06/11/2026
As conversations about women in pastoral roles continue across Baptist life and in the news, we want to be clear: First Baptist wholeheartedly affirms women in ministry.
This isn't a departure from Scripture and tradition. It's rooted in it.
We believe the Bible when it says:
📖 Women and men alike would preach because of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Joel 2:28–29, Acts 2:17
📖 It was women who first announced the resurrection of Christ in all four gospels. Matt. 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20
📖 The evangelist Philip had four daughters who had the gift of preaching. Acts 21:9
📖 Phoebe served as a deaconess in the early church. Rom. 16:1
📖 In Christ, all distinctions (social, ethnic, economic, and gender) are done away with. Gal. 3:28, Acts 2:17, Joel 2:28-29
Baptists in England and the U.S. have ordained women as deacons and preachers since the 1600s. This is not new ground. It is faithful ground.
🧡 FBC JC began ordaining women deacons in 1994. 13 of our 44 active deacons are women.
🧡 We have ordained four women to the Gospel Ministry.
🧡 Today, we are blessed to have two female pastors on staff, including our Lead Pastor.
The women who are deacons and on the pastoral team at FBC JC make an invaluable, life-giving contribution to the kingdom and bear witness to God's calling upon their lives.
We are grateful to be part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship denomination, which supports and advocates for women in ministry. https://cbf.net/cbfs-baxley-god-equally-calls-women-and-men-to-all-places-of-leadership-in-the-church-including-preaching-pastoral-leadership-and-as-senior-pastor/
We pray for all who are discerning a call to serve. And if you're a woman wondering if there's a church where your calling is truly welcome, or a parent raising daughters and sons who should see women lead, we welcome you.
