Called to Serve

Nancy Murphy was ordained in 2005 and has served as children’s pastor at Brunswick Street Baptist Church andOromocto Baptist Church. She describes her journey as a single foster parent and how her current work in civil service is as much a ministry as pastoring. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories ofwomen ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada...

Deb Stevens was ordained in 2010 at Windsor Baptist Church. She talks about receiving her call into ministry during a tumultuous time navigating a divorce. Since then, she hasserved as a pastor, a chaplain, and a social worker, and developed a passion for small church ministry. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories ofwomen ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of...

Muriel Bent was interviewed in 2022 for the podcast Atlantic Baptist Stories, a previous oral history project led by Dr. Maxwell. Muriel retired from Canadian Baptist Ministries in 1998 after a long career of over thirty-five years of service. She served as a missionary and public health consultant, andcontinues to find ways to serve in her nineties. Muriel was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Div...

Marlene Pitman-Knowles was ordained in 1998 and has served at several Maritime churches, including Bayers Road Baptist Church, Windsor Baptist Church, and Southend Baptist Church. She talks about her reluctance to embrace ordained ministry, and the things she enjoyed most about being a lead pastor. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the...

On January 15th, Melody Maxwell delivered a paper at an international symposium for Project Violet. Project Violet is a UK initiative with a similar focus to ours. It was named for Violet Hedger, the first Baptist woman to be trained for ordination at Regent’s Park College at Oxford. Project Violet has investigated women’s experiences in ministry whilst developing women ministers. It has helped un...

Sarah Trenholm was ordained in 2018. She has pastored at Midland Baptist and now served alongside her husband at Debert Baptist Church. Sarah talks about the pros and cons of serving as a clergy couple and gives her advice to any woman entering ministry. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada . Betwe...

Kim Butler was ordained in 2023. She has served for many years at Atlantic Community Church but has recently accepted a call to serve as Senior Pastor at Salisbury Baptist Church. Kim talks about wrestling with her call to pastoral ministry and with how women pastors can be pigeonholed into particular ministry roles. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by...

Marion Jamer was ordained in 2011 and has served as both a pastor and as a community chaplain working alongside first responders. She talks about working with the fire department and RCMP and how she sees her ministry as that of an evangelist. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada . Between 1954 and...

Hannah Bartlett was ordained in 2021 and serves as the Next Gen pastor at Cornerstone Baptist on Prince Edward Island. She talks about her approach to leading a very large youth and children’s ministry and describes the impact that other women in ministry have had on her life. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of...

In 2023, Dr. Maxwell was able to sit down with Rev. June Keddy, who has since passed away as of February last year. June spoke about her childhood experiences with church and with faith, and call into ministry as an adult. She served both as a pastor and as a chaplain, and we are privileged to be able to share her words with you today. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of...

Barbara Putnam was ordained in 1996 and soon after began a career in military chaplaincy. In 2016 she became the first woman to attain the rank of Colonel in the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service. In 2022 she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Acadia University. Most recently, Barbara has been working in the area of Restorative Engagement, addressing issues of sexual misconduct in the...

Sherrolyn Riley was ordained in 2003 and has pastored at Victoria Road and Mahone Bay United Baptist Churches. She talks about entering seminary after retirement and persevering in ministry in spite of challenging environments. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada . Between 1950 and 2020, over one...

Jennifer Sutton was ordained in 2016 and has pastored congregations including at Forest Hills and Aenon Baptist Churches. She talks about the challenges she’s faced serving as a divorced single parent, as well as the unique ministry opportunities she’s had through her work in the community with dance. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within...

Angela Wade was ordained in 2017 and now serves as lead pastor at Union Street Atlantic Baptist Church. She talks about her experience at the ordination examining council, as well as how she’s learned the importance of balance for not burning out in ministry. This episode also features a short conversation with Melissa Hodder, who has been a research assistant on the project. Called to Serve is a...

Louise Hannem was ordained in 2012. She served in pastoral ministry at several churches before moving into full-time roles with Canadian Baptist Ministries. Louise talks about her experience taking maternity leave as a pastor, and the challenges of balancing ministry and single parenting. She also describes several role models who impacted her life, including her grandmother, whom she says taught...

Carol Dimock was ordained in 2008. She shares her experience serving in prison ministry and talks about the transformation she saw in the lives of many men. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada . Between 1950 and 2020, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches an...

Linda Perrin was ordained in her sixties, after a long career as a school principal. She talks about resisting her call to ministry, and how she has leaned on God through sickness and finding continuing ways she can serve. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada . Between 1950 and 2020, over one hundr...

Liz Johnson was ordained at 60 years old. She served as a chaplain with assisted living and in her community. She talks about the importance of listening in pastoral care and her ministry emphasis on love. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada . Between 1950 and 2020, over one hundred women were ord...

Dr. Melody Maxwell shares "Faithfully Feminist?", a paper she presented this summer at conferences in Quebec and North Carolina. This is one of several avenues of research she has been working on using Called to Serve interviews. Listen to her share this paper, which explores the complex relationship between ordained Atlantic Baptist women and feminism. You can keep up with our project's research...

Sylvia Hagerman was ordained in 2008 and has served in spiritual formation ministries and ministry to women. She talks about the challenge it was for her to navigate feeling called  to ministry while being a mother, and how she has been able to treat any place like a mission field. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptist...

Sarah Stevens was ordained in 2014 and has pastored at Bethany Memorial and Harmony Baptist Church. Sarah talks about coming to faith at the age of nineteen, the powerful youth ministry she led at Bethany, and the way that the Covid-19 pandemic affected her as a minister and a mother. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the ⁠Canadian Bap...

Audrey Carter was ordained in 2001 alongside her husband Jack. Some of the churches they pastored together were in Digby Neck, Barrington, and Woodville. Audrey talks about the advantages of team ministry and the ways she noticed she was treated differently as a female pastor. Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of...

Margo MacDougall was ordained in 1997. She has worked in several positions, including as a counsellor, a probation officer, and a pastor to several Atlantic Baptist churches. Margo talks about the challenges she experienced serving in ministry as a single woman, her current ministry focus on supporting wounded pastors, and how she's currently enjoying a very supportive church home at a church...

Rhonda Britton was ordained in 2002 in the United States. After moving to Nova Scotia, she pastored at Second United Baptist Church in New Glasgow, and New Horizons Baptist Church in Halifax. Rhonda describes being called to ministry in her forties and how she went on to lead New Horizons Baptist Church through its historic name change. She shares her ministry focus on ecumenical and community rel...

Renée was ordained in 2009. She has pastored at North and South Alton, RiverCross, and Hillside Baptist churches. Many listeners will be familiar with Renée through her role as the Executive Minister for the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. She is the first woman to serve the CBAC in this position. Renée describes her journey to faith and call to ministry. She shares some of the ministry expe...