Our debate ultimately is about the dignity and humanity of women

This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on March 5, 2025.

A conservative friend on social media recently admitted that some of the storylines around Donald Trump’s second term have been extreme but concluded this is simply the way the pendulum swings. In one sense, what he said was true.

Since Jimmy Carter, the Democrats have won six presidential elections, while the Republicans have won seven. Additionally, since World War II, whenever a president takes office, their party loses an average of 26 seats in the House and four seats in the Senate during the first midterm elections. Back and forth we go.

Are we conservative or liberal? Capitalist or socialist? A republic or a democracy? Environmentally conscious or unconcerned? Pro-choice or pro-life? Affirming of same-sex marriage or only of traditional marriage? Do we want to provide universal health care or privatize everything? Forgive student loan debt or blame 18 year olds for taking out loans?

Our answers to these fundamental questions as a society seem to swing back and forth, based on whoever has the power of the executive order. But should power be the determining factor in how we treat one another?

“Should power be the determining factor in how we treat one another?”

When we consider these questions, the social location and posture toward neighbor of the people answering these questions matter. For example, when discussing the roles of men and women in society, the social location and posture of men in power claiming they have a right to be in authority over women should be weighed differently than when women who don’t have that same power simply want to be free to live their lives. A man concerned with power is fundamentally different than a woman concerned with liberty.

In this conversation, the topic is not one of which policies should be in place based on an ever-swinging pendulum of reactionary politics. The topic at the table is ultimately about the dignity and humanity of women.

Women’s roles in church and society

Two years ago, as the Southern Baptist Convention was debating whether or not to remove Saddleback Church and any Baptist churches that allow women to preach or be called pastors, Rick Warren told Russell Moore the SBC was “weaponizing” its confession of faith and “starting an inquisition” that would result in “millions of godly Southern Baptist women” having their “gifts and leadership skills … stymied.”

At the time, his position was that Southern Baptists should be allowed to disagree with one another over “what you name your staff.” He added: “This is my interpretation. I have to say with humility, it doesn’t bother me if you disagree with me.”

While I was thankful for Warren calling into question the SBC’s posture toward women, my concern was that the dignity of women shouldn’t be treated as a secondary issue.

Continue reading at Baptist News Global.