Women in Worship
April 30, 2010
by Optixmom
|The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
I
have mentioned before in other blogs that I am a life-long Republican. Something that I haven’t mentioned is that I am also a cradle Episcopalian. My faith in God is an extremely important part of my life. I have only belonged to two Churches my entire life, one in Massachusetts, and one here in western, NY. The church where I grew up in Massachusetts was the only Episcopal church in the town and it had a pretty small congregation. I was very active in the church youth choir and after I was confirmed at age 13 I became an acolyte and assisted the Rector (priest) throughout the service. We had three Rectors during the 18 years I attended church in my hometown, all men. I really never gave it a second thought that men led our worship service. It wasn’t until I started college and came to my current church that I was awakened to the possibilities for women in the Episcopal Church.
I remember the day vividly, I was having some roommate challenges and needed to get away from campus on a Sunday morning to reflect on the situation and pray for patience and guidance. Two sophomores on my hall were driving to a church and invited me to come with them. I was elated when they told me that we were going to an Episcopal church. As the service started with the opening hymn and the procession of the acolytes, choir, and clergy I noticed someone’s presence in the procession that literally hit me like a ton of bricks; it was a woman priest. As I mentioned earlier I had never given a second thought to the fact that the only clergy that I had ever known had been men. When I saw her (Sunny is her name) walking up to the alter and running the service all I could do was stare. I stared at her through the Gospel reading, through her sermon, and throughout the consecration. When she gave me communion she must have thought me very odd because I kept staring at her even as I went back to my pew. I wasn’t staring because I was uncomfortable with her in her role; I was staring because I was in awe. By the end of the service her presence now seemed completely commonplace. Of course there was a woman priest, why shouldn’t there be? That day was the beginning of my reaffirmation to my faith, to my church, and to the belief that women are welcome at God’s table.
The year of my graduation from college another awe inspiring event happened within the Episcopal Church. It was the ordination of the first woman Bishop in Massachusetts, Bishop Barbara C. Harris. It is amazing to think that this event only happened 21 short years ago. Bishop Harris describes the event of her ordination and the harassment she received just because individuals did not wish a woman to be given that place in the church. She stated:
Nobody can hate like Christians,” said Harris, reflecting on the death threats and harassing phone calls she received, prompting her to get police protection at her consecration. “The nasty letters I got were from church people, and you would not believe some of the things that they said in those letters – I laughed to keep from crying.
Once again, when I reflect upon what is currently going on in the national Episcopal Church and the issues being debated regarding the inclusivity of priests and bishops who live an openly gay lifestyle I can truly proclaim that inclusion is God’s way. All are welcome at God’s table; I believe that in my heart. I cannot imagine myself leaving my church and I applaud those like Bishop Harris who led the way to opening the minds and hearts of other Episcopalians like me.
Ruth 1:16-17 – And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
I’ve always found it interesting how in so many ways the older, more traditional denominations can be so far behind the younger, upstart ones, but, I suppose, that’s to be expected what with traditions being what they are.
Case in point, the church I grew up in was started by a woman pastor. Some of my earliest memories of church are of this larger than life woman preaching hell fire sermons from the pulpit. I’m fifty plus years old and I’ve known female preachers and pastors all my life in that denomination and others like it. The denomination I grew up in and the church she built, though, practically with her bare hands, was an Assemblies of God congregation, the same Evangelical denomination that so many “in-the-know” people look down their noses about Sarah Palin even having any connections to…
See, that’s the thing, the Evangelical movement with all its various Pentecostal and Holiness branches has always been sprinkled with women’s voices. Strong women’s voices. Some of its greatest voices have been women. Their voices mixed and mingled with the voices of the suffragettes and abolitionists. Have they out-numbered the men? No, but they have never been ignored. And woe to any male who truly attempts to shut them up when they adopt a cause.
It’s only the misinformed and those that do not want to see that believe otherwise. This is why so many longtime fundamentalist conservatives literally either chuckle or roll their eyes when people think their women are “beaten down” in any way.
Right. Like that’s going to happen any time soon.
Glad to see some women are getting their spiritual needs met from religion since the work of women is what keeps most religions functioning. I am a Catholic so I’m pretty demoralized about religion. After much thought I have decided I am spiritual not religious and I don’t like religions acting like gatekeepers between people and God with all their exclusive rules. I do miss the gatherings and service oriented community however. And the girls Catholic high school was amazing in what they offered my daughter. I just wish Catholics would overhaul themselves I mean God did create women and we are clearly one of Gods favorite creations since she/he made us the majority.
It took me a while to find this again. I love it!
H/T to salvokat.wordpress.com/
Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained
10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.
8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.
7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.
5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.
4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.
1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.
H/T to salvokat.wordpress.com
It took me a while to find this again.
Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained
10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.
8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.
7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.
5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.
4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.
1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.
Thanks for the laugh Anna: I sent you list around to all my friends.
Glad to be of service!
Sorry for the double post. I love computers! :/
Honestly, the Episcopal Church could ordain anyone it wants for all I care; I just wish they’d let my parish and others like mine leave without hassle. How is it Christian to sue believers out of their houses of worship, then sell off the land for use as saloons and mosques? That’s the only thing keeping TEC afloat these days as its congregations continue to grey.
Damian,
I have not had the experiences with the Episcopal Church that you have had so I cannot comment or give any response. I hope you find the answers that you seek and can work through your frustration. As I mentioned above, I have only been a participating member of two churches in my lifetime, and both are currently flourishing; feeding the spiritual needs of all of the members young and old. I hope that you can find the happiness that I have found. We all deserve it.
I have not attended church for a very long time now. I just cannot listen to the patriarchal version of spirituality that is extolled there. I do miss the communal ritual nature of a church, but have had to learn to create my own spiritual stories, rituals and traditions. I live in a very rural area and it is a lonely path I am on. That is a testament to the power and strength of patriarchal control. I have read many authors who have given me feminist hope and guidance on my spiritual journey and for that I am grateful. Sue Monk Kidd’s book “The Dance of the Dissident Daughter” is an excellent story of one woman’s journey from being born Baptist, choosing to be Episcopalian as an adult and then moving beyond God the Father. She was a Christian writer, so it makes for a very enlightening read. Good luck on your spiritual journey throughout life.
I was raised Catholic and recieved into the Episcopal church in the 1980s. I joined for many of the reasons you mention. I never looked back. Our church is progressive, our priest is gay, and our parish is welcoming and inclusive. Politically liberal and conservative people feel close and connected.
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