Sierra Ward

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

I don't know how (yes I do, it was Modern Family. And sunshine.) but LA is fast climbing my list of places to visit.

[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.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Now I watch Modern Family just to see some sunshine.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice....

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Didn't get a sticker 😕 but am happy to say that I've officially submitted my absentee ballot.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

I can totally see why people vote a straight ticket in US elections. It takes a lot of time to really research all the (checks notes) 73 candidates running for all (checks notes) 27 positions on my ballot. Full disclosure: I haven't had time to even look at them all. I get it.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Got my absentee hallot today! Woot woot! 🎉🥳🇺🇸 But what's up with the constitutional amendment referendum?? Need some NC peeps to fill me in, please.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Studying (British: revising) for a Life in the UK test with 24 questions. Until today, thought I could only miss 1 question and still pass. Turns out I can pass with a score of 75%. So, I could miss the same number of questions as the number of wives Henry VIII had and still pass

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

There are disappointingly few postmen named Pat who travel their postal routes with a black-and-white cat.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

@lesswithoutyou Just demonstrated the Good Morning song from camp (Way up in the sky, etc) to our two year-old, and it has now been requested about five times in a row. He's practicing the actions. So proud.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Parents' flight to us is delayed, which could mean a missed connection at Heathrow, and the American in me said I'd just go pick them up in London to get them here earlier. The British husband, however, pointed out that it's ten hours in the car with a toddler.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

I demand a re-watch.

[Josh RR Jokien @joshcarlosjosh]

sam's speech in the two towers gets me every time, without fail

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Making BBQ pulled pork for lunch tomorrow (a labo/u/r of love) bc it's the American food I miss most right. Sorry, Tex-Mex and Chick-fil-A (you're such close runners-up! Your times will come. ;) )

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! 🤣

[VeryBritishProblems @SoVeryBritish]

I beg your pardon

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Grateful for your NHS, Mr. Bevan. Hoping it doesn't get privatised to death.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

One takeaway from our recent trip Stateside is: I had forgotten how QUICK washing machines are! Dryers too. A normal load was done in half an hour. Where can I get one of those here? 🧺

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Would CS Lewis have been a Twitter user? Discuss.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

This airport (it's Dulles in DC) has a Chick-fil-A in the concourse, past security. Last meal Stateside = sorted.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Beyoncé was doing a concert last night, about 20 mins away. And on my way home from work I thought, 'I want to be one of those people who go to concerts for fun.'

Then I hit concert traffic.

[Sierra Ward @SierraMist201]

Still buzzing that I glimpsed a hedgehog in our back garden last night. Life.