Southern Baptist leaders are losing their minds over the inclusion of Hosanna Wong, a female pastor, as a guest at an upcoming conference.
She’s not even listed as a “speaker” on the conference’s website, just a “special guest,” but the presence of that much estrogen is apparently a bridge too far for these Christians who can’t handle the idea of learning anything from a woman.
Like Sam Bunnell, a worship pastor from Nevada:
The last thing I want to do is sow discord in the body of Christ. And I do not believe I'm doing so. I must, however, question @PastorDavidUth on @SBCPastorsConf including @waynecordeiro & Hosanna Wong. This does not represent the majority of the SBC. We will fight for right.
— Sam Bunnell (@sambunnell) February 11, 2020
And theologian Michael Frost, who urged people to pray for Wong.
This is Hosanna Wong, the teaching pastor at EastLake Church. She was invited to speak at the SBC’s Pastors’ Conference, but SBC pastors have written a letter of protest, demanding that she repent, and threatening to withhold all funding until she is disinvited. Pray for her. pic.twitter.com/TxPBfXCK1x
— Michael Frost (@michaelfrost6) February 12, 2020
Wong won’t be preaching at the event (heaven forbid) but the very fact that she is ordained is enough to ruffle the delicate feathers of the men folk. These are the same people who defended Paige Patterson and other Southern Baptist leaders whose actions have been disgraceful, but a female preacher? Outrageous.
These male attendees are also treating Wong’s invitation far more seriously than the rampant sexual abuse within their churches, as pointed out on Twitter by abuse survivor and advocate Rachael Denhollander:
Note what is taking place here:
1. A woman is coming to the SBC pastor's conference to perform a piece during worship.
Her role in her own church is as pastor, in conflict with the SBC BFM.
What are leaders doing given this?
The potential responses on the table include: https://t.co/53T7DbRwvx
— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) February 12, 2020
The conference organizers have been monitoring social media to ensure that Wong’s presence will not be a threat to her safety. But the fact that they have to do that at all says a lot about the toxicity of that Southern Baptist culture.
(via The Christian Post)
