October 30, 2007 4:59PM
First woman to lead Texas Baptist group
A former missionary to Japan narrowly defeats a West Texas pastor.
Sarah Pulliam
The largest state Baptist convention in the nation elected its first female president yesterday, the Associated Press reports.
Joy Fenner, a former missionary to Japan, narrowly defeated Texas pastor David Lowrie, 900 to840. The Dallas Morning News reports that Fenner's will begin her presidency in a time of trouble for the BGCT, including a budget shortfall, layoffs and a scandal involving church starting funds.
Fenner is not the only "first" for the convention. The AP reports that the convention elected its first Hispanic president in 2004 and its first black president in 2005.
Posted by Sarah Pulliam on October 30, 2007 4:59PM
Comments
I think this years convention was good news for the BGCT. To only miss electing a president that says he wants to cooperate with the SBC by 40 votes. . . WOW! People have long thought these kind of numbers to be impossible to attain at the BGCT meetings. More people will show up next year if a similar candidate is run. Texas Baptists now have hope. . . they can change things by attending the convention. What a difference a real choice makes.
I have long believed that the minority was controling the majority in Texas. The BGCT 2007 annual meeting has proved my hunch right. This years convention was anything but a victory for the status quo. I believe things have just begun to get interesting in Texas.
Lastly, there is no doubt the BGCT needs change. No one could have done a worse job managing mission funds over the past two years. I pray that there is an even bigger showing at next years convention, and perhaps then competant, Bible believing people will be victorious.
Posted by: James at October 30, 2007
Considering women clergy or other issues, I think that first Baptists and other who observe “Christians” in both politics and the pulpit have to consider also this video, a disturbing exploration of the theology of the pastor Paul Washer addressing this issue, in his own words:
“Paul Washer- Is American "Christianity" really Christian? ”
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2977907213395711239
Posted by: Essene Nazarene at November 1, 2007
I wonder if anyone's been here before?
A woman for president ... huh!
This type president is like the pope or Archbishop of a church denomination.
When one sees this one sees a seriously fouled up church .. over the years.
When man makes a mess of God's holy orders along comes woman and man has rendered himself rudderless.
Women should not be bishops or presidents of bishops.
Women should be teachers of the highest calibre ...
teaching the younger women all of their wisdom and understanding and how to stay joyful as a virgin o0r how to love their husbands.
That is where any ambitious spiritual woman should be.
So male bishops .. don't foul up or else all that you dreamt of many years ago will be lost. never to return ....
But many a new church will spring up with the excuse that they just had to break away will surely meet with Yahweh's approval.
Posted by: seekthelord at November 2, 2007
seekthelord, my guess is that you are a middle-aged man with unresolved mother issues...
Posted by: Patrick at November 2, 2007
It's time for the BGCT to repent and get back to the infalliable, inrrant Word of God, and surrender to God's Authority (in personal lives and as a group), instead of being men pleasers and trust in man's opinions - wrong doctrine, (not mean-spirited) but until then this convention needs to die. BGCT - may you reap what you have sown, - destruction.
Just being honestly Frank
Posted by: Frank at November 2, 2007
Congratulations to fellow Texan Baptists for electing a woman, a lady, and a female as president. It is high time for sane and intelligent Baptists to ignore the babbling of those seminary presidents in the SBC and listen to the voice of God. Praise God, the Mother of us all. Amen and
Amen.
Posted by: Wendell Franklin Wentz at November 2, 2007
the issue of women in leadership roles is one that will keep us in disagreement until we recognize what the core argument is, the biblical description of overseer is male, but that doesn't settle what we have going on in today's society, what we need to do is delagate responcibility to those able to be responcible and fire those who are whooly inadequate for a position that requires that level of personal disipline, male, female, straight, gay, all are able to serve christ but not all are willing to abide by scripture and decency.
Posted by: D.M at November 3, 2007
Wendell,
Did you really just say, "God, the Mother of us all"? In the same breathe you called some seminary presidents babblers? Sir, do you no believe in the the inerrancy and truthfulness of the Bible? God is no "Mother to us all." He is the Creator God of the universe; FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.....
Posted by: Sam at November 5, 2007
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