This argument goes on and on. Years ago, a Pastor who was to be on my TV program got in a bit of a heated argument with a man who later became a Pastor, about whether or not women should be Pastors! Thankfully, this was not on air! They both dug in pretty deep on their opinion! Thank the Lord they ended the argument with a handshake to agree to disagree.
I have other Pastor friends whose wives are also Pastors. I have been ministered to by women preachers. The late Pastor Barbara Gould, the founder of Immanuel Ministries in Rio Rancho, NM, was a board member of FGGAM and impacted the lives of me and Sharon very deeply. Pastor Sonja Haylett who served with Pastor Barbara, is currently a board member of FGGAM and has also impacted our lives very much.
Pastor Sarah Tade, who was the Pastor at the American Lutheran Church (“ALC”) in Windom, Minnesota for many years, and now pastors the Granite Falls, Minnesota Lutheran Church, has blessed me and Sharon so much over the years. I teamed with Pastor Sarah in officiating the funeral of my dear friend Mike Fisher in January of 2025 in Windom. Pastor Sarah also invited me to preach one Sunday years ago at my home Church! What a thrill to preach at the Church in which I grew up! I started Sunday school at the ALC at age five! Thank the Lord for such memories!
I have also had many wonderful women as Sunday school teachers, such as the late Irene Hartberg at the ALC in Windom. I remember Irene so very, very well, as she was an RN and helped my mom when she had cancer. As I travel, I witness many women leading Sunday school and I have learned from them! The late Joan McCargish of the First Baptist Church in Reserve, New Mexico, was an excellent teacher. This past year I filled the pulpit at the First Baptist Church of Pie Town, New Mexico, where Kathy Maxy is the Sunday school teacher! Kathy, at one time, taught school, and it sure shows in her teachings in Sunday school. She is so very, very intelligent!
So as you can see, I have been impacted very, very much by women in my life, and I have not even begun to tell you about the love of my life, my Sharon. Holy Cow! Sharon is my love, my very, very precious gift from my Lord. Sharon is my partner not only in marriage, but also in ministry. If it were not for her, there would be no FGGAM.
A while back I asked my mentor, FGGAM Vice Chairman Pastor Bill Ruhl, to address the issue of women Pastors. I am in agreement with Bill. Pastor Bill is one of the wisest men I have ever met in my life.
Pastor Bill Ruhl: Women in Ministry…Should They Serve As Pastors?
I know of women who are Pastors in the Assemblies of God. I respect them so very much. Some of these women team with their husband to lead a Church. Assemblies of God Position Paper on Women in Ministerial Leadership
