At the event, each guest could enter a raffle with their admission ticket, one of the highlighted prizes being a bow-fishing expedition in Ohio, led by a guest pastor. The pastor quickly announced, “This is a guys-only trip. Make sure you leave your wives at home.” Thompson was taken aback, wondering if it was a joke. Despite this, she noticed another woman enter her ticket for the fishing trip and decided to do the same.
When the time came to draw the tickets, the pastor selected the other woman’s name first but immediately stated that she could not go because the trip was exclusively for men. When Thompson’s name was drawn next, she faced the same disappointment. “Because I’m a woman, I was not allowed to go on this trip,” she lamented.
“I’ve enjoyed many hunting and fishing experiences with men and expected the same respect in a church that promotes equality,” Thompson said. She initially thought it must have been a misunderstanding. In 2021, it seemed unbelievable that women would be denied participation in a bow-fishing expedition, yet Bethel Baptist Church was doing just that. The church cited safety concerns as their reasoning.
In a now-removed Facebook post, Pastor Mike Reynolds explained that due to the prevalence of sexual misconduct allegations, he and other pastors decided to limit the trip to men only to avoid any potential issues. “There was no intent to discriminate,” he claimed, emphasizing that the guidelines had been communicated twice before the raffle.
So, the implication was that Thompson and the other woman were somehow foolish for entering the raffle, despite the pastor’s comments. The idea that allowing women on the fishing trip could lead to trouble is a troubling narrative. Reynolds later reached out to Thompson, expressing a desire to discuss the matter and apologize for the misunderstanding. However, she was frustrated that no one from the church had contacted her directly, despite her being easily reachable on social media.
Thompson stated firmly that she wasn’t interested in a consolation prize. “Hunting and fishing are sports that deserve respect. They are co-ed, and women should have the same opportunities as men,” she asserted. “If we don’t advocate for equality, we won’t achieve it.”
Despite this incident, Thompson plans to continue her passion for the outdoors and fishing. With Pennsylvania’s trout season opening on April 3, 2021, she is determined to keep pursuing her love for hunting and fishing.
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In summary, Jamie Thompson’s experience at the Bethel Baptist Church highlights ongoing gender inequalities, even in spaces that claim to uphold values of equality. The church’s decision to restrict a fishing trip based on gender has sparked significant conversation around women’s rights and the importance of respect in all sports.
Keyphrase: Church denies woman fishing trip based on gender
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