Georgia Baptists target second church with woman pastor

ATLANTA (ABP) — For the second straight year, the Georgia Baptist Convention is poised to cut ties with a church over the issue of women in ministry.

Graham Walker, co-pastor of Druid Hills Baptist Church in Atlanta, said March 18 he learned the state convention's executive committee is recommending that messengers to this year's annual meeting withdraw fellowship from the historic congregation for violating an article in the Baptist Faith & Message limiting the role of pastor to men.

Walker said that in a Jan. 25 meeting, Robert White, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Convention, acknowledged that co-pastor Mimi Walker, who has been listed as a pastor in the state convention's annual record book since 2003, would not have been a problem before the state group voted to adopt changes made to the document in 2000 as the convention's standard.

Under the revised standard, White reportedly said, the convention "no longer" accepts autonomous churches that choose to call a woman as their pastor.

Graham Walker said that unlike First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., which did not send messengers to last year's convention to challenge its removal for calling a woman pastor in 2007, Druid Hills plans to be present at the Nov. 15-16 convention at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., to respond.

Walker said that Louie Newton, a president of the Southern Baptist Convention who was pastor at Druid Hills 40 years before his retirement in 1969, is "all over" plaques, buildings and endowments named in his honor in the state convention.

"Newton was known for doing the creative, innovative thing and following the Spirit's lead in missional directions," Walker said. "Now, because Druid Hills Baptist Church does not conform they are to be disfellowshipped."

"Well, Druid Hills Baptist Church has not had that history, nor will it," he said.

Established in 1914, according to the church website, Druid Hills Baptist Church from the beginning has been a church oriented towards innovation and growth. It was among one of the first Baptist churches in the South to hold vacation Bible School and co-educational adult Sunday-school class. It is now the last Baptist church in downtown Atlanta located in a diverse neighborhood at the corner of Ponce and Highlands.

Walker said that during the meeting with convention officials, White said he was saddened to bring news of the impending vote to one of its early founding churches that helped to build the state convention under Newton's leadership. But he said as executive director he had no choice but to abide by convention policies and that the state convention has no intention of changing its policy against women pastors.

After the Jan. 25 meeting, Walker said, the congregation voted to affirm its support for women in ministry and to prepare a response should the state convention withdraw fellowship.

Georgia Baptist Convention officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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