Our Leadership
BWNA is a collaboration of the Women's Departments of 14 member bodies. The Executive director and/or president of each member body makes up the BWNA executive board. This collaboration includes well over four million Baptist women across North America.
The BWNA Board
Officers 2022-2027
Patty Lane
President
Patty has dedicated her life and ministry to building relationships with people from around the world. She lived this out in the context of ministry with Texas Baptists both as an Intercultural church planter and as the Director of Intercultural Ministries Office. In retirement, she is involved with refugee resettlement and advocacy as well as providing cultural competency training for both for profit and not
for profit organizations.
Lisa Murray
Vice President, Prayer
Lisa has enjoyed an over 20-year career in Healthcare Administration and Financial
Management. Her passion is the work of missions and exploring opportunities to make carrying out The Great Commission relevant to serving the present age. She is a fervent believer that traditionalism and progressiveness can work in tandem to advance The Kingdom of God.
Joyce Porto
Vice President of Networking, Leadership Development and Mentoring
Joyce Porto is the Multicultural Consultant for the Women’s Missionary Union of Texas and member of the Commission on Mission of the Baptist World Alliance. She is passionate about serving Christ in crosscultural settings and engaging with different generations.
Joan Peacock
Secretary
Joan is from Nova Scotia, Canada. Her Christian faith has increased because of Baptist Women. The speakers at retreats and meetings, the resources from Baptist Women, the articles in magazines, the Bible studies, the Baptist Women’s Day of Prayer, and all the resources from Baptist women, have all brought her into a closer relationship with God. Being involved in Baptist Women has given her the opportunity to search out her spiritual gifts and use them for the Kingdom. Joan says that without BWNA she might never have discovered the gifts God had given her.
Sherrie Cherdak
Treasurer
Sherrie has been active with Baptist women since she was a Baptist girl. Her passion is children, especially those at risk for food insecurity. She has spent a good deal of her career in support services, editing, and bookkeeping. Now retired, she finds herself busier than ever.