Where Are The Women?
Aug 7th, 2007 by admin in Uncategorized
I have long been an advocate of women exercising their spiritual gifts in the church. I noticed the discrepancy between how males and females served the Lord in public when I was about 5 years old. “Singing Night” was every first Wednesday of the month at the church where I grew up in
I was taught about the courage and faithfulness of the women of the Bible, and how the Lord moved in their lives and was glorified by their talents and service. From the time I was a child I heard the names of Sarah, Rachael, Leah, Jochebed, Miriam, Abigail, Tamar, Deborah, Jael, Rahab, Esther, Ruth, Hannah, Elizabeth, Anna, Mary, Martha, Dorcas (Tabitha),
Throughout Scripture we read story after story of these great women who had distinct roles in the
It is time for a better understanding of Scripture and a better understanding of how the Lord has used and plans to use women in his kingdom. So, where are the women in churches today? They are where they have always been. They are behind the scenes planning, coordinating, and organizing. They are in the kitchen, nursery, and classrooms. They are on their knees in prayer. They are battling the enemy head-on in their homes, at work, the community and the mission field. They are raising-up generations of faithful believers.
Women have been functioning in the role of a supporter, nurturer, hostess, care-giver, or children’s teacher. Many women have been able to fully exercise their spiritual gifts within the boundaries of these roles. These women have served their church family in completeness and have felt little restriction or confinement in these roles. However, there are a large number of women who have felt that their spiritual gifts have been unusable to the church. These women are gifted in administration, business, scholarship, public speaking, and leadership. These women are entrepreneurs, doctors, professors, mothers, politicians, bankers, administrators, social workers, and business women. They have occupied roles in the world that have best suited their interests, talents, and areas of giftedness. Women are presidents of universities, prime ministers of countries, and CEOs of top 10 companies. In the world they have had the freedom to excel and be effective.
The talents of these women have lain dormant in the church because of a poor interpretation of Scripture. Women have been told to “remain silent” and to “be in submission” when a less gifted (or less willing) man was an elder, preacher, youth minister, church administrator, served on committees, lead worship, read Scripture, or prayed in public.
The spiritual gifts of millions of women has been stifled and hushed through the years. This has damaged many women, it has hurt marriages and families. It has hindered the church and I believe saddened the Lord. A better reading of Scripture is now being realized among many churches and can emancipate women in the church. It is time to give women the freedom to fully use their gifts in the service of God. The harvest is ripe and there have been women waiting to be allowed to serve. Where are the women? They are here and they are ready.
Wow. Well said! I know I left a similar comment on Wade’s blog, but I will comment here as well. There are SO many women with so many wonderful gifts and talents that are not being utilized right now. I truly hope that this is a change that I am able to witness in my lifetime.
Well said Heather. Now, what is an appropriate plan to implement this change? So many times in history, change of this nature has not occurred with simple, gentle steps. It has been through bold moves that declare the truth and then act on that truth without allowing fear to render us immobile. I’m really not sure myself how to pursue change that is so challenging, especially in our tradition. Hiding behind heritage beliefs doesn’t cut it for me anymore either.
Here’s a question that often challenges me in many situations … is it more appropriate to accept the culture of our tradition as it is and work within those confines or move on to another situation where these limitations are no longer an issue. Should an entire tradition be pushed to change simply because some of its members are moving in a given direction or should the established organization remain as it is and the individual members desiring change respect those traditions and move on to where they can serve more effectively?
Well said Heather! I think there are many (in our tradition) who could benefit from education on the roles women played throughout the Bible as well as the context of the “limiting” scriptures. It seems many are familiar with the restrictive scriptures, but have not struggled with how to reconcile these with the roles women have played (and are playing) in service to God throughout history.
In regards to Andrea’s question, I don’t have an answer. I have struggled with that question since high school in regards to this issue. I do know that I need to be a part of body that is at least actively moving in a direction that corresponds to my understanding of women’s roles. For me, being a part of change is exciting and fulfills a purpose in expanding God’s kingdom . . . simply maintaining the status quo is just frustrating.
Rock on Heather!
Andrea – You are right, “hiding behind heritage beliefs” is no longer an option. Is it possible that the heritage values at our congregation are not the values of our current leaders, but rather those of past leaders?
Jennifer – Good insights. I don’t have an answer for Andrea’s question either, except that it is not possible for me to “move to another situation.” I do not accept the “culture of our tradition” either. So I will choose to declare the truth while acknowledging the small moves made in the right direction by our leaders.
Melissa – I agree, I hope this is a change we witness in our lifetime for both the Protestant and Catholic churches.
bhaltom – You rock!
Preach it sister!
I was pondering ….’where are the men on this sooo important issue’…..then there was a response from Robert.
dare I say, I agree with him 100 % (I hope he wasn’t joking)
My generation, or the next generation, can not do this alone ( I am in my sixties), nor can we do much without full support from some quality men (re: the suffrage movement in U.S., MEN had to vote for women to be able to vote. Also, the suffrage movement in U.K.– did it by steps—frustrating if one believes changes should be made right NOW, but steps are sometimes necessary)
I DO believe we have waited long enough, and another generation should not go by and the church be denied the talents and gifts of quality women to be used in the kingdom of God .
This so important and volatile issue ‘ may’ not be able to be settled in congregations already in existence without horrible pain for those who genuinely believe that women [exercising their spiritual gifts] is actually wrong. Having said this, I do not believe we can continue to tie the hands and gag the mouths of some of our most valuable assets…..our women.
To paraphrase Robert…..’Preach ON SISTERS…..and BROTHERS ! ! ‘
j.
Well said.
I think one of the most obvious examples in scripture about the womans role and ability in the church is when Mary decides to sit at the feet of Jesus instead of cleaning and preparing food. In her day, the woman’s place was in the kitchen and anywhere that needed cleaning. What Mary was saying by sitting at the feet of Jesus was that she believed she could be a disciple. And as we all know, disciples believed that they could be just like their Rabbi, and they spent their whole lives devoted to his teachings. So esentially we can conclude that Mary believes she can be like Jesus, that she could be an ambasador of the Kingdom of Heaven, and that she is just as able as any man to spread the teachings of her Rabbi. There is no other story I love more than this one. A true example of bringing humanity and equality back to people. I do not think in anyway that women are “better” than men, but we certainly aren’t any worse than men. Bravo.
Well said, and you are right on the mark. The choices for implementation are as follows (as I see them)
1. Lovingly but firmly stand for your rights in your church, make it an issue that is addressed, press for change.
2. Bail to a new church or a new tribe where you can use your gift.
3. Patiently wait, gently prodding at the appropriate times, until change happens.
The results will be as follows:
- do number one and the church will usually splinter and split and a congregation will be destroyed.
- do number two and you will lose some things that you cherish from your home tribe or church that you probably won’t find in your new one.
- do number three and you’ll be too old to preach or teach or have an effective ministry.
Good Luck! I grieve for you ladies who are being stepped on and over. I don’t know what to do.
Wait, I do! Stage a protest. All you women get together and refuse to do any work in the church until your God-given rights are recognized and embraced. That’ll get some people’s attention pretty quickly. (Especially after a few men have to change some diapers in the nursery or teach a few 5 year olds.
Heather: “Is it possible that the heritage values at our congregation are not the values of our current leaders, but rather those of past leaders?
Oops… didn’t finish.
This seems to be correct when I speak directly to the leadership. However, the stated position and actions of our church are otherwise. Therefore, the belief that is projected to our community is one of limited roles for women. That won’t change until leadership changes it.
Now, having said that, I am humbled by the struggle our elders/ministers must face in trying to balance what is best for the congregation and the beliefs they hold individually (hence my comments about leaving those that are happy with their heritage beliefs). I’m certain encouraging or embracing change on behalf of an entire congregation is much more difficult than making those choices for only yourself.
Brad seems to really have a good take on the possible outcomes of action. I think he summarizes well the pain of change. I guess it isn’t surprising that I don’t like the potential outcomes of any of these courses of action.
Garnett is my home. I believe in our mission. I believe in the changes we’ve seen happen over the last 6 years. It has been so painful and so beautiful. We are different, we are changed…but it is deeper and richer and sweeter than ever. There’s just a few more places I think we have to go… will we have the courage to go there? Is it right for the congregation as a whole or are just a few of us feeling called to something different? I don’t know – but I’m excited to see!
As an aside to the men that have comment. It has not been my experience that the objections to women in leadership are predominately male.
Maybe there is victory in the journey. Slow, plodding battles fought today can bless a whole generation of people yet to come. Maybe that is worth it. Maybe securing something for the women of the future is the noblest of pursuits in this area, one you can feel blessed in right now, with every inch of higher ground that is stepped up on.
Heather,
thanks for this post. I appreciate your boldness. I think you are overly gracious in your explanation of the harm done to women and the church by this ugly belief.
Please let me know how I can stand with you.
mark
Andrea,
You have been a partner at Garnett longer than I have and so you can see the long term changes taking place. I’ve only been here 4 1/2 years so the changes seem slower to me perhaps. But nevertheless, changes are occurring. The challenge with changing our church culture in this way is that it is not a crisis, burden, or injustice to the men in leadership. Even the brightest and well meaning among them, who happen to agree with us, are facing more urgent daily matters. Their energies are limited and this may not be a hill they are able to scale at this time. I’m not sure. But I do know that unless we continue to have this conversation nothing will be accomplished. Perhaps, a first practical step in the right direction might be to begin including the “wives of future shepherds” in the full SIT (Shepherd in Training) process (refer to http://www.wadehodges.com for a full explanation of SIT.)
Brad,
Welcome to the conversation. I agree, the greatest legacy we could leave our daughters is the opportunity to fully participate in the gospel by using their gifts in the church. Perhaps the “slow, plodding battles fought today” will bear fruit for the next generation. But then on the other hand Andrea has a valid point when she said, “… in history, change of this nature has not occurred with simple, gentle steps. It has been through bold moves that declare the truth and then act on that truth without allowing fear to render us immobile.” What could those bold moves be for us today?
Yes, I was serious. Heather has long been in support of women exercising their spiritual gifts in the church, and I too uphold that cause.
If the Holy Spirit has blessed a woman, or man, with the gift to lead (and it truly takes a gift greater than the ability to pee while standing to be an effective leader *insert laughter*) and has the humble desire in her (or his) heart to truly see people transform their lives, then I for one have no problem following a woman’s lead.
I grew up in a congregation that shunned a woman who as much as whispered from 10AM – 11:15. Women were even discouraged from singing louder than a man. Communion tray had to pass through a man’s hand before it could go to his wife. Compounded with other issues, it was truly a horrid and spiritless place.
My maternal grandfather was a circuit preacher wile he raised his family. He was hailed as a great man of faith, courage, and knowledge – yet it was my grandmother who wrote many of his best lessons.
My paternal great grandfather surely was glorified as the spiritual leader of his family on any given Sunday, until the final A-men. It was my great grandmother who nurtured and passed down a deep faith in God to her 8 children, 32 grandchildren, and 76 great grandchildren.
I think the best blessing/strength the Garnett church has going for it is it’s decade long unwritten heritage of the spouses’ of it’s ministers being included as part of the ministering team. As an estranged Garnett partner one of the elements of worship that I miss the most, and have found nowhere else in town, is the ability of a woman who needs to repent of sins, unload her heart, or ask for personal prayers to be able to do so with woman who is publicly recognized as a ministering servant, prayer warrior, or ordained leader of a congregation. It has to be very reassuring to know that at the end of that long and often embarrassing walk to the front of a worship service to repent or ask for prayers that there is a man AND a woman holding hands and lovingly stretching out there arms to pray with you, even more so if you a single woman with no one to accompany yo; I can’t imagine a more reassuring feeling.
If a woman is truly gifted for more than teaching (which, btw, I feel is one of the highest calling for any of us) and meet all of a congregations spiritual expectations of a man, then she should feel equally empowered and ordained.
One of my biggest struggles in trying to find a new home congregation is to find one that I feel will honor, encourage, and develop any gifts my children manifest, including my daughters. From my observation of both my children, my daughter shows a propensity for leadership and teaching, and I want to be in a place that will allow her to use those gifts if she desires to.
An aside: I think MANY MORE MEN should humble themselves and serve in our church nurseries. There should be just as many daddies changing diapers (male infants only of course) as mommies. They should also take up the cause of MOPS groups across the country and lovingly serve and tend to these ladies, babies, and toddlers. Where ARE all the men?
Kudos to my many male friends at the Garnett church who continue to serve in the nursery LLLOOOONNNNGGGG after their own children have been in diapers – you are the true unsung heroes of your church.
Andrea raises a truly valid point “It has not been my experience that the objections to women in leadership are predominately male”. I too have found that women, many years older and within my own age range, seem to be more outspoken about/against women who seem to exert more authority than their male counterparts. Why is that?
Robert – Thank you for your contributions to this discussion. I have had the same experience that you and Andrea have voiced. It is often women (and not always women of a certain age) who are strongly apposed to other women exercising their spiritual gifts. Why? Good question. I have actually spoken with several of these women and the common answer I have gotten is, “I just think it is wrong.” or “It’s just not the way I was raised.” In these circumstances perhaps education about the issue is long over due.
Heather,
Thanks for talking about this. I married into your fellowship and accepted the beliefs taught on many things. Finally, God opened my eyes and my husband’s eyes – he was a fourth generation member of this fellowship. An Oklahoma congregation was admonished by the elders that we were in serious jeopardy for daring to have women pray in a private home with men present. The people were warned to stay away from us. Needless to say we didn’t stay there much longer.
You don’t have to look very far for your answers on how restoration movement people made the changes you are discussing. The Disciples of Christ, who come from the same resortation movement started by the Campbells, have fully ordained women elders and ministers (not just for children or student ministry). The congregation we are most familiar with is a very old one, the original one in Tulsa, and the people there are for the most part very old. The women there are able to exercise whatever gift they are blessed with – no restrictions whatsoever.
I think the real question is if you have the right to change the churches of Christ. I believe they have the right to exist as they do. I think you need to summon the courage to make the move to a group that embraces the things you know to be the truth.
God bless you in your quest.
Heather-
I am jumping into this conversation late, but I want to chime in anyway. I love the Church of Christ heritage, although as with all flavors of christianity, we have our warts! One of the things I find encouraging about the C of C is that WE define it. It has changed so much from one generation to the next, sometimes for the better, often for the worse, but it is constantly changing and being reinvented by a new generation of believers. As someone who works with our youth at Garnett, I am excited by the fact that our teens don’t carry any of this baggage concerning women in leadership. We have many strong female leaders and we celebrate them. I am about to begin a small group study for our middle school girls called, “She Rox!” We will be talking about many of the women you mentioned in your post. I will be using the examples set by these ordinary women to challenge the girls to become the extraordinary servants God has called each of them to be. They are not facing the limitations we faced as young girls (and as grown women). This generation of girls will break free from these chains of our heritage because they don’t even realize the limitations exist.
Thank you for mentoring my daughter! She is a female that I expect we will continue to see leadership from for years to come, as is Ali Rae who posted a beautiful comment earlier!
God is amazing in you!
Deanie
Amazing message.
I guess you’ll comment my blog..
See you!