The Leadership Roundtable Series

The Leadership Roundtable Series is your essential, honest conversation resource designed to help congregational leaders and ministers navigate the most sensitive issues facing women in ministry today. We know that addressing subtle resistance, pay disparity, and power dynamics can feel impossible in a local context. This resource makes it manageable.

Why This Resource is Essential

We believe healthy churches are built on transparency and accountability. This series enables your church to have courageous, localized conversations around concerns related to women in ministry, using real-world scenarios as your guide. Each episode brings together a roundtable of experienced women ministers who model how to analyze a challenging case study.

This is more than just policy work; it’s about cultural transformation. Stop waiting for the next crisis to define your church. Start using this series to proactively build a culture defined by equity, respect, and mutual trust.

How It Works

In each episode of The Leadership Roundtable, host Rev. Nikki Hardeman, Director of Advocating for Women in Ministry, introduces the panel and then reads the case study. After hearing the case study, the roundtable discusses questions related to the case study which is based on real-world scenarios. Below the video or audio versions of the episode, you can find a pdf of the case study and discussion questions so that you can lead a similar conversation with your church staff or among lay leaders (personnel committee, church council, deacons, etc.) to better understand how to navigate similar situations or prevent against them. After the discussion questions, you’ll also find suggested next steps for your congregation and its leadership.

The Hidden Lines of Resistance

In this episode of The Leadership Roundtable Series, a panel of experienced women ministers analyzes the resistance faced by a first female Senior Pastor, detailing subtle insubordination, public disrespect, and an indifferent personnel committee that enables a toxic work environment.

The reading of the case study begins at 02:00

The roundtable discussion begins at 05:24

Case Study, Discussion Questions, and Next Steps PDF

Rev. Thurselle Chisolm-Williams

Pastor
New Hope Baptist Church
East Orange, NJ

Rev. Dr. Sara Robb-Scott

Pastor
West Alameda Community Baptist Church and
Director of Spiritual Care
Eaton Senior Communities
Eaton, CO

Rev. Stacy Cochran Nowell

Pastor
First Baptist Church
Huntersville, NC

Rev. Britany Zanders

Minister of Worship
Shaw Temple AME Zion Church,
Associate Minister
Jesus Movement Ministries
Columbia, SC

The Shifting Sands of Accountability

In this episode of The Leadership Roundtable Series, a panel of experienced women ministers analyzes the confusion faced by a Minister of Music when a church lacks a clear chain of command, allowing a powerful volunteer to continually undermine the paid staff member’s professional expertise.

The reading of the case study begins at 02:13

The roundtable discussion begins at 06:52

Case Study, Discussion Questions, and Next Steps PDF

Rev. Naomi Brown

Executive Pastor and Minister to Children
West Hills Baptist Church
Knoxville, TN.

Rev. Bianca Howard

Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Accreditation Liaison
Turner Theological Seminary
Atlanta, GA

Rev. Joy Martinez-Marshall

Pastor
First Baptist Church
Ottawa, KS

Rev. Kali Cawthone-Freels

Author,
Reclamation: A Queer Pastor’s Guide to Finding Spiritual Growth in the Passages Used to Harm Us
Pastoral Resident
Williamsburg Baptist Church, Williamsburg, VA

The Dynamics of Power and Conflict

In this episode of The Leadership Roundtable Series, a panel of experienced women ministers analyzes how unclear policy and the senior pastor’s assertion of personal authority undermine a staff member and lead to a church-wide organizational crisis.

The reading of the case study begins at 02:15

The roundtable discussion begins at 05:15

Case Study, Discussion Questions, and Next Steps PDF

Rev. Amanda Alexander

Clinical Pastoral Education Program Manager and ACPE Certified Educator
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, GA

Rev. Barbara Lavarin

Director of Supporting Women in Ministry
Baptist Women in Ministry
Spiritual Director
Durham, NC

Rev. Beth Kennett

Director of the Center for Congregational Health
Mayor Elect
Burlington, NC

Rev. Ashley Robinson

Pastor
Oakhurst Baptist Church
Atlanta, GA

The Cost of Vocation

In this episode of The Leadership Roundtable Series, a panel of experienced women ministers analyzes a salary disparity where a minister with a doctorate is paid less than a male counterpart, exposing how personal bias and a lack of transparency drive unequal compensation.

The reading of the case study begins at 02:50

The roundtable discussion begins at 07:04

Case Study, Discussion Questions, and Next Steps PDF

Rev. Jessica Asbell Oravec

Minister to Children and Families
First Baptist Church
Roswell, GA
Writer
Pathlight Children’s Missions Curriculum for the CBF

Rev. Dr. Amy Mears, PhD

Associate Director/Director of Development
Ring Lake Ranch
Port St. Lucie, FL

Rev. Betty Wright-Wriggins

Chaplain of College
Director of Religious and Spiritual Life
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA

Rev. Mignon Jones-Spann

Minister of Adults, Discipleship, and Evangelism and Staff Supervisor
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
San Antonio, TX

The Unaddressed Incident

In this episode of The Leadership Roundtable Series, a panel of experienced women ministers analyzes a shocking scenario: Church leadership mishandles an allegation of sexual assault by victim-blaming the intern, failing to report the crime, and enabling a repeat offense.