First Baptist Church ordains first woman to ministry

Just weeks after First Baptist Church approved the sale of its buildings to Southeast Missouri State University, the congregation made another historic move.

Pamela Knight Pratt was ordained as a minister during worship services June 22. She was the first woman to be ordained into the ministry by the 169-year-old church.

Pratt is a former member of the church who now lives in Liberty, Mo. She serves as hospice chaplain for Liberty Hospital there.

Since Baptist churches typically do not ordain women to serve in ministry roles, the ordination service was particularly important. First Baptist has always been a bold and forward-thinking church, said Dr. Bob Hamblin, chairman of deacons.

The church first ordained women as deacons in 1998. Pratt was among that group.

During her nearly 15 year membership at the church, Pratt served as director of the Mother's Day Out program and minister of family life.

She said that First Baptist Church has been an integral part of helping her develop her gifts and finding God's leadership for her life. "The things I've learned at Cape have helped me to do this work," she said.

"Deep in my heart you have blessed me and hopefully each of us can find blessings to give to someone else," she told the congregation.