Women in the Clergy:
A Response
Al Lindsay
T
he issue of women in the clergy is one of great moment for the General
Church. This is due to the apparent dearth of applicants to our Theological
School and the apparent enthusiasm for many women to enter the priesthood.
I think we have believed for some time that there has been a figurative
sign at the entrance to the Theological School of the General Church which
states: “No women need apply.” This issue has been brought into sharper focus
by a paper published in your September/October 2013 issue, Gender and the
Priesthood, by the Rev. N. Bruce Rogers. This paper appears to be an apology
for the position which has apparently been taken by the clergy on this point. I
am afraid I found it disappointing – no, disturbing.
Mr. Rogers commences his paper by stating that the New Christian Church
is founded on the Heavenly Doctrines given through Emanuel Swedenborg
and, as such, the Church is not free to alter, amend or change these doctrines.
They are “immutable.” Thus, the issue of gender in the priesthood cannot be
regarded as a cultural issue but rather a doctrinal issue. With this in mind, we
would assume that we would be presented with a very clear statement from the
Writings that women do not belong in the clergy.
The notion that any male, regardless of how mediocre in this particular
endeavor, is superior to any female, regardless of how brilliant, is so
counterintuitive that if we are to accept the position of the clergy, we must look
for a very clear and convincing statement in the Writings: “No ladies allowed
in the pulpit.” One could only assume that Mr. Rogers, a renowned scholar of
the doctrines, would produce that clear and convincing point.
None was forthcoming in his paper.
It is apparent, from the paper, that while the Writings have much to say
about the role of the male and the female in marriage, they give us precious
little guidance when it comes to whether women should be priests.
While at the outset of his paper, Mr. Rogers states that gender in the
priesthood cannot be regarded as a cultural issue, but rather a doctrinal issue,
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