Despite the appeal, the cover is at the center of a huge controversy:  women in the pulpit.  What was supposed to be a story on an emerging trend in churches – female senior pastors sharing their joys, struggles, and victories – quickly turned into a heated debate after LifeWay Christian Bookstores yanked the magazine issue in all of their 150 stores across the United States. 

Gospel Today publisher and founder, Dr. Teresa Hairston, said this issue of her magazine is being handled like pornography.  “It (the magazine) is being treated like something that is so bad and so reprehensible that it can't be displayed.  It's suppressive and oppressive and unjust,” said Dr. Hairston.

Hairston, who is a minister, said LifeWay neither informed her of their decision to pull the magazine, nor have they returned any of her telephone calls.  “We received an anonymous tip.  That’s how we found out,” said Hairston.

LifeWay Christian Resources Spokesperson Chris Turner said, “We carry it (the magazine) behind the counter.  So, we are trying to accommodate the request.  For us, since we are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, according to our denomination faith and Baptist message statement, article six, we simply could not promote that (the magazine) and have it out on the shelves.”

LifeWay is owned by the Southern Baptist Convention.  SBC does not believe women should be in the pulpit.  They believe that’s a role reserved for men.

The five women on the cover disagree.  Durham, NC Pastor Sheryl Brady is featured on the cover.  Brady is senior pastor of The River Church.  “Hillary Clinton can put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling politically, and Sarah Palin can be chosen as a vice presidential candidate; and yet, there are certain denominations that think we (women) can't run the local church,” said Brady.

Pastor Kimberly Ray of The Church on The Rock in Chicago, IL echoed Brady’s sentiments.  “Given the struggle of our economic times and family problems and addictions - where people are searching for hope - it’s surprising that LifeWay would be focusing on gender biases instead of real life, everyday issues.” 

Every featured pastor said they respect LifeWay’s decision, but said they are disappointed.  “It was the principle of how LifeWay handled the situation.  It was cowardly and not done in a Christian manner.  LifeWay, you stole this positive story from the world.  You treated it like witchcraft.  That was appalling,” remarked Tamara Bennett.  Bennett, the pastor of Pentecost Fellowship Ministries in Sacramento, California, is also on the cover issue.

This is not the first time that Gospel Today, the largest urban Christian magazine in the United States, has featured a female pastor on the cover.   Paula White once graced the cover.  That issue was not pulled from LifeWay’s shelves.

“We probably should have looking at it in hindsight.  But, nothing raised a red flag.  The article itself (the new one with the five pastors) around the sixth or seventh paragraph is in direct conflict with our belief,” Turner explained.

“All of these women emerged geographically, psycho-graphically and socially as a representation of young and seasoned, denominationally diverse and spiritually solid senior pastors,” Hairston explained of her decision to put the women on the cover.

Philadelphia based Pastor Millicent Hunter is the senior pastor of Baptist Worship Center Church. Hunter, also seen on the cover, said she has always faced challenges since she accepted her call to preach the gospel.  Hunter said LifeWay’s actions will not deter her actions.  “Anyone who did anything notable has gone through opposition.  I see opposition as an opportunity to make something positive happen.  Saving souls is positive,” Hunter commented.

“I’m white.  You can’t tell me that I’m not.  And, you can’t tell me I’m not a pastor either.  I feed my congregation.  I cry with them.  I pray with them.  I bury them.  I marry them,” Brady added.

It is uncertain whether or not LifeWay will continue to carry Gospel Today Magazine in its stores after the controversy dies down.  “To this point, I haven’t heard any conversation about pulling it permanently.  I just know that this single issue rubbed against our faith statement,” Turner told us.

Dr. Hairston said she wasn’t looking for controversy when she put the women on the cover; but now that the magazine has been yanked from the shelves, she is ready to fight for women pastors. 

“I hope that women across the world, as well as men, who love women, will realize that this is an affront to daughters, mothers, sisters and aunties.  We must turn this oppressive action into a positive.  This is a battle we must fight and win,” declared Hairston.