Response to the Baptist Faith and Message Statement, 2000by Linda Hicks, First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City Opening statementNot having come to the Baptist denomination out of any kind of conviction or commitment, at the tender age of 17 — it is certainly out of a strong sense of conviction and commitment that I have remained a Baptist. Growing up Presbyterian, I began attending First Baptist Church in Blackwell with a boyfriend many years ago. More in spite of than because of him, I began to feel drawn to this particular group of believers on our mutual faith journey -- and to feel that this was somehow where God wanted me to become serious in service to the kingdom. I heard much about soul competency and the priesthood of the believer — and found these people called Baptists to be very serious about their own service and strong in their faith. Being a woman of independent thought from a very early age, I began to understand more of why this was somehow "where" I was supposed to be. And I became a Baptist. I grew in faith, and was exposed to Baptist leaders through experiences at Glorieta, and in my new home church in Oklahoma City — leaders who encouraged me to stretch my boundaries and ask my questions. Leaders in Woman's Missionary Union taught me how to lead, and gave me a place to exercise what I'd learned. My church gave me opportunities beyond that — and people I met along the way placed possibilities on my doorstep that led to leadership in organizations on a state and national level. No job was withheld from me because of my gender. I was aware, however, that was not the case in every Baptist church. However, I was assured that, because local Baptist churches are autonomous, leadership opportunities for women were opening up more and more all across the convention. I wanted to be a part of that growth and change. But in 1979, that kind of growth began to be stunted -- by those at the very top echelons of Baptist leadership. Changes began occurring all right! This summer, those changes led to a new faith statement for Baptists that virtually eliminated those freedoms for which I had developed a passion … for which I had chosen to remain a Baptist. My assignment is to respond to the portions of that 2000 BF&M that speak to women serving in the pastorate, and the addition of Article 18 on the family.I am not an ordained minister. I am a member of the laity of the church — and I work as a support staff member in my church. I do not feel called to the pastorate. My calling is to minister to the minister as assistant to the pastor. But I will defend until I die the right of any of my gender to respond with a resounding "Yes, Lord!" should she receive God's call to preach the gospel from the pulpit or any other venue. The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message specifically denies that right — quoting I Timothy 2:9-14; but fully ignoring Acts 2:17-18; 18:26; 21:9; the women in Romans 16; I Cor. 11:5; Phil. 4:23; I Tim. 3:11 … not to mention Gal. 3:28 — and the very actions of Jesus Christ! The few passages that are cited against a woman teaching men, not speaking in church and being silent reflect the culture of the day – and appear to be in response to particular situations in particular troubled churches. Otherwise, they simply do not gee or haw with the numerous New Testament examples of women in various leadership positions. Even beginning Bible students know that the cultural context is important to the interpretation of scripture. In various places Paul notes women who were teachers, prophets, deacon, and apostles. If you’re still confused about Paul’s thoughts on women in the ministry, read Romans 16. As for women in the pastorate – this is a local church issue. Your church does not have to ordain women or call a woman preacher. Based on an intensive study of scripture, my church came to believe that God calls people to all kinds of ministry, and gender doesn’t come into play when God issues those calls. We continue to encourage all our members to follow God’s call on their lives. And we recognize that we would be in dangerous territory if we were to put ourselves, as a church or as individuals, in the position of judging God’s call to any human being. In responding to the article on the family,I am one half of an equal marriage partnership in the best tradition of that beautiful description of mutual submission in Ephesians 5:21-33, where two have chosen to come together and be a family, mutually submitting to and caring for each other, and for our daughter. But the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message says that is not so for my daughter and me — its interpretation of that scripture is that simply because my husband was born male, he has ultimate earthly power over our family unit. And that says that simply because my daughter and I were born female, we must "graciously submit" to that male authority. I cannot glean that interpretation from Ephesians 5:21-33, especially in light of the actions of Jesus Christ. And neither does my husband. My friend Karen Zurheide, who also happens to be my Sunday School teacher, and married to my pastor, makes an observation that applies to women’s roles – but also to much of the larger context of debate among Baptists. “The word ‘authority’ comes up a lot, she says. “The authority of a husband over a wife – of a pastor over a church – the authority a woman supposedly should not have over men – the authority of a document over professors or associations or churches. Where is this concern coming from?? Authority is not an issue in my home or in my church. There is no battleground for it there.” [Nor does it exist between my pastor and the deacons or committees or staff.] Karen also points out, “If a woman teaches a seminar or a Sunday school class that includes men, she is not exercising authority over them. She is bringing the results of her study and the Holy Spirit guiding her and sharing those with others – to hear and discuss and do with what they will.” And I will add, the same is true of men. I see Christ-like actions spring from the pages of the Bible every day in the lives of women who minister — from members of professional church staff, to traditional stay-at-home moms. Each one of these is acting out God's call upon her life. I cannot accept a faith statement that does not allow all human beings that privilege. The God whose love is so great that it can encompass the whole world … including me … rejoices each time a lamb responds to that love by saying, "I am called of God to take the message of love into all the world — by caring for a family — or by caring for a flock.”
|
|
Online since April 7, 1999
E- mail questions or comments about this web site to bprescott@mainstreambaptists.orgCopyright © 1999-2003 MAINSTREAM OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS P.O. Box 6371 Norman, OK 73070-6371 (405) 329-2266.
|