Dr. Molly Marshall’s Charge to Participants in the Access and Equity for Women Clergy Conference

 

Dr. Molly Marshall, long-time champion of clergywomen and President of Central Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered her message by video to participants at the Access and Equity for Women Clergy Conference, October 25-26. Here are some excerpts from her inspiring message:

The Holy Spirit is at work in some particular ways in our time. One of those is gender equity in the life of the church. I think the church is also being moved by the Spirit to consider issues of human sexuality and interfaith relations. Often women are at the forefront of these movements, cooperating with the Spirit. When a church calls a woman as pastor, that church experiences the holy nudge to become more compassionate and more inclusive.

I want to offer encouragement that as you go from this gathering you will have the ongoing strengthening that you need. I want to encourage you to be full of courage. It’s not easy work to change the social or ecclesial landscape, and it requires that we continue to be persons of courage—not risk averse, not so fearful of failure that we will not be able to continue. I hope you will be willing to risk something large. We need to dream large if we would participate in God’s great mission in the world. I encourage you always to rely on the supply of the Spirit. Be of good courage. Do not fear to risk.

Listen to Dr. Molly Marshall’s entire message:  http://vimeo.com/78290292

For the past thirty years Dr. Molly T. Marshall has been in theological education. She served as Visiting Professor of Theology, Spiritual Formation, and Worship for two years and was elected as the Professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation with tenure at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in 1997. Beginning in 2004 she served as Central’s Acting Academic Dean until her appointment as President of the seminary. Previously, Dr. Marshall was Associate Professor of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. She has also served as youth minister, campus minister, and pastor in churches across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She was one of the founders of Baptist Women in Ministry. Her publications include No Salvation Outside the Church?; What it Means to Be Human; Joining the Dance: a Theology of the Spirit, two volumes of Trinitarian Soundings, a collection of reflections on the lectionary; numerous chapters in books, dictionary and journal articles, and Bible study curricula.