Women’s equality is a gospel issue, veteran pastor says – Baptist News Global

Report on Gender Equality as a Core Theological and Developmental Imperative

Introduction: Aligning Faith-Based Principles with Sustainable Development Goals

An address delivered by Pastor Cynthia Hale at the Baptist Women in Ministry annual gathering framed gender equality not merely as a social justice issue, but as a foundational gospel principle. This report analyzes the key arguments presented, highlighting their direct alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Theological Foundations for SDG 5: Gender Equality

The presentation established a theological basis for gender equality, arguing that it is rooted in divine intention and integral to the Christian gospel. This perspective provides a faith-based framework for achieving SDG 5.

• Equality in Creation: The Genesis creation narrative is interpreted as establishing gender equality from the beginning. Both male and female were created in the image of God, with a shared assignment to lead, negating any concept of gender-based hierarchy.
• Restoration in Christ: The gospel message is presented as a force for restoring relationships broken by sin, including those of domination and inequality. The ministry of Jesus is cited as a model for this new creation, where women’s equality is not optional but essential.
• Partnership as Divine Intent: The intended relationship between genders is one of partnership and shared purpose, where all individuals are uniquely gifted for the good of the whole community.

Analysis of Leadership Disparities: A Challenge to SDG 5 and SDG 10

Significant disparities persist between the representation of women in congregations and their inclusion in leadership roles. This gap represents a failure to meet the objectives of SDG 5, Target 5.5 (ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership) and contributes to the institutional inequalities addressed by SDG 10.

Key Statistical Observations

1. Congregational Demographics: Women constitute a significant majority in many congregations, with figures cited at 75% to 80% in most Black Baptist churches.
2. Leadership Underrepresentation: The proportion of women in leadership is not commensurate with their membership. A 2016 report indicated that women held as few as 10% of church leadership positions and only 1% of pastoral roles.
3. Academic Disparity: While women now represent a majority of students in many U.S. seminaries, they remain underrepresented in institutional leadership, with fewer than 25% of faculty and deans and only 11% of presidents being women.

These statistics illustrate a systemic barrier to women’s advancement, relegating them to designated roles and often calling them to lead institutions only as a last resort. This practice directly contravenes the principles of equal opportunity central to the SDGs.

Implications for Institutional Integrity and SDG 16

The report underscores that the failure to practice gender equality has profound implications for the integrity and public witness of religious institutions, directly impacting their ability to function as the just and strong institutions envisioned in SDG 16.

Consequences of Gender Inequality

• Distorted Institutional Mission: When women are restricted from leadership due to gender, the institution’s witness to an inclusive gospel is distorted, and it fails to reflect the mission of Christ.
• Hindrance of Progress: Restricting women from full participation hinders the work of the Holy Spirit and prevents the full utilization of the gifts within the community.
• Erosion of Public Credibility: The global community observes how institutions treat women. A failure to model mutual respect and shared leadership risks discrediting the institution’s message and its transformative power, thereby weakening its standing as a pillar of a just society.

Ultimately, honoring women’s equality serves as a critical test of whether an institution’s guiding principles are truly shaping its community and whether it can contribute effectively to a more just and equitable world as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article primarily addresses issues related to gender equality and institutional justice, connecting directly to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The following SDGs are relevant:

   • SDG 5: Gender Equality – This is the most prominent SDG discussed. The entire article revolves around the theme of “the equality of women,” advocating for their equal value, dignity, and calling within religious institutions. It directly confronts the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles and challenges interpretations of scripture that create gender-based hierarchies.
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article highlights the inequality of opportunity and outcome for women within the church. It points out the disparity between the high percentage of female congregants and the low percentage of female leaders, arguing against practices and beliefs that perpetuate this inequality. The call to “embody the kingdom of God where all people use their gifts freely” is a call to reduce these institutional inequalities.
   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The article frames gender equality as a “gospel issue” and a matter of “justice.” It critiques religious institutions for failing to be inclusive and representative. The argument that “When women are denied full participation or treated as less than equal, the church’s witness to that gospel is distorted” speaks directly to the need for strong, just, and inclusive institutions that ensure representative decision-making.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s focus on leadership and equal participation, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The article’s central argument is about the lack of women in leadership positions within the church, which constitutes a significant part of public life for many. The text explicitly states, “The proportion of women in leadership is not commensurate with these numbers,” directly referencing the need for equal opportunities in roles like pastors, deans, and presidents of seminaries.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. The article discusses how traditional interpretations of scripture have been used to create discriminatory practices that relegate women to subordinate roles. The call to move beyond mere “acceptance” to actively “calling, placing” women in senior pastor roles is an appeal to eliminate these discriminatory practices and ensure equal opportunity.
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article critiques the church for its lack of representative leadership. By pointing out that women make up “75% to 80% in most Black Baptist churches” but hold very few leadership positions, it highlights how decision-making within these institutions is not inclusive or representative of their membership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article provides specific quantitative data that can serve as indicators to measure progress toward the identified targets, particularly Target 5.5.

   • Proportion of women in leadership positions in churches: The article provides a baseline from a 2016 report, stating that “10% of women are church leaders and as little as 1% are pastors.” This is a direct indicator for measuring women’s participation in decision-making roles within religious organizations.
   • Proportion of women in leadership positions in academic religious institutions: The article offers another clear set of metrics by reporting that in U.S. seminaries, “Fewer than 25% of faculty and deans and only 11% of the presidents are women.” This indicator measures representation in the academic and formative institutions that shape future church leadership.

   These statistics function as concrete, measurable indicators analogous to the official SDG indicator 5.5.2 (Proportion of women in managerial positions), adapted to the specific context of religious institutions discussed in the article.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 5: Gender Equality	Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in all levels of decision-making in… public life.	Proportion of women serving as church leaders (10% in 2016). Proportion of women serving as pastors (1% in 2016). Proportion of women serving as faculty and deans in U.S. seminaries (fewer than 25%). Proportion of women serving as presidents of U.S. seminaries (11%).
   SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities	Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices.	The disparity between the percentage of female church members (75-80% in some cases) and the percentage of female leaders implies an inequality of outcome that can be measured.
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.	The low proportion of women in leadership roles serves as an indicator of non-representative decision-making structures within the institutions discussed.

Source: baptistnews.com