Rev. Tammy Dunahoo, former supervisor of the Arkansas District and current director of Foursquare Women, has accepted an appointment as Vice President of Women in Leadership Ministry, a field-based role, which will be effective March 1, 2009. President Jack Hayford announced the appointment via video at the just concluded women’s conference in Atlanta, where approximately 1,500 were in attendance, including more than 30 women from international locations.
Announcing the recent appointment, Pastor Jack stated, “I could not be more delighted that Tammy has agreed to step into this new role and assignment. As we renew our denomination’s commitment to the full enfranchisement of women in ministry at every level of leadership, it is thrilling to have a female vice president—and a woman who is completely competent to serve in that capacity. Tammy has a proven record of pastoral ministry as well as national leadership. I know that she will lead women leaders of Foursquare into new and exciting dimensions of effective ministry.”
General Supervisor Glenn Burris, who has worked with Tammy for several years, expressed his excitement over her new role, “This [Tammy’s appointment] is wonderful news for The Foursquare Church and for women leaders across our nation. Tammy Dunahoo is a remarkable leader who is sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord and to the needs of women in leadership. I am looking forward to the expansion of ministry both in and through her as she accepts this leadership challenge.”
In accepting the role of Vice President of Women in Leadership Ministry, Tammy stated, “I am both honored and humbled by the invitation to serve The Foursquare Church in this capacity. I look forward to this exciting season when every person who has been called by God to leadership ministry–regardless of gender, generation, or ethnicity–encounters a blessed alliance for full integration in The Foursquare Church.”
Women in Ministry Leadership, a book published by The Foursquare Church in 2007, clearly articulated the church’s stance regarding women in ministry leadership. Drawing insights from various women across the U.S., the book lists many of the tasks that Tammy will give attention to in her new role as Vice President of Women in Leadership Ministry:
- The development of an accurately reasoned and clearly stated theological position on women in ministry leadership
- The identification and removal of all hindrances and barriers that inhibit or prohibit the appointment of women to vocational ministry roles within The Foursquare Church
- A review of Life Pacific College, all partnering seminaries and Bible colleges, and all certified ministry institutes
- A sincere and aggressive recruiting process that identifies potential female leaders at all stages of life
- A continuation of purposeful selection and inclusion of women in every area of denominational and church leadership
- The selection of Foursquare women as well as women serving in other denominations to assume “visible” responsibilities within The Foursquare Church
- The development of relational and mentoring cohorts for women in ministry leadership
- The sponsoring by The Foursquare Church of formal and/or informal gatherings for women in ministry leadership at divisional, district, and denominational gatherings
- The full partnership and participation of Foursquare Women International in the life and ministry of The Foursquare Church
- A means of measuring the success of any adopted action steps, behaviors, and processes
- A Foursquare Church board-approved accountability structure
As this transition to a new level of ministry among women leaders of Foursquare becomes a reality, please pray that God’s wisdom, grace, and anointing will be outpoured in an extraordinary way. God is doing exciting things through His church worldwide, and The Foursquare Church has a strategic role as laborers in His harvest.
