Hamlin’s Rev. Rene Ervine shatters glass ceiling

By Carol Kelly Dilworth

First Corinthians 14:34 tells us “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.”

Paul was well within his rights to make that statement. For during that period, women were, in almost all instances, second class citizens.

Pastor Rene Ervine and First Gentleman James Ervine. (Photo Courtesy of the Ervines)

For example, all of us knew the names of Jacob’s 12 sons in the Book of Genesis. But his daughters, mentioned only in passing, were never named.

And the 12 Tribes were named after the 12 sons. Not one was named after one of Jacob’s daughters.

Several church denominations have long since accepted women into the ministry as church pastors. Catholicism and the Baptist faith have been the last holdouts.

At long last, however, West Texas has appointed a woman, Rev. Rene Ervine, to assume the helm of the Oak Grove Baptist Church in Hamlin as senior pastor. Ordained in 2024, she is the first female pastor of a Baptist church in the Big Country.

Prior to her appointment as pastor, she served as an associate pastor at the New Light Baptist Church in Abilene and was interim pastor at Oak Grove.

Born in Hamlin, and having grown up in this congregation, she attended the schools in the area. Pastor Ervine later received her Human Resources Certificate from Cornell University.

Before entering the pastoral ministry, Rev. Ervine served in the position of sales office administrator for Pepsi Cola Inc. She retired after serving 33 years in that position.

In addition to being a pastor at Oak Grove, Rev. Ervine carries her ministry of service to others and is employed as parent coordinator at Austin Elementary.

Pastor Ervine has been married to First Gentleman James Ervine for 42 years and is the mother of two sons, Julius and Coy. Ironically, she and her husband were married in the room that serves as the pastoral office at Oak Grove Church.

After her appointment as pastor, Rev. Ervine accomplished two other first for her gender: she became the first woman to deliver the opening sermon at the annual board meeting of the Progressive West Texas Association, and became the first woman to be elected as treasurer of the association.

We look forward to many more spiritual and consecrated accomplishments from this dedicated young woman of the ministry.