There's a Woman in the Pulpit
There's a woman in the pulpit.
Maybe.
Granted, there are more and more women in the pulpit and at the altar and leading churches and denominations.
But we're still a bit like unicorns in clergy collars and high heels.
I rarely go a month in my ministry without hearing, "Wow, I've never met a female/woman/girl minister," with the emphasis on female, as if my gender combined with my faith is some sort of questionable status of being human that must be discussed in semi-hushed tones.
Or like I'm a unicorn.
This constant reminder of ordained gender can lead one quickly down the road of terminal exceptionalism, the idea that we are experiencing something that no one ever in all of creation has experienced. Unless you are a unicorn in a clergy collar and high heels, this terminal exceptionalism is quite isolating and damaging.
When you are alone in the pulpit, in a diocese, in a congregation, as a woman minister (the first, the only, the wait, we didn't think you were what we'd get) in a church, that isolation can be life-draining. Many faith traditions don't recognize the call of women to be ordained, so there are always those who feel compelled to share why we shouldn't be ordained. Other faith traditions that do recognize the call, including my own Episcopal Church, still struggle with systemic gender discrimination and sexism that we'd quite often rather ignore and rarely discuss in any meaningful way.
A male clergy person makes a mistake and he's personally responsible (if he's held responsible at all); a female clergy person makes a mistake and it's a commentary on her entire gender. Women clergy are consistently paid less than their male counterparts and often serve struggling congregations that can rarely pay a full-time salary. The questions asked of women (so how do you juggle being a mother and a priest, why are you wearing jewelry in the pulpit, etc.) are almost never asked of men. Disagreements between women are denigrated at "cat fights" instead of honest differences of opinions. The boy's club still exists in the upper eschelons of the church. Make no mistake.
So yes, there's a woman in the pulpit, but she often feels alone, unheard, and overwhelmed by the prejudice of others.
Which is one reason why I'm so thankful many clergy women from a broad spectrum of denominations have shared their voices, experiences, griefs, and joys in the book There's a Woman in the Pulpit. Reading through the essays, I remembered my own experiences as a young priest. I appreciated the reflections from colleagues I know through this beautiful mess of a life in ministry that are almost exactly like my own. I laughed at some, teared up at others, and heard the voices of women through the ages and in the here and now remind me: no, you are not alone.
One of the great values (among many) of 12 step meetings is the reality that we are not alone in our experiences. People who have been wounded by addiction and life in general gather to share their stories in 12 step groups. In that sharing, others find hope and healing. In that sharing, they hear the truth of others that life is hard and still beautiful. In that sharing, they hear they are not alone.
Because we aren't. We humans are far more similar than we are different.
In this book, the community of faithful women tell their stories. For those of us who are ordained, may we find our own stories told in other voices. For those who are considering the journey to ordained life, may you find the unvarnished, stark, and awesome truth of life in ordained ministry. For those who are not ordained, may you find a glimpse into the life of your pastor, minister, and priest. For those of you who think this book isn't relevant and important because the stories are told by women, may you discover otherwise.
And for all of us, may we remember the truth that no matter where we are in our life, we are not alone. And may we find hope and healing in these stories.
I am honored to be a contributor to There's a Woman in the Pulpit. If you'd like to order this book, click here.
Maybe.
Granted, there are more and more women in the pulpit and at the altar and leading churches and denominations.
But we're still a bit like unicorns in clergy collars and high heels.
I rarely go a month in my ministry without hearing, "Wow, I've never met a female/woman/girl minister," with the emphasis on female, as if my gender combined with my faith is some sort of questionable status of being human that must be discussed in semi-hushed tones.
Or like I'm a unicorn.
This constant reminder of ordained gender can lead one quickly down the road of terminal exceptionalism, the idea that we are experiencing something that no one ever in all of creation has experienced. Unless you are a unicorn in a clergy collar and high heels, this terminal exceptionalism is quite isolating and damaging.
When you are alone in the pulpit, in a diocese, in a congregation, as a woman minister (the first, the only, the wait, we didn't think you were what we'd get) in a church, that isolation can be life-draining. Many faith traditions don't recognize the call of women to be ordained, so there are always those who feel compelled to share why we shouldn't be ordained. Other faith traditions that do recognize the call, including my own Episcopal Church, still struggle with systemic gender discrimination and sexism that we'd quite often rather ignore and rarely discuss in any meaningful way.
A male clergy person makes a mistake and he's personally responsible (if he's held responsible at all); a female clergy person makes a mistake and it's a commentary on her entire gender. Women clergy are consistently paid less than their male counterparts and often serve struggling congregations that can rarely pay a full-time salary. The questions asked of women (so how do you juggle being a mother and a priest, why are you wearing jewelry in the pulpit, etc.) are almost never asked of men. Disagreements between women are denigrated at "cat fights" instead of honest differences of opinions. The boy's club still exists in the upper eschelons of the church. Make no mistake.
So yes, there's a woman in the pulpit, but she often feels alone, unheard, and overwhelmed by the prejudice of others.
Which is one reason why I'm so thankful many clergy women from a broad spectrum of denominations have shared their voices, experiences, griefs, and joys in the book There's a Woman in the Pulpit. Reading through the essays, I remembered my own experiences as a young priest. I appreciated the reflections from colleagues I know through this beautiful mess of a life in ministry that are almost exactly like my own. I laughed at some, teared up at others, and heard the voices of women through the ages and in the here and now remind me: no, you are not alone.
One of the great values (among many) of 12 step meetings is the reality that we are not alone in our experiences. People who have been wounded by addiction and life in general gather to share their stories in 12 step groups. In that sharing, others find hope and healing. In that sharing, they hear the truth of others that life is hard and still beautiful. In that sharing, they hear they are not alone.
Because we aren't. We humans are far more similar than we are different.
In this book, the community of faithful women tell their stories. For those of us who are ordained, may we find our own stories told in other voices. For those who are considering the journey to ordained life, may you find the unvarnished, stark, and awesome truth of life in ordained ministry. For those who are not ordained, may you find a glimpse into the life of your pastor, minister, and priest. For those of you who think this book isn't relevant and important because the stories are told by women, may you discover otherwise.
And for all of us, may we remember the truth that no matter where we are in our life, we are not alone. And may we find hope and healing in these stories.
I am honored to be a contributor to There's a Woman in the Pulpit. If you'd like to order this book, click here.
Comments
BTW as an old proofreader, try "echelons".
Blessings
Hang in there, times are changing -and folks like YOU are making it happen. Thank you!
Recently that same daughter told me she was considering the priesthood--I will support her and be there for her if God is truly calling her to ordained ministry, but I must admit there was a part of me that was screaming, "Don't do it!" But I love my vocation; it is part of my very being, so I know if God is calling her she will answer and be awesome!