American Baptist Women Of Kansas

CBFMO will provide incentive for churches to consider women as pastors

Most churches Southern Baptists have resisted allowing women to fill roles preaching ministry. While groups like the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and American Baptist Churches USA Ministers have publicly favored women, some of their churches have been slow to call or consider a woman senior pastor.

The CBF of Missouri approved a measure on September 17 in an attempt to encourage search committees to consider at least one female candidate in the search for a pastor - providing cash incentive.

The incentive would be provided to churches that "include a woman candidate in the process ...treat it as a prime candidate, although it is not really one of the best candidates, "CBFMO Associate Coordinator Jeff Langford said in a document distributed at a meeting of the Coordinating Council at Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia .

The proposal was labeled "Rooney Rule," after a rule in the NFL requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate when filling a position of head coach. The NFL may penalize a team who do not.

Langford acknowledged that the Baptist churches can not be told what to do, but the incentive plan would be to encourage them to consider the option. He pointed out that perhaps "somewhere on the line" a congregation that has received assistance would choose a woman as senior pastor.

"Although the church is not ready, the search committee can find an outstanding candidate along the way that changes their perspective, whether for research or for being a future," Has he said.

The concept of a "Rooney Rule" was born from a discussion in AugustOne called by Central Baptist Theological Seminary president Molly Marshall on how to strengthen the role of women in ministry in the Midwest. Participants in the meeting came up with nine options, including the education of congregations, church internships and opportunities for preaching - and the financial proposal.

A Mission Opportunity! PRAIRIE TO TIJUANA, MEXICO – Prairie ...

Our American Baptist missionaries, the Rev. Ray and the Rev. Dr. Adalia Schellinger-Gutierrez, sent an invitation to Prairie Baptist Church to come to Deborah House in Tijuana, Mexico Tuesday, January 3 at Monday, January 9, 2012. It will be a working trip to the mission that we do the work completed on the second floor of the pavilion. The work will involve some work tile, carpentry, painting, finishing and drywall. There will be many tasks for people with low levels of construction experience! And those with higher construction skills are also needed.The dedication of the second floor of the lodge occurs Thursday, January 12 - we're the last group to complete the project!

We will stay on the second floor of Deborah House with beds, bathroom - all mod cons!

Is it safe to Tijuana? What about all the stories I heard about violence in Mexico? Ray states, "The security situation in Tijuana is the best it has ever been during the last decade. Tourism has taken over and it's just a completely different place than it was 3-4 there year when some of the violence in the eastern border of Tijuana hit our city.I do not you come if I do not think you would be safe and secure. "

What's Deborah House? It was launched by the wife of Lower Baptist in response to domestic violence experienced in many families in this city and region. Today, Deborah House is one of only two safe havens for women and children who have experienced violence in their homes. This is a hilltop secure shelter where staff work with mothers in turning around their lives and start over.

About Ray and Adalia?They are controlled American Baptist missionaries who have worked for several years developing Deborah House and awareness to the issue of domestic violence. Adalia is a doctor and Ray is a development specialist. They are a wonderful few inspiring!

Who went? We are not sure yet - but we hope to 10-12 people attend Prairie! You will need a valid passport in the U.S., even if we go a little over the border. It's time for San Diego weather: mild.

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