On Sunday evening, Sept. 10, Kim Hardegree, 24, will be ordained to the

ministry of National Heights Baptist Church in Fayetteville. She will

become the church's first woman associate pastor, and may be the

only woman currently ordained to the ministry of a Baptist church in Fayette

County with ties to the Southern Baptist Convention.

The 300-member church, led by the Rev. Dr. William "Bill" Scarbrough,

voted unanimously Aug. 13 to ordain Hardegree to the Gospel ministry.

Since last November, Hardegree has served the congregation during Scarbrough's

recuperation from open heart surgery.

As an ordained minister, Hardegree joins a growing number of women who

are stepping into the traditional male role as a church leader, particularly

among Baptists.

In a message to the congregation, prior to National Heights' historic

vote, Scarbrough stated, "Because Kim is a woman and because of the

recent action at the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention against the ordination

of women, our vote Sunday is extremely significant and not to be taken

lightly. If we vote to ordain Kim, it will place our church on a collision

course with the denomination at which we have historically been a part.

This church has long affirmed that women are equal with men in this church.

We have ordained women deacons who have served this church well and faithfully

for many years. We have ordained women ministers in our congregation who

serve our Lord effectively in the role of chaplain. But we have never

ordained a woman to the pastoral ministry."

While Scarbrough admits other Baptist churches have been ordaining women

for some time, especially cooperative Baptist churches, the upcoming ordination

sets a precedent for National Heights.

The actual ceremony will include a laying on of hands by the pastor and

the church deacons. Scarbrough explained that his understanding of ordination

comes from the Scriptures. It calls for the laying on of hands and sets

apart and certifies candidates who have been chosen to fulfill various

ministerial offices. In addition, the ceremony will include Hardegree's

charge to the church, a sermon, music, and litany, followed by a celebratory

reception.

Hardegree is a Newton County native and recently took up residence in

Tyrone. As a part-time minister, she found the people at the small Norton

Road church to be "very loving and very gracious.

"It's not hard to fit in here," she noted.

Upon graduation from Mercer University's McAfee College with a Master

of Divinity degree, Hardegree became a full-time minister at the church.

Does gender really affect preaching the Word of God?

Hardegree said that she has a "different perspective" on the

Word, not so much from being a woman, but having a different personality

from Scarbrough, 59. "We address the congregation in different ways,

me having a different voice," she said.

Her personal ideas of ministering to her congregation will evolve over

time. "Part of my philosophy of ministry is to live amongst the people

and to feel the needs of the church and the community around it..."

Hardegree said she wants to put her ideas in a "congregational context.

Hardegree is aware of the demands of her job, recognizing the fact that

she is basically on call 24 hours a day. But she is conscious that she

must also take time to spend time alone and spend time alone with God.

Does she consider herself a Baptist pioneer?

"I have been to several ordinations of my female peers in last two

months within Baptist churches," she said. "There was a generation

of women before me who were the true pioneers, and they have made it much

easier for women in churches like National Heights who are hearing God

call even women."