Project Violet is named after Violet Hedger, the first Baptist woman to be college trained for ordination.
Project Violet has investigated women’s experiences in ministry whilst developing women ministers. The project has helped us understand more fully the theological, missional, and structural obstacles women ministers face in the Baptist community in Great Britain and identify ways forward.
Participants have been engaged in research and supported in asking questions and seeking answers. They have been accompanied through the project so that their own voice as an advocate for change has developed.
You can find out more about the project on the Baptists Together Website
There are lots of resources to explore the history and experience of women in Baptist ministry, including videos and a regular podcast.
Project Violet in the EMBA
We were very pleased to meet with a number of our women ministers in May and create the opportunity for them to discuss the findings and requests from the Project Violet report. We hope that this will help to inform our EMBA Directors as they seek to formulate a response from our Association.
Deborah Rooke has published a paper in Baptist Quarterly giving a fuller picture of Violet's life and ministry. Her first pastorate was here in the EMBA at Littleover Baptist Church in Derby, in 1926. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE