There is a good article in the Baptist Standard concerning women in ministry. In it, the idea of women serving particularly as pastors of Baptist churches is explored. What is interesting in the article is that women who are now studying in some Texas schools [Truett and Logsdon are mentioned] are wondering if they will ever be accepted by the churches.
One statistic in the article is worth sharing: "Of nearly 5700 Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated churches, four are led by female senior pastors." That is a telling stat. Conservatives have been criticized by moderates forever on this question, but moderate churches seem to be no more willing to call a woman as pastor than conservative churches. According to the article's author, John Hall, "They [women] like the rhetoric about women being accepted into ministry but do not see any action." If moderates are going to be "true" to their rhetoric, they are going to have to improve on the above statistic. I think they may slightly, but I don't think they will overwhelmingly.
According to Paul Powell, Dean of Truett Seminary, "I don't want to discourage them in any way, but I want them to be realistic that their ministry may not include being the pastor or a church."
Conservative Baptists believe a woman can serve in any position [I'm speaking of staff], but the Bible exempts her from serving as senior pastor; thus a woman cannot be called to that ministry. Moderates believe women can serve as senior pastor but don't call them to their churches. At least conservatives are true to their convictions. When will the moderates be true to theirs?
The article mentioned above is found at:
http://www.baptiststandard.com/postnuke/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=4874
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