Centre for Baptist Studies welcomes the commitments to action on women’s experience of ministry from all parts of Baptists Together in response to the findings of Project Violet

A three and a half year research project investigating women’s experience of ministry has concluded with commitments to act on the project’s findings from all parts of the Baptist community.

Responses have been made to all 57 of the Requests for Change published in the Findings in May 2024.  This includes commitments from all thirteen regional associations, five Baptist colleges, the Ministries Team as well as the Networks and Forums that make up Baptist life.

Director of the Centre for Baptist Studies, Dr Tim Middleton said, ‘We are delighted that the quality of the research has been recognised and that it has prompted this significant response from across Baptist life.  We look forward to the coming year when these commitments will be implemented and the Accountability Report in October 2025.  ’

Responses from local churches include a recognition of the importance of role models in inspiring women to consider a call to ministry and a commitment to use resources that reflect the diversity of Baptist life.

Commitments made by Regional Associations include ensuring that Ministers’ Groups are constructive and inclusive spaces and inducting newly accredited ministers into the habit of connecting to other ministers.  Regional Ministers committed to proactively discuss terms and conditions with local churches as they appointed ministers.

The five colleges committed to ongoing review of reading lists to ensure they reflected women, Black and Brown and disabled theologians.  They also said they would review their admissions processes to ensure that they better engaged with women, this will include a film about planning to train as a Baptist minister.

The research has had an academic impact with the Baptist Quarterly publishing a special issue.

An online International Symposium for academically-engaged Baptist women in January 2025 will allow for wider academic reflection upon the findings.

Project Violet has been undertaken by the Centre for Baptist Studies at Regent’s Park College, Oxford in partnership with Baptists Together and funded by the Mission Forum of Baptists Together and Baptist Trustees.

Project Violet Co-leaders Revd Jane Day and Dr Helen Cameron are available for interview.

See the Project website www.projectviolet.org.uk for the Commitments to Action Report.