What is the position of HRBC on the role of women in the church? (Recently, the Southern Baptist Convention amended its constitution to include a permanent ban on female pastors. This was over and above the Baptist Faith and Message which was revised in 2000 toward this same restriction: 

The SBC’s statement of faith, the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (BFM), already takes a position on this issue, saying, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

Source: ChurchLeaders newsletter, June 15, 2023.

In light of this decision, someone might ask about our theological understanding and position on women in ministry.)  I am thankful to serve at a church that fully embraces God’s call of both women and men into any role in ministry, whether ordained as clergy or as a lay person.  We have previously published the following statement in the “About Us” tab on our website:  

“We believe God calls and gifts both women and men for the work of ministry and holds us accountable for our obedience to his leadership.” 

This understanding has been part of our polity for several decades.  It is rooted in the scriptural truth that we are all created in the image of God (imago Dei) found in Genesis 1:26-28 as well as in the way Jesus valued women in his ministry, so much so that women were the first eyewitnesses to the Resurrection (see John 20:11-18; Matthew 28:1-9). We also understand that our sovereign God may call any person as God desires to do his bidding.   

As I was preparing the sermon for Sunday, June 18, I sensed that I needed to speak to this matter given that there might be some misunderstanding about all this given that the word “Baptist” has had so much press.  I wanted to ensure there was clarity on how HRBC practices its polity as it relates to the role of women in the church.  The following is an excerpt from the sermon entitled, “Conduits and Connections” from Romans 5:1-8.  The key verse and big idea of the message are as follows:

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

Romans 5:1-2, emphasis mine

Big Idea:

Through Christ, we have access to the grace and love of God. Are we, who have received access to the Father, being accessible to others? 

Here is how I addressed the role of women at HRBC:   

[On Sunday June 11], we looked at the life of Abraham.  God called him to leave where he was and go to the place God would show him.  And God promised that he would bless Abraham and that Abraham would be a blessing.  In fact, both Abraham and Sarah would receive God’s blessing and they would be a blessing to others, for God’s redemptive work came through their offspring.  The nation of Israel would be God’s chosen people, through whom would come Jesus the Messiah, whose purpose was to make peace with God accessible to every human being.  We said that like Abraham, every person has a calling to be blessed and to be a blessing.   

Women and Men are Called

At Huguenot Road Baptist Church, we want to affirm the calling of every Christian, female and male, to live out their  calling of God.  For some, this is to serve as a lay person in one of the many roles in the church.  For others, this is to respond to a call to vocational, ordained ministry.   

Our church affords the opportunity to women and men to serve as pastors of any role as they are called by God.  We affirm women and men as teachers in any capacity as they are called by God.  We have and will continue to ordain both women and men to the gospel ministry as God leads.   

In the past, we have ordained five women to the gospel ministry: Rev. Emily Browning, Rev. Susan Price, Dr. Melissa Fallen, Rev Kristin Francisco and Rev. Joan Maples.  We are grateful that HRBC provides the opportunity for girls and boys to aspire to be pastors is God calls.  That they have a church that will provide that opportunity and nurture their call as God leads.   

This past week, the Southern Baptist Convention voted that only men are allowed to serve as pastors and that women are not permitted to serve as pastors of any type or to teach men.  Earlier this year, the SBC made a list of its churches that were known to have women serving in pastoral roles and they made this list public, almost as a witch hunt.  All this came to a head last week at their convention and it was a sad day that many people who may be on the fringes or who don’t follow Jesus at all see this type of narrow mindset that puts a scar on the Baptist family and stumbling blocks in the path of many. 

I am thankful that this church has not only ordained women to the gospel ministry, but that we have also ordained women as deacons for many decades.  We have had a number of female deacon coordinators including current deacon coordinator, Sandra Lynch.  

Our church left the Southern Baptist Convention in spirit many years ago and formally within the last five years [January 2018 according to our Moderator].  We are affiliated with the River City Faith Network (local), the Baptist General Association of Virginia (state), the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global as well as the Baptist World Alliance.  If we were part of the SBC, we would have been on their list to disassociate because of our stance on women in ministry.   

It is good that many in our congregation and others with a similar theological position saw the way things were heading in the SBC and made the decision to part ways.  This was not easy, for many in our church had a long-time relationship with the SBC, especially through its missions around the globe through the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board).  Even now, there is wonderful work being done in the name of Jesus by thousands of faithful Southern Baptists all over the world.   

Sadly, the decision of a small group of leaders has put a stain on this work and on the name “Baptist.”  But we [at HRBC] can say today that we are being true to our calling as an autonomous Baptist congregation.    

Let us join together as conduits of kindness who help others have access to the peace of God and his amazing grace through Jesus Christ our Lord.   

How can we do this?   It means allowing God’s love and compassion to flow through you and me to touch the lives of others . . . it’s not what you can do, it’s what God can do through you (and me). 

[If you would like to talk further or have questions on any of the above, please reach out by phone or email and I would be happy to talk or meet.] 

In Christ’s care,