The first short documentary in a series announced by Baptist Women in Ministry and EthicsDaily.com this summer is set for a mid-November release.
Mary Alice Birdwhistell, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, is the focus of the first film, which will be available to stream online for free via BWIM.info and EthicsDaily.com on Nov. 19.
In this short documentary, Birdwhistell reflects on her ministry journey and talks honestly about the absence of female ministry role models during her childhood and her continued discernment and growing imagination about being called by God.
Other interviewees include Calvary members Carolyn Cole, Jon Singletary and Doug Weaver, as well as Birdwhistell’s parents, Martha and Mark Birdwhistell.
A release party will take place at Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum Complex (1300 S. University Parks Drive, Waco, TX 76706) in Waco, Texas, at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16.
It will include a screening of the film, followed by a question-and-answer time with Birdwhistell and the film’s producers – Pam Durso, executive director at Baptist Women in Ministry; Mitch Randall, executive director at EthicsDaily.com; and Cliff Vaughn, media producer at EthicsDaily.com.
Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work will host the event. It is free of charge and open to all.
A second film in the series will be released in 2019.
BWIM and EthicsDaily.com envision the series as a means to:
- Highlight progress in shattering the stained-glass ceiling.
- Discuss where and why significant work remains to expand opportunities for female ministers.
- Provide churches and faith-based organizations with a new resource to advocate with and for women called to Christian ministry.
Online donations to support this ongoing project can be made via EthicsDaily.com or BWIM.info. Please include a note designating your contribution to “Women in Ministry Micro-Doc Series.”
Donations by check, with the same project designation included, can be mailed to EthicsDaily.com or BWIM:
EthicsDaily.com
P.O. Box 150506
Nashville, TN 37215-0506
Baptist Women in Ministry
P.O. Box 941294
Atlanta, GA 31141-1294
