"In women, courage is often mistaken for insanity"

I have been pondering the quote from the movie "Iron Jawed Angels" to which I refer in the previous post. "In women, courage is often mistaken for insanity". This poignant phrase was the response of the male actor playing the doctor who, after examining the women, defended them before the power brokers who were opposing their efforts. These women had stepped out of their prescribed roles to forcefully challenge the fact that the privileges of the Constitution (that America was promoting all over the world) was denied them. Do people you know think you are "insane" for asking that the privilege of responding to the call of the Holy Spirit (based on our "Constitution", the Bible, that we promote all over the world) be afforded women as well?

Women's Suffrage

88 years ago, on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. It granted women the right to vote. The struggle for Women's Suffrage lasted for more than half a century (some say it lasted for 70 years, that would mean that it began around 1850)! This week, as the Presidential election has just finished, I have been thinking about the movie "Iron Jawed Angels." It is about the American Women's Suffrage movement during the early 1900s. It was very moving and thought-provoking to watch the passion, determination and actual physical suffering these women went through to get the vote. This is a right we take for granted today. Are we women who feel called into the ministry in a parallel situation? It seems that passion, determination (I hope not physical suffering) are required to push through to answer God's call on our lives. Is it possible that someday there will be women who will enter the ministry totally unaware of those who went before them; women who blazed the trail? Wouldn't it be great if someday women just "took it for granted" that they could minister?

Gender differences?

I have been reading a book ("Gender and Work" by Edward C. Lehman, Jr.) outlining various views on the way women and men approach ministry. Some claim that there are substantial differences in their approaches. If this is so, are the differences really based on gender differences or just differences in personality? Is it helpful to accentuate the differences (what unique characteristics and giftings women bring to ministry)? Is it more helpful to try to fit in and be like men? Is there a balance? What do you think?

Inclusive Language

So, I just read a book on discipleship and it was totally addressed to men. It talked about choosing men to disciple. What he should look like. What gifts he should have. The list of characteristics used only the male noun or pronoun. What if a man picked up a book on discipleship? What if it talked only about choosing women to disciple? What if it talked only about the gifts she should have? What if the list of characteristics used only the female noun or pronoun? Do you think a man would read it?
Hmmm?

A Radical Church

A Radical Church
Here is a little history that you may not know about the Wesleyan Church. "In the 1830s and early 1840s politicians and preachers joined ranks to attack the evil institution of slavery. Reformers Orange Scott and Luther Lee based their abolitionist position on the fundamental concern that those in bondage to other persons could not fulfill their obligations to obey God. Out of this theologically-based abolitionist stance, the Wesleyan Methodist Church was born in 1843."
If this history interests you, go to the link http://www.centerforwomeninministry.org/content/view/18/22/. Choose Women in Wesleyan Ministry - History (Gonlag).

Advocacy vs. Affirmation

I don't know if you have noticed, but The Wesleyan Church has recently begun to affirm Women in Ministry more than it has for several decades. However, I believe the Church needs to begin advocating for women and move toward actually paving the way for women to find positions. This can be done by current pastors teaching/educating the people of their local churches about the Biblical foundations for Women in Ministry so that they will understand why we believe women may be ordained and take leadership in our churches. It can be done by hiring women as assistant pastors so that there is a pool of women with experience to draw from when churches begin looking for a pastor. I would like to see the boards that move people through the ordination process be aware that women are left out of the loop. It would help potential female candidates if access to ordination was more transparent. I, along with others, would advocate that the leadership of the church continue the current trend of putting women on the platform at denominational activities. I also would like to encourage the inclusion of women in pictures promoting any activity of The Wesleyan Church.
Any other ideas?

Affirmation of "Women In Ministry"

Here is a statement that should make us proud!
"In spite of some forces which seek to undo our long-standing position on the ordination of women, we refuse to budge on this issue—we will not tolerate the blocking of a person's ordination due to his or her gender, for we believe that both men and women are called to the ministry and thus should be ordained. Furthermore, we condemn any practice of exclusive male- only leadership on boards or committees in the church, excluding women from these positions by either public policy or unofficial behind-the-scenes agreed-upon policy, for we believe that when it comes to God's gifts, graces and callings, there is neither male nor female." ("Statement on Social Issues," adopted by the 1996 General Conference)