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Last week Southern Baptists made national news (repeatedly) for a trifecta. First, for refusing to reinstate two churches (after ejecting them earlier this year). Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and Saddleback Church (campuses across southern California) are congregations led by ordained women. Second, the SBC doubled down on the deal and passed strident new rules against women's pastoral leadership (which have to be voted again next year). Finally, they failed (again) to do anything remarkable or helpful for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of victims of sexual assault and abuse by SBC clergy. 

We have rounded up some articles and links for you to explore what happened and several opinions and analysis that help to interpret it. 

The actions and words of the SBC not only hurt Southern Baptist people, they also do harm to all clergywomen. Have you checked your social media feed this week? Soooo many women re-telling their call and ordiation stories. And they damage the witness of Christians everywhere.  

I've been writing about clergywomen and the SBC for 20+ years. Currently the Kindle version of my book Anatomy of a Schism: How Clergywomen's Narratives Reinterpret the Fracturing of the Southern Baptist Convention is on sale for $14.44. 

It presents the narratives of five ordained Baptist women and shows through their stories exactly what is at stake theologically and psychologically in the earlier split of the SBC. This won't surprise you... the same issues are on the table now. Hint: it is the full humanity of women that is under attack and the anxiety of holding on to power by white men that motivates the cultural and psychological struggles. Read more of my analysis in my BNG opinion piece drawing on a game metaphor from the book. Women are still being tossed around like footballs in 2023. 

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What happened at the SBC last week?

articles and opinions to sort it out

Anti-egalitarian forces make clean sweep at SBC annual meeting by BNG Editor Mark Wingfield

Baptists, football and women who changed the game
by Eileen Campbell-Reed

Baptist Women in Ministry STATEMENT of response

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Statement-in-Response-to-the-SBC-s-Actions.html

My ordination is precious to me
by Susan M. Shaw

The SBC 2023: When dogma trumps gospel

by Bill Leonard

To the SBC: A Baptist preacher has her say

by Aileen Mitchell Lawrimore

SBC annual meeting reveals little progress on sexual abuse, not even ‘bare minimum’ 
by Christa Brown

NPR Interview with Dr. Monique Moultrie

Southern Baptists Continue their long tradition of silencing women 
by Betsy Phillips

This one is higher on the humor and snark scale. Enjoy!

A raft of additional news, opinion, and analysis at Baptist News Global

Clergywomen figure large in the 
#PandemicPastoring Report 
by Eileen Campbell-Reed

This is a link to the #PandemicPastoring Report (in the 3MMM download gallery). The report was published in September 2022. Additionally, at this page you can read more news and view the #PPR webinar featuring two other clergywomen. We discuss the impact of the last three years on pastors, chaplains, and ministers, including the disproportionate impact on parents and clergywomen. 

If you have news about clergywomen in your region or your denomination that you would like to share more widely, please contact me and tell me more!

Preach on sisters and brothers, siblings and elders.

We need every voice to declare the goodness and love of God.

Peace, 
Eileen