"Most Baptist groups probably do not see the role of women as we see them."

The role of being a leader.

Reverend George Fletcher is Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church.

"We believe that both men and women should use the gifts that God has given them. So, if that means that a male or female feels that they have the gift of teaching or preaching or leadership, whatever it might be, then we believe they should use those gifts."

Kristin Whitesides is one of three female pastors at First Baptist Church in Winchester.

"I'm sometimes concerned about young girls that grow up in a church that tells them that God created them in Gods image, and loves them and has given them particular gifts, then tells them not to use them."

She's been at First Baptist Church for seven years. She says some people outside of the church don't agree with her high status.

"They have questioned my credentials or my knowledge of scripture. They have argued that maybe women are involved in churches because there weren't men that stood up to do that."

That's not the case at First Baptist. The pastor says while the church still shares the same religious beliefs as the Southern Baptists, they just interpret issues like the role of women differently.