Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT

Overwhelmed, anxious, & unsure? It’s okay not to be okay, but you don’t have to stay there. You can have freedom & strong relationships. Our team can help!

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@bobsmietana They already had that rule in the BF&M2000. What they did was make a rulier rule with ambiguous language that is deeply concerning. The word “Pharisaical” comes to mind…

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@BethMooreLPM Yes! I just bought it and would love to do it! Job has been fabulous.

[Beth Moore @BethMooreLPM]

Those in the SBC who think I no longer should have anything to say about the SBC profoundly underestimate the power of love. I’d served southern Baptist women for 40 years by the time I left. And when I left, I left directly on their behalf because it became disturbingly clear to me that the SBC as an entity was more interested in protecting shepherds than the sheep entrusted to their care. When protecting the pulpit from women becomes a far greater priority than protecting women (& children) from an abusive pulpit, something is wrong. Which has been the greater problem: women trying to become your senior pastors or pastors misusing or abusing women?

My biggest concern is that what happened with the CRT witch-hunt will happen now in regard to women. The overreach resulted in numerous pastors, teachers and professors dropping the immensely important biblical teachings against racism rather than risk being accused of CRT. I heard from pastors at that time who preached against racism and already had emails Monday morning from people in their congregation accusing them of CRT. Because the difference wasn’t clarified, they lumped all of it into the one category. The aim became: shut every mouth to shut some mouths.

I pled for SBC seminary presidents and leaders to please clarify to pastors and teachers and, thereby, to congregations & students what qualified as CRT and what indeed was the proper and deeply rooted and needed biblical approach to anti-gospel racism.

Crickets.

I see the same potential here. I have never once fought for SBC women to take over church pulpits. I have esteemed and supported the role of male senior pastors. My own pastors would tell you that. If you think I was in the SBC trying to lead a revolution against men, you are clearly not familiar with my materials. What I believed then and believe now is that God has called both men and women to serve their churches and communities and proclaim the gospel. He has poured out his Holy Spirit on men AND on women, calling them to broadcast the good news.

You have beaten the drum loudly about what women in SBC churches cannot do. So, what CAN they do? Clarity here is essential. What is a woman to do who has been gifted BY GOD to teach the Bible, especially if her church has moved to the community group model and there is no Sunday school to teach?

Here is what I see on the horizon. If you leave these matters involving women so vague that it becomes about pastoral roles/actions rather than the title of pastor, it will shift to the subjective rather than objective. I wish I was naïve enough to think that wasn’t the point to some of these leaders but, sadly, I’m not.

What if that senior pastor doesn’t allow a woman on the prayer team to pray over people at the end of the service because he deems she is acting pastorally? What if the pastor sees that a woman’s Sunday school class of WOMEN is getting, in his estimation, a little too big? Can he just decide she acting pastorally and remove her from the role? Can she counsel people with her God-given wisdom and knowledge or would she be acting pastorally? The examples could go on and on. And, of course, I realize many would not use their positions to disesteem women but surely you and I both know countless others would. God only knows how many unqualified, unloving, mean-spirited men are in pastoral positions but the obsession remains the women.

I have no desire to see SBC women leave the denomination. I loved and flourished in that denomination. I want them to be able to flourish in their spiritual gifts. I want them to be esteemed in their serving inside and outside their homes. I want them to be able to serve Jesus and proclaim his glorious gospel.

I know I’m going to get hit here. That’s fine. But you should know I will fight for them to the death. Because I love them. And, yes, whether they love me or not.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@jasonkovacs I’ll also make mention of this -
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 CSB

The world is watching. The division is heartbreaking & it’s all open-hand issues (meaning not salvific).

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@jasonkovacs I agree. We’re not the enemy or polluted zombies. I partner w/amazing biblical counselors & our clients benefit. In addition to practicing certain effective therapies, I can stand in a court of law as an expert witness b/c of the alphabet soup after my name. We all have a role.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@jasonkovacs I’ll also note I was once invited to a bachelor party of seminarians - some groomsmen were from a rival seminary. Why? Because I know my Bible that well. Groom said “You’ll wipe the floor with those boys scripturally.” Groom was SEBTS, lest anyone think it was a liberal space.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@jasonkovacs Here is my question - has Heath ever once sat with one of us who actually does these therapies he so easily pans? His assumptions are wholly inaccurate in many places.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@TovRose @BozT Oh, it’s used. Against the victims.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@BethMooreLPM As someone who helps those survivors pick up their shattered lives, it’s a devastating reality. I hold fast to the fact God won’t be mocked. One day He will deal with those who abuse & those who enabled if there is no repentance.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@jeremypierre I’d really like to see this in conjunction with an fMRI of the brain.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@natejbrooks @BobKellemen I agree completely. I’ve asked this very question many times, “Didn’t Paul quote a secular philosopher to make a point about God?” These silly divisions don’t “protect the faith” - they harm those in need of help by adding arbitrary limitations.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@sheilagregoire Criminal. And wicked. What ever happened to encouraging your brother who is walking in sin to repent? And repentance does not mean shield from consequences. It actually means owning what you did all the way & turning in a whole other direction. The enablers are, frankly, unloving

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@BobKellemen @chuckdegroat When Narcissism Comes to Church. A Church Called Tov, Laura Barringer & Scot McKnight. Bully Pulipit, Michael Kruger. Redeeming Power, Diane Langberg

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

We need coercive control laws to protect those being abused. Coercive control generally happens long before any physical abuse. Such laws can save lives.

[ABC11 EyewitnessNews @ABC11_WTVD]

Attorney urges passage of 'Mica's Law' after death of pastor's estranged wife https://t.co/NKThCHiN2Z

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@natejbrooks @SEBTS When did y’all get a PhD for this?! I need to talk to Tate!

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@BobKellemen I’m of the opinion that we should be good reviewers & be able to assess research methods well. There are a lot of helpful observations in research. Additionally, doesn’t the Holy Spirit live in those who know Christ? If that’s true, wouldn’t He be able to give us discernment?

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@KristinKellen @WaulkThisWay Amen and amen. Would be amazing to have some excellent research studies!!!

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@natejbrooks @SEBTS 2/2 He never asked why I was divorced (it was abuse). @LibertyU welcomed me. I was an older student & a pastor’s daughter so I added more theological components. In some cases the delineation between biblical & integrationist is artificial. More conversations & grace are needed.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@natejbrooks 1/2 I appreciate this. I graduated from what is called an integrationist program & have been slammed for being licensed. Yet no one ever asks how I practice or even what I believe. At the time I was looking at grad school as a single mom an @SEBTS told me to remarry instead.

[Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT, LCMHC, LPC, CCTP, CSAT @Journey_Process]

@KaeleyT Abuse isn’t only physical/sexual. Coercive control is where it starts. Evan Stark’s work on coercive control is helpful. Additionally, abuse thru coercive control breaks the covenant. God doesn’t care more about the marriage than the people in it & He is against oppression.