Churches observe month for Baptist women in pulpit

ATLANTA — A total of 104 churches reported inviting a woman to preach in February for an annual promotion both to celebrate and educate congregations about women in ministry.

Pam Durso, executive director of Baptist Women in Ministry, said churches in 18 states and the District of Columbia participated in the 2010 Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching.

Durso said the influential 18th-century Baptist woman preacher for whom the event is named — largely forgotten by many historians — “would be proud” of the response, which has grown from 55 churches since the first year of observance in 2007.

First Baptist Church of Williams in Jacksonville, Ala., which has welcomed women preachers for many years, participated formally in Martha Stearns Marshall Month for the second time.

“In our church we believe that God can call anyone to the ministry and to serve, and so we take this opportunity to support the calling of women to ministry,” Pastor Mike Oliver said.