Gospel Today magazine pulled from Christian bookstores' shelves

Smiling women on the cover of a slick magazine. Sold from under the counter. Must request it from store clerk.

Gospel Today

Gospel Today magazine, published in Fayetteville.

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That’s not something a buyer would typically find in a Christian bookstore. Not unless it’s one of the more than 100 Lifeway Christian Bookstores across the United States, including about six in metro Atlanta.

Gospel Today, the Fayetteville-published magazine, was pulled off the racks by the bookstores’ owner, the Southern Baptist Convention. The problem? The five smiling women on the cover are women of the cloth — church pastors.

Southern Baptist polity says that’s a role reserved for men.

Teresa Hairston, owner of Gospel Today, whose glossy pages feature upbeat articles about health, living, music and ministry, said she discovered by e-mail that the September/October issue of the magazine had been demoted to the realm of the risque.

“It’s really kind of sad when you have people like [Gov.] Sarah Palin and [Sen.] Hillary Clinton providing encouragement and being role models for women around the world that we have such a divergent opinion about women who are able to be leaders in the church,” Hairston said. “I was pretty shocked.”

Chris Turner, a spokesman for Lifeway Resources, which runs the stores for the Southern Baptist Convention, said, “It is contrary to what we believe.”

It bases those beliefs on their interpretation of New Testament Scriptures.

Southern Baptist representatives at national meetings have adopted statements saying women should not be pastors, but each church is independent. A few churches have selected women, such as Decatur First Baptist, where the Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell preaches each Sunday from the pulpit.

Pastor Tamara Bennett of California is one of the featured pastors on the magazine cover and talks in the article about the challenges of breaking through the stained-glass ceiling.

“God’s assignment is that no souls are lost and all are saved,” Bennett said. “Gender is not how God sees it. We are about winning souls, period.”

Southern Baptists are not the only ones to frown on women preachers. Catholics, the largest Christian denomination in the nation, do not allow women priests. And some conservative evangelical groups, such as the Presbyterian Church in America, do not ordain women.

“We weren’t trying to pick a fight,” Hairston said. “We just did a story on an emerging trend in a lot of churches.”

Comments

By Jo Anna

Dec 3, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this

Pastor Terry, forgive me for addressing you as Terry. My mom raised me to respect those of authority, and you are a woman of authority. God bless you.

By celdarrolno

Dec 2, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this

licacrolba

By Jo Anna

Dec 1, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

Terry, I applaud you for doing what God has called you to do. Truthfully, others have a calling but are too afraid of what man might say. My mother is a pastor and she is full of wisdom. I am honored to be a member of the church. I watched my mother go through some things because of her calling, and God did call her. Honestly, there are some jealous men out there because some have put themselves behind the pulpit and were not called by God. When God calls you, He qualifies and equips you totally. I have seen miracles due to my pastor's ministry. Honestly, I have seen the women pastors do more in my area than the men. I'm not taking away from the men because we have some dynamic male pastors, and these are men who do not have a problem with female pastors. Who are we to judge another man's servant? Southern Baptist Pastors and any other organizations, woe be unto you. The scipture states, "Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. Psalms 105:15. For those of you who pulled the books off the shelves, may God have mercy on you. Why? You are causing grief to those who are seeking God for answer. Why? because some will take man's word and not God's.

By heather

Dec 1, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

I am very curious, why did Jesus call twelve men to the leadership roles? He clearly used women in all kinds of ways...,but this were supportive roles. I am called to teach and proclaim but God DID make man the head for a reason and God DOES NOT change. I find the reasons for women pastors unable to hold water. I too want to be sure I am Biblical in my opinions lest I twist the Word to advance my position for myself and not my Lord

By Linda McCoy

Dec 1, 2008 7:20 AM | Link to this

My God is so real and so faithful. The holy spirit just woke me out of my sleep, telling me to go forth now in ministry. I prayed Father tell me where and what you want me to do. The lord reminded me that this past thanksgiving he spoke into my spirit five women. This had been prophesed to me years ago. I asked the lord this morning to lead me , I know this is of God. For the past 15 yrs I have been caring for my son who is a vent=depented quadrapligic, God did not release me into my calling until this morning. I would love to be a blessing in this ministry. Please tell me how I can be a part of this movement, as I am willing and ready! To God be all the glory!

By Chris

Nov 26, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

Everyone who shops at Lifeway should boycott them because of this decision. What a closed minded store. It's like they are treating the magazine as bookstores do with Playboy magazine-they hide it and if you really want it you ask for it.

By fortheLORD

Nov 13, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this

This is what happens when biblically illeterate people rely on their own flawed understanding. it is true that the Word of GOD not my word describes fully the ROLE of women in the church. 1 timothy 2:8 - role of women and men in the church - also speaks of women not wearing costly clothing and braided hair - which were symbols of wealth. a woman is to be modestly dressed with all reverence and in fear of teh LORD. older women are to teach...younger women, to admnoish and them and teach them how to love their husbands, etc titus 2:3
The LORD has used women and He will continue to do as He pleases however He does not violate His own word that He has set forth as a command for all true disciples/elect to obey.
So stop adding in your lame opinions from your deceitfully wicked heart and flawed understanding. if it does NOT match up with the WORD it is against the WORD. titus 1:13 states "therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from teh truth" - for indeed the whole subject of female pastors is based on commands of men devoid of understanding, who should take more time reading a bible and less time preaching.

By Ginger James

Nov 12, 2008 7:01 AM | Link to this

We have moved beyond racism in this country, but not sexism! The media would destroy anyone who said horrible things about a person of color, but we tolerant lowering women's status to the belly of a snail and its considered okay? So turn this around: a bookstore refuses to sell publication with a person of color on the cover. Makes a difference doesn't it?

By Terry

Nov 9, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

If anyone has a problem with female pastors or preachers they need to talk to God about it, build a bridge and get over it, because female ministers are here to stay. These women did not wake up one day and say this is what I want to do. God chose them before the foundation of the world. Just to inform you there is no difference in getting the message of the Word of God in singing, writing, teaching or preaching. God uses whom he chooses. If God can use a woman to carry the Word (MARY) or Baalam's donkey to get a message to him then he can surely appoint, anoint and use a woman. God has blessed, saved and delivered both men and women through the ministries of women. If you cannot appreciate that I am sorry to say it is your loss. I pray that you come to the knowledge of the truth soon. (PS-- I am a female preacher ! If it were I my choice I would choose something else but God chose me and I have to answer to Him not men.) God Bless You !!

By Terry

Nov 9, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

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