What are they going to do? The  Augusta National Golf Club, has come across something they never thought they would face when they first opened their club in 1933.  It took 79 years, but they may have to invite a woman into their hallowed all-men’s club.

“On Jan. 1, 2012, IBM named Virginia “Ginni” M. Rometty, a woman, as CEO. Historically, the sitting CEO of International Business Machines (IBM) is offered an invitation for membership. The club has never had a female member, even in the face of repeated public protests.” (sports, Yahoo).

Dan Wetzel says in his article: “I’ve been to Augusta National many times and it is one of the most staid, conservative places imaginable. That’s how they like it. To suggest it is outwardly hostile to women is a stretch, though. There are women everywhere. They can play as guests. They hang out as spouses.” (sounds like a Baptist Church to me.)

Baptists may soon be facing the very same thing.  Women are not standing still.  There is a movement for women’s equality in the churches.  It is going to happen. 

The following is on the website of BBC in Texas.  This is no different than what most Baptist churches have on their website, or in their by-laws.  It is as common as dirt to SBC churches.

The office of deacon is an office for service to Christ through the church.  These qualifications are found in the New Testament, Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3.
 
Men to be considered to the Fellowship of Deacons at BBC, Texas:
1. Shall be a member of the church in good standing;
2. Shall be at least thirty (30) years of age;
3. Shall be spirit filled;
4. Shall set a high standard of Christian living;
5. Shall be active and faithful in all major areas of church life;
6. Shall not be one to gossip;
7. Shall believe and practice tithing to the local church;
8. Shall have compassion for the lost and seek to win them to the Lord Jesus Christ;
9. Shall be the husband of one wife.
10. Shall believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, inerrant and infallible in its original manuscript;
11. Shall believe in salvation by grace, through faith, on the basis of the substitutionary death of Christ for sinners;
12. Shall rule his children and his own house well;
13. Shall be able to keep in confidence those things which should not be discussed with others;
14. Shall recognize the God-given spiritual leadership that is incumbent upon the office of a pastor and seek to serve under that leadership;
15. Shall be a man of prayer.

Personally, I think this list has a little human tinkering to say what they want it to say.  But that is not the point.

Will you help bring about the change in attitude from the pews to the pulpit?  Will you speak out for women’s equality in church?  Will you help women who are struggling under 21^st century church by-laws that are clinging to 1^st century culture and attitudes?  Will you help women understand that “husband of one wife” has no bearing on whether or not she can be a deacon, and means simply that a man is not to have multiple wives at one time?

Join us as we explain the scriptures and show how men and women can serve in church together – that no role is designated “male only.”  Register for the CBE Houston Conference on April 27-28, 2012.