'Male allies' initiative to launch 

A new initiative to enable male Baptist ministers to be better allies for women in ministry and leadership begins in early 2025

 
The question of how male ministers could offer improved support for female colleagues was raised by the recent Project Violet research.
 
Project Violet is a major study into women’s experience of ministry, which has sought to understand more fully the theological, missional, and structural obstacles women ministers face in the Baptist community in England and Wales.
 
One of its 57 requests for change - Request 12 - is a 'Call for male Ministers to be allies in private and public'.
 
One response to this is a series of Zoom sessions to explore the book Good Guys - How Men Can Be Better Allies for Women in the Workplace, by David G. Smith & W. Brad Johnson.
 
They will take place on Friday lunchtimes from 31 January to 14 March (not including 21 February due to it being half-term).
 
The aim is for the group to reflect theologically together and commit 'to being part of the solution in overcoming gender injustice in our ministry and practice.'
 
These conversations are open to anyone serving in a Baptist context within Baptists Together.
 
The initiative has been developed by Baptist ministers Jenni Entrican, Andrew Ginn, David Mayne, Nathan McGuire and Carl Smethurst. 
 
Jenni said, 'Having spent over 20 years as a female Baptist minister, and obviously, a strong supporter for all Project Violet stands for, I am delighted that a group of male ministers are committed enough to launch this initiative as a step towards a greater understanding of what it actually means to be a male ally for women in the workplace.
 
'We all know that to bring about change requires actions as well as words. So I see this as a positive step forward. I am looking forward to others joining us in this exploration.' 
 
 

For more details and to sign up, click here 

The findings of the three-year Project Violet research project were released in May and can be found on the project website.
 
They include specific requests for change with the vision that women will flourish in ministry, be supported and valued, and that Baptist ways of working will change to ensure more just outcomes for women ministers.
 
Request 12 is the 'Call for male Ministers to be allies in private and public'

A related request - R33 - is the 'Call for White Ministers to challenge racism in private and public'
 
Ministers can make public 'ally' commitments to both these requests here