LETTERS: DECISION CREATES CONFLICT OF FAITH

To the editor:

I read your article on how the First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau had been dropped from the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association. While I was reading it, I simply was disgusted that the association had virtually kicked out a church simply because it ordained women as deacons.

What made me even more upset was the fact that I am a Baptist. How can we call ourselves Christians when our own religion is prejudiced against having women hold even the smallest position in the church. It seems as if this association still believes women should only be the people sitting in the pews by their husbands, cooking the meals at events or taking care of the kids in the day care.

While all of these things are important, women should also be allowed to be important parts of the church in other areas as well. In an age like today when religion is out of touch with so many, this will only make the distance greater. What kind of example are we setting for those people who already don't go to church because they think it is strictly a for-show thing?

As a fellow Baptist, this makes me question my faith because of my personal view that women should be allowed to hold positions such as deacons. However, this is not to say that Baptist people are the only religion to feel this way. I personally believe that other religions are still as in the dark about these things just like mine is.

I can only hope that other churches follow the example of First Baptist Church. Women are just a religious as men, and they should have the right to show it in more ways than simply bake sales. The next step I must take is a difficult one, because I must now decide if my faith in my church is still there.

BRANDY GREEN

Jackson