Barnabas File

Our church participated in the Martha Stearns   Marshall   Month of Preaching this morning with Dayna Thompson Schoonmaker as our preacher.  She brought a thoughtful and challenging message on Luke 7:11-17. Dayna is the wife of our pastor, Noel, but is also a graduate of Wake Forest Divinity School who knows how to handle herself in the pulpit.  Her presence and preparation came across strongly in the message. Dayna is not the first woman to preach in our pulpit this year, but I am always happy when we have a woman preacher.  Hearing the Word from a woman’s perspective is always a bit different and, since over half of congregation is female, long overdue. At the same time, having women preach is a testimony to our children and youth, both male and female, that God’s call is not limited.  Women serve in our church as deacons, committee chairs, Sunday school director, and a number of other positions. Some of the roles filled by women are rather t...

Pam Durso of Baptist Women in Ministry Many friends in local African-American churches participated in special Martin Luther King Day events this weekend.  They were not simply celebrating the life of this courageous leader, they were affirming the message that he preached and committing themselves to continuing to pursue his dream.  For these folks, remembering the work of Dr. King and others who continue to fight to overcome discrimination is part of their DNA.  If only Euro-Americans in progressive Baptist churches were as committed to the cause of ending ministerial discrimination against women!  Baptist Women in Ministry promotes Martha Stearns Marshall Month in February, asking churches to invite a woman to preach one Sunday in recognition of those women who are called to ministry and affirming a particular woman minister.  Too often when this is suggested to the pastor, the worship committee, or the denominational relations committee, the respon...