BWIM-NC honors departed colleague
By Steve DeVane
BR Managing Editor
HICKORY - Baptist Women in Ministry, North Carolina (BWIM-NC) honored the late Kay Simpson during its 24th annual convocation here on Friday.
Simpson, who died unexpectedly in November, was posthumously given BWIM-NC's Anne Thomas Neil Award, which is awarded each year to a strong advocate of BWIM-NC. Neil, a missionary emeritus to Nigeria and Ghana with the International Mission Board, was a founding member and first chair of the national BWIM organization and co-founder of BWIM-NC.
Simpson was an active member of BWIM-NC; a past convener of the group's board; and minister of music at Memorial Baptist Church in Buies Creek. She had previously served as pastor of a Baptist church in Dunn.
Memorial was honored by BWIM-NC as its church of the year during the group's meeting at Viewmont Baptist Church.
BWIM-NC has named its scholarship program for Simpson. The scholarships go to women divinity school students.
Alicia Davis Porterfield, a member of the BWIM-NC board and the group's convener for 2007-2008, presented the Anne Thomas Neil Award to Tom Riley, one of Simpson's best friends, who accepted it on her behalf.
Riley, who is also a former board member of BWIM-NC, said accepting the award was very humbling. He said the honor celebrates all God did through Simpson.
Riley said BWIM-NC provided Simpson with a place where she could hear God's call without interference. Simpson used her voice to tell Baptist women ministers to not be ashamed of their call, he said.
"It was a caring and loving voice, but it was strong and unapologetic," Riley said.
Simpson also encouraged male ministers and members of the laity to become involved with BWIM-NC, according to Riley.
"God has called all of us," he said.
Riley said Simpson taught him that being a minister is not about making a statement.
"It's about being obedient," he said.
Larry Hovis, the coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBF-NC), said he was glad to see BWIM-NC honor Simpson, who also served on the CBF-NC Coordinating Council.
"I join with you in celebrating her life and honoring her memory," he said.
Karen Metcalf, BWIM-NC for 2006-2007, presented the church award to David Whiteman, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church. Women have been leaders at Memorial since its founding in 1968, she said. When Simpson died, three ordained women were serving on the staff at Memorial, Metcalf said.
The other two ordained women on the Memorial staff, Jenny Folmar, minister to youth and college students, and Robin Hardison, minister to children and families, led in communion during the BWIM-NC worship service.
Whiteman said the women at Memorial are strong spiritually and intellectually.
"We have long believed in what you do, long believed in the giftedness of women," he said.
Whiteman said Memorial continues to be blessed by strong women leaders.
"We thank you for this honor and also for honoring the memory of our beloved Kay," he said.
BWIM-NC also honored Velma Ferrell for many years of service as the organization's treasurer.
Porterfield preached about gleaning during the homily at the meeting. In the Old Testament, the owners of fields left some grain standing on the edges of the fields for widows.
The image of gleaning is significant for BWIM-NC spiritually and emotionally, Porterfield said.
"Many of us have found ourselves in lean times," she said.
Porterfield encouraged those at the service to think about people who have nourished them spiritually and emotionally.
"Those bits of love and encouragement and care and wisdom are sustaining us still," she said.
Hovis said at the meeting that this year for the first time BWIM-NC is included in the CBF-NC budget, which was later passed at the CBF-NC General Assembly.
"I'm very excited because you have been such a significant partner through the years," he said.
