Is this Congregationalism?

Is this Congregationalism? June 13, 2019

Is this congregationalism? soul freedom? Or what is this? Federal representation?

The 2011 Faith Matters Survey — a study from Harvard and Notre Dame that surveyed 2,646 Americans — asked respondents how much they agreed with the following statement, “Women should be allowed to be priests or clergy in my house of worship.”

Three quarters (77.8%) of Americans agree. That includes two-thirds (64.7%) of Southern Baptists and Roman Catholics (68.9%). That could accurately be described as strong levels of support.

Southern Baptist women in particular seem ready to accept women as pastors.

Three quarters (73.1%) of female Southern Baptists favor women in the pulpit, compared to just 58.1% of Southern Baptist men. And half of Southern Baptist women along with four in 10 men strongly support women clergy.

About 12% of Southern Baptist men strongly disagree with women clergy. So do about 7% of Southern Baptist women.

Looked at from this view, a doctrinal change for the SBC on this issue would seem to please many more people than it would anger.

So, why hasn’t it happened?


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