new church life: jan uary/february 2015
also came across as angry and combative. Perhaps they felt this was the only
way to be heard, but it sounded too much like other women-libbers, and
turned me off rather than awakening or inspiring me.
Because the world seemed to be trying to blur or eliminate differences, I felt
the Church needed to be a beacon protecting the beauty of the complementary
differences. I saw women becoming ministers as a threat to the preservation
of this ideal.
Question – Can you tell me what changed your mind?
Answer – My change of heart came rather suddenly about a year ago. There
had been ongoing debate for some time, and even though I admired some of
those who spoke up for WIM, I kept my distance.
The shift for me began when I decided to look at myself to explore how
much my position was based on my judgment of others (angry women
from the past) and the culture of my growing up. I didn’t talk about these
new thoughts to family and friends who were for WIM. I did not want to be
persuaded by them. I wanted to work it out for myself first. I am grateful that
in prior brief conversations with them on the subject they were always patient
and non-aggressive. We agreed to disagree.
Of course I am not a doctrinal scholar, so I began to read both sides of the
debate in New Church Life and on Facebook. In my reading I began to notice
that the same teachings were often used to support both sides of the debate.
I found nothing that presented clear, indisputable answers. I slowly felt as if I
were waking up to the obvious.
I began to think about the days when there were no women on any church
boards. I think most people in the Church would now agree that including
women on boards was a good move. Having them join the male clergy, it
seemed, might be the next logical step. It suddenly disturbed me to think
about the annual ministers meetings where only men deliberated without the
balance of feminine perspective.
Asking for input from women (part of the laity) is very different from
having them involved in discussion or study. The Lord needs all of us to work
for Him and has provided this beautiful balance of male and female to serve
Him. Why not as male and female ministers?
It is absolutely crucial that we keep studying doctrine. There is so much the
Lord wants us to understand and share with others. I appreciate the men who
have been devoted to this. I do understand that we must also keep searching
for application.
We are taught that truth apart from good or wisdom apart from love are
nothing at all. The joining of love and wisdom, good and truth, male and
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