award.
The Anne Thomas Neil Award Clergy for 2025: Sarah Boberg
Rev. Dr. Sarah Boberg is an Assistant Professor of Christian Education and director of the Empowering Families for Spiritual Formation Initiative at the Campbell University Divinity School. She serves on the board of Passport Camps, contributes articles to Good Faith Media, and regularly presents workshops at denominational gatherings.
In her nomination of Sarah, Rev. Rebecca Mathis, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Campbell, shared: “Both in and outside the classroom, Sarah consistently shows up as a mentor, encourager, and champion for women
pursuing ministry. She provides steadfast support to students, alumni, and colleagues alike, often attending ordination service and other key milestones to celebrate and uplift women in entering ministry.” In addition to her work at Campbell, Sarah is an active participant in her local church, living out her faith through community involvement and servant leadership.
The Board of Directors of Baptist Women in Ministry of North Carolina celebrates the ministry of Rev. Dr. Sarah Boberg and joyfully congratulates her on being the recipient of this award.
Welcome
Supporters and Partners
Heidi Gessner Teacher, Officiant, Author, Life Transition Guide & Coach
Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists
OPENING DOORS TELLING STORIES BUILDING COMMUNITY
The Mission of Baptist Women in Ministry of North Carolina is to provide a network of support, fellowship, worship, advocacy, and education for Baptist women and men who seek to honor God’s call to ministry. We seek to carry out our mission through connection, affirmation, discernment, support, networking, and empowerment.
Thank you for your support and for joining us today.
And we invite you to give TODAY to support with work and mininstry of BWIM NC.
