Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Robb Powers.
Hi Victoria, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am proud to serve as Dallas’s first female senior pastor of a Baptist church – a milestone that still humbles me. I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church where women were not recognized in ministry; our pastors were always men. Yet even as a child, I loved the church deeply and felt called to serve it. That calling began to take shape in college when I attended Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, and, for the first time, saw a woman preaching from the pulpit. Seeing her that first Sunday morning expanded the horizons of my call exponentially. I often tell people, “You can’t be what you can’t see,” and witnessing her gifts made me realize there were no limits on my own. I soon discovered that there were other kinds of Baptists, more progressive ones that welcomed women in ministry.
I pursued my theological education at Brite Divinity School at TCU in Fort Worth and later served as a hospital chaplain at Baylor Scott & White Dallas for two years. Still, my heart always belonged to parish ministry. Because so few Baptist churches in the Dallas area would call a woman pastor, I spent eight years serving in the United Methodist Church by extension of the Baptist denomination. Then, in 2022, Royal Lane Baptist Church invited me to apply for their senior pastor position, and on January 1, 2023, they officially called me as their pastor. It was, in every sense, a joyous homecoming.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Yes and no. I am deeply grateful to serve a church that truly celebrates women in ministry. Royal Lane called me with a unanimous 100% vote, which still moves me every time I think about it. I feel loved and respected here, surrounded by a congregation that believes in shared leadership and equality. I’m also blessed with a supportive partner, family, and friends who have championed me every step of the way. But the journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Having to wait so long for a space within my own tradition was difficult. It was long, tiring, and at times, disheartening. And being the “first” of anything carries its own weight. There’s an unspoken pressure to pave the way for those who will come after me, to set a positive precedent. I embrace that responsibility with gratitude, but it can be heavy. And, of course, sexism still exists. There are moments when people are visibly unsettled by seeing a woman in the pulpit or question my authority in ways they wouldn’t a man’s. Those experiences remind me why representation matters so deeply, and why this work is worth doing.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a senior pastor, I have the privilege of leading our church in both its spiritual and organizational life. My role is wonderfully multifaceted. I cast vision for who we are and who we’re becoming, I lead and manage our staff, I guide our stewardship and fundraising efforts, I teach, and I preach most Sundays. I also work to engage our congregation in meaningful justice and advocacy initiatives and provide pastoral care to those who need it. In many ways, it’s a role that blends everything – business, finance, leadership, caregiving, and faith. I’m deeply proud to lead this church and to represent our faith community in the public square. Beyond my pastoral work, I’m also an author. My first children’s book, My Love, God Is Everywhere, was published in 2023, and I have two more books coming out in 2027, one with HarperCollins and another with Penguin Random House. Whether through preaching or writing, I see all of this as part of the same calling: to help people experience a faith that is expansive, compassionate, and inclusive.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I suppose I’d add that my ministry has been recognized in a few meaningful ways along the journey. I’ve been featured in The Dallas Morning News, The Advocate Magazine, and Preston Hollow People, and last summer I was interviewed on CNN about the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to oust churches with female associate pastors. Beyond my work at Royal Lane, I’m honored to serve on the board of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology Baptist House of Studies, as vice chair of FaithWorks, and as a member of Parkland Hospital’s peer advisory group for their chaplains. I’ve also taught several preaching courses at both SMU and TCU, and I’m passionate about homiletics = the art and craft of preaching. Teaching and mentoring other preachers feels like one of the most life-giving parts of my vocation, a way of investing in the next generation of voices who will continue expanding the landscape of ministry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.royallane.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vrobbpow/ and https://www.instagram.com/reverendmamas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/royallane
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-robb-powers-016571b7/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/royallanebaptistchurch
- Other: https://victoriarobbpowers.substack.com/
Image Credits
Corrie Aune for the headshot. Dexter Evans from Blue Bear Media for the one behind the pulpit.
