From its towering white steeple and red-brick facade to its Sunday services filled with rousing gospel hymns and evangelistic sermons, First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, bears many of the classic hallmarks of a Southern Baptist church.

On a recent Sunday, its pastor for women and children, Kim Eskridge, urged members to invite friends and neighbors to an upcoming vacation Bible school — a perennial Baptist activity — to help “reach families in the community with the gospel.”

But because that pastor is a woman, First Baptist’s days in the Southern Baptist Convention may be numbered.

At the SBC’s annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis, representatives will vote on whether to amend the denomination’s constitution to essentially ban churches with any women pastors — and not just in the top job. That measure received overwhelming approval in a preliminary vote last year.

  • Ashyr@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    27
    ·
    5 months ago

    Funner fact, they won’t let women be lead pastors for men, but they will allow women to be missionaries to other men around the world.

    Basically a woman can’t be a pastor to white Christian men, but those other men out there? That’s fine.

    Racism is thoroughly baked into their theology and worldview.

    • Buelldozer@lemmy.today
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      Funner fact, they won’t let women be lead pastors for men

      As a point of fact some Southern Baptists Churches do allow, and have, Women as Lead Pastors.