Lifeway Christian Bookstores, owned by the Southern Baptist Convention, pulled from its racks the latest issue of Gospel Today because it featured some prominent women pastors.
The Southern Baptist Convention opposes women pastors.
In case you're wondering how so many prominent Southern Baptists can support Sarah Palin for vice president and oppose women pastors, here's the explanation from Richard Land, a big Palin fan and Southern Baptist leader.
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While I agree with Chet's final assessment of Gov. Palin, I think your use of scripture in reaching that final assessment is problematic. Why are you equating the life of Mary with the lives of American women in the 21st century? It's just ludicrous. I mean, the bible doesn't portray women driving around in cars or wearing pants or being contestants on TV reality shows either, right?
This method of trying to answer all of modern life's problems by going back to the bible is crazy, and this is yet another reason why so many would rather go to the dentist each week for a root canal than participate in organized religion of this vein.
And just what does Sarah P. have to do with the women ministers on the front of the "forbidden" magazine? That would be...nothing!
It is interesting that some time back, Paula White a female pastor, was also on the cover of this same magazine. Oddly enough, Lifeway did not choose to pull the magazine on that occasion. Could both gender AND race have something to do with this decision and not just "their theology"?
The ABC evening news tonight had a report on the removing of the magazine from the racks during a report on Southern Baptists saying it's OK for a woman to be president or VP, but NOT a pastor. Reason? Poor one...the Bible says men should lead. Fortunately they also talked to a Southern Baptist pastor who wasn't worried about the Southern Baptist's convention saying that they disagree with women being the head of a church. She said she answered to a "higher authority".
I doubt I can change any minds about the rightness of women in pastoral leadership, so I won't get into that debate (though for the record I think women make great pastors).
What I find interesting is the position of the SBC and Lifeway. Hiding a magazine you don't agree with seems the tactic of an organization that is afraid of ideas and on the defensive. Haven't the SBC heard of the internet? I have never heard of this magazine before, but this attempt at commercial censorship has made me aware of it, and, more importantly, the SBC's reaction. Think I will check it out online just to see what the SBC is afraid of...
May God continue to bless all the Southern Baptists.
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