Posted on 08/19/2025 4:24:28 PM PDT by Morgana
An SBC church who once had nine ‘women pastors’ on staff has given the ladies a new title to avoid the prohibitions against female pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention.
Fielder Road Baptist Church, aka Fielder Church, is a Texas-based multi-site, multi-ethnic, and multi-lingual church that the Baptist Press has previously highlighted for having 30 percent Hispanic and African-American congregants.
Led by Lead Pastor Jason Paredes, they not only have diversity of ethnicity, but they also have a diversity of gender among the pastoral staff. As of April 29th, 2025 they had nine women on staff bearing the title “pastor.” These include:
* Tiffany Rupp: Children’s Pastor
* Nichole Sostre: College Pastor
* Maureen Evans: Discipleship Connection Pastor
* Angela K: Mobilization Pastor
* Erin Benton: Foster Care & Adoption Pastor
* Yadira Molina Children’s Pastor
* Caroline Sagraves: Student Associate Pastor
* Jerrika Dickerson: Preschool Pastor
* Nadia Jennett: Children’s Pastor
Some time in the last few months that has changed, however. Where previously both men and women were listed as ‘pastors,’ now all the pastoral leaders are listed as ‘Shepherds.
* Yadira Molina: Children’s Shepherd
* Nadia Jennett: Children’s Shepherd
* Tiffany Rupp: Children’s Shepherd
* Maureen Evans: Groups Shepherd/ Discipleship Connection Shepherd
* Angela K: Mobilization Shepherd
* Erin Benton: Foster Care & Adoption Shepherd
Commenting on this discovery, SBC pastor Nate Schlomann of Village Church RVA writes on X:
“Why does Fielder Church want to be a part of a convention that they fundamentally disagree with, and that they seek to subvert? Why not just go join a place that aligns with their beliefs? Instead, they take this divisive route. That is really dark, when you think about it.
…An issue like this comes up, and I think many well-meaning people think, “Well, I disagree, but they are an autonomous church and they can do what they want.”
Unfortunately, that’s not the context of what is happening here. Understand, this prominent SBC church *has no more pastors.* It’s not just some of the staff who were changed to “Shepherd” – all pastors got that change. The context is they have done this to subvert our complementarian doctrine, and that is so dangerous to the entire SBC.
This is not about one autonomous church. Yes, they can do what they want. But, if you allow this to remain in the SBC with no pushback, then there is no limit to what doctrine can’t be subverted. It is not hyperbole to say that allowing this is the end of the SBC as a complementarian convention.’
Likewise, pastor Rhett Burns of FBC Travelers Rest notes: “Fielder renaming all their pastors as “shepherds” to skirt the BFM’s language is worse than other situations bc it’s egalitarianism + deception. It’s feigning outward compliance while the heart rebels. God hates that and judged Israel for it. At least Saddleback was honest.”
Years ago, the SBC adopted a motion to select a committee to study the Baptist Faith & Message and “clarify” the denomination’s already clear and longstanding position on the matter.
One of the members of this committee that then-SBC president Bart Barber appointed was Fielder Church Lead Pastor Jason Paredes, now known as their ‘Lead Shepherd,’ which garnered him a bit of heat. As the Dissenter noted:
Remember several mounts ago when the job titles of DEI hires were changed? Same thing here.
The “titles” might have been used to qualify them for a tax free housing allowance under IRC Section 107.
This and other tax benefits are only available for “Pastors.”
What does this have to do with anything? As long as my tax dollars aren’t paying for incompetent public servants or officials, I don’t care.
Christians aren’t “Down” with the idea of women pastors.
Sounds to me like they just had inflated titles. A children’s pastor?
Hiring women drives men out, so eventually only women want the job.
Plenty of Christians have them, and it’s a matter for the particular church.
(And female pastors don’t fall under the administration’s concerns over ‘DEI’).
A “Preschool Pastor”. It’s like calling your music leader “Worship Pastor”.
“Sounds to me like they just had inflated titles. A children’s pastor?”
Would that be another name for “youth pastor”?
They changed from pastor to shepherd. Do shepherds get Benny’s? My German shepherd used too.
LOL.... it’s a tough call. My German Shepherds always got free housing.
If they were Catholic they could fancy it up with the Latin word for shepherd, which is ... (flipping through dictionary)..., pastor. Nope, that’s not working. Better call up the Greek Orthodox for some help.
or a “pre-school pastor”. Whatever that is. Quite frankly, i have no problem with the person running the pre-school ministry being a woman. (sounds like a little bit of a creepy job for a grown man anyway).
Nothing wrong with female leaders in the church, especially in children’s ministries. “Pastor” is a specific spiritual gift that perhaps men are best suited for, job titles are something different.
Shepherd?
Wolf in sheep’s clothing?
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