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I tell people about Jesus Christ, not about John Calvin or Charles Spurgeon.
But yet, even the SBC's own web site states that the Baptist Faith & Message and resolutions, "is not binding upon local churches". Therefore it seems that a local Baptist church could have a woman pastor and still be a member of the SBC. It would appear that both the 4C's and the SBC do not bind the consciences of their respective congregations on this matter of women ministerial credentials
C.M. Sheffield is so often right on nearly everything, and his approach to issues so scholarly yet humble, Nevertheless with a fair amount of caution I must disagree with his previous remarks on my earlier post about a possible home for Baptists and Presbyterians.
My previous post suggested that the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, the 4C's, is a place where congregations and individuals that hold paedobaptist and credobaptist views exist side by side amicably (I am a paedobaptist).
I am thus surprised and disappointed that C.M. would use this particular forum to launch a criticism against the 4C's position on the credentialing of women ministers., a topic that has nothing to do with this particular forum .
However, since C.M.'s questioning of the conservatism of the 4C's is so sharp, and I believe unfair, I am forced to come to the defense of the 4C's to provide some facts that would give a fuller picture on the situation.
Out of 302 churches in the Conference, 4 of them are pastored by women but only one of these women has her ministerial credentials with the 4C's. Additionally 2 other churches are pastored by husband and wife teams, but only one of these teams has their ministerial credentials with the 4C's. Thus, even though I believe that one woman with ministerial credentials is one woman too many, the picture of the 4C's as being egalitarian in practice with regard to women ministers, is entirely unrealistic and far from the truth.
Because of our congregational polity, there is no requirement in the 4C's for pastors of 4C churches to have their ministerial credentials with the Conference. Thus we have pastors of 4C churches credentialed with Presbyterian, Baptist, C&MA, Ev Free and other Protestant bodies.
I am pleased that the Southern Baptist Convention is in the hands of the conservative evangelicals and not controlled by the moderates. I agree with the SBC's position on women in ministerial leadership (complementarian). But yet, even the SBC's own web site states that the Baptist Faith & Message and resolutions, "is not binding upon local churches". Therefore it seems that a local Baptist church could have a woman pastor and still be a member of the SBC. It would appear that both the 4C's and the SBC do not bind the consciences of their respective congregations on this matter of women ministerial credentials.
I must state with my strongest ardor that I do not approve of the 4C's position on credentialing women ministers. I have worked many years to change it to the credentialing of only men ministers. I am a member/supporter of the Council On Biblical Manhood & Womanhood (CBMW). For many years I have represented the CBMW at the Annual Meetings of the 4C's as an exhibitor. Each year our materials and presence has been received warmly. The complementarian position is probably the majority view in the 4C's.
I am comfortable with the conservatism and the orthodoxy of the 4C's regardless of it's position on the credentialing of women ministers, but I am not complacent. Yet even amongst our membership is David Wells of Gordon-Conwell, and the late Moshe Rosen, Founder of Jews for Jesus was one of our ministers. Please pray for us and join us if you identify with the Pilgrims and English Separatists.