A Southern Baptist church in Missouri is under scrutiny by its local association for replacing a pastor who resigned for health reasons with his daughter.
Melody Pryor, pastor of First Baptist Church, Stanton, Mo., said she first had a notion of being a pastor while in the second grade but “blew it off” as something a girl couldn’t do. While taking classes at Oklahoma Baptist University, a professor told her he saw “a pastor in you.”
Knowing that Southern Baptists as a denomination do not accept women as pastors, “I thought I would have to change denominations,” the retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant said.
When her father, Harry Pryor, was sidelined by illness in June, the church didn’t have enough time to call someone immediately to fill in. Melody had led January Bible studies at First, Stanton, and her father had allowed her to preach a couple times. So she filled in, believing he would be back in a few weeks.
But under his doctor’s advice, Harry Pryor resigned as pastor Aug. 8. The congregation elected a search committee and asked her to continue to fill in until a new minister was hired.
Remembering that her father had been opposed to women pastors, she recalled: “I met with Dad but I was ready to fight. I told him that I think women could be pastors if God calls them. Dad told me his feeling had changed. Mom and Dad have been supportive.”
She also knew the church might face difficulties for calling a woman as pastor.
Though there was some opposition, the congregation voted to call her. Some members left the church after the vote, and a few others have moved elsewhere since then.
The church’s association, which counts First, Stanton, as a member church, has asked Melody to resign or the congregation to rescind its call to her. Otherwise, the church faces being removed from the association.
(ABP)
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