Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between the 1970s women’s movement and the 1979 conservative takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention. The discussion includes initial reactions to the women’s movement, the conservative emphasis on biblical inerrancy, and the ordination issue. Paul Pressler, Paige Patterson, Adrian and Joyce Rogers, and many other prominent Southern Baptists are also discussed. The thesis also includes some discussion on the connection between race and gender hierarchies within the Southern Baptist Convention. Finally, both the 1978 Consultation on Women in Church-Related Vocations and the 1984 “Kansas City Resolution” are analyzed. The central investigation of this thesis was the connection between Southern Baptist opinions regarding the women’s movement and the 1979 “fundamentalist” takeover. The final results highlight the impact of conservative fears of modernization on the direction of the denomination in the late 1970s and early 1980s. As the secular world was drastically changing, Southern Baptist conservatives found it increasingly important to secure their denominational traditions---including the tradition of “God-ordained” hierarchies. The last few pages of this thesis are designated to examining the lasting impacts of the conservative takeover. Specifically, the relationship between conservative hierarchical thinking and the pervasiveness of sexual misconduct within the SBC.
Semester/Year of Award
Spring 2024
Mentor
Carolyn R. Dupont
Mentor Department Affiliation
History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies
Access Options
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelors
Department
History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies
Recommended Citation
Faris, Hayden, "Faith, Fear, and Feminism: The 1970s Women’s Movement and the Rise of Southern Baptist Fundamentalism" (2024). Honors Theses. 1015.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/1015
