Baptists,Women,and Ministry

Abstract

There has been a long tradition of women’s ministry in Baptist Churches in the UK. This article outlines this hidden story, from the pioneering days of women preachers, through the rise of the Deaconess Order, to women’s ordination and the present day. Reports from the Baptist Union show a lively debate, against the backdrop of changing times in the twentieth century. The article looks at women’s representation on national decision-making bodies and in national office. Women were seen as ‘complementary’ to men in nature and ministry, but often did not fit the expected roles. It ends with a call to reclaim the radical non-conformity of the Baptist tradition, with its focus on the call of God as the authority for all ministries.