I heard a beautiful story from a Churches of Christ minister recently... whom I shall call “Priscilla” for the sake of anonymity... about a retired gentleman whom I shall call “Jack”.
Priscilla was on the ministry team of a church that had a policy that sermon notes should be copied and distributed to the congregation.
One day after she had preached, Jack (a newcomer at the church) bowled up to her and announced “I don’t believe in women ministers”. “Oh, that’s interesting” she replied. “And I don’t agree with this!” He then thrust at her the day’s sermon notes with furious circles all over the sermon.
“Would you like to discuss this further?” she enquired. He agreed that he would, so she dutifully went to his house the next day and had a long conversation about exegesis, theology, etc. etc. They parted on very cordial terms.
The next time Priscilla preached, the man bowled up to her and proclaimed: “I don’t believe in women ministers. And I don’t agree with this!” He once more thrust the day’s sermon notes with all of his contentious circles. “Would you like to discuss this further?” she enquired. So she dutifully visited the next day, and had another long theological conversation. They parted once more very warmly.
This ritual continued for two years. Then one day Jack walked up to her at the end of the sermon and said: “Priscilla, you know I don’t believe in women ministers”.
“I know that Jack”
But if I ever did... you would be the one to make me change my mind”.
Tears came to her eyes. (She reported it was one of the most moving moments of her life.)
Some time later, Jack passed on to be with his Lord, and his widow asked Priscilla to conduct Jack’s funeral.
“Oh I just couldn’t. Jack would turn in his grave... he doesn’t believe in women ministers”.
“Oh Priscilla... he just loved you.” She replied.
Sometimes the discussion about women in ministry remains at the level of theology. This dialogue is important of course. But in the end, the “argument” for women in ministry is won by competence and kindness. All of the research on this topic suggests that theological objections rapidly dissolve when a congregation experiences the ministry of a woman of appropriate giftedness, competence, and character. Objections to women’s ministry often occur at the level of the gut, rather than at the level of the head. It never really occurred to me that church ministry was a possibility for myself when I was younger, for it was right outside my experience and my imagination.
I’d be interested in your thoughts on this topic.
Saturday, 4 July 2009
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Women's Ministry Changes the World Through Crafts
ORLANDO — Hot glue guns, faux-silk flowers, painted magnets that say "I can do all things through Christ!" — these astonishingly effective tools and skill-building exercises have helped New Life Center's women's group launch dozens of women into world-changing evangelism.
"Who knew that crafts were such a potent training ground for the gospel?" says Debby Wentworth, the group's chipper leader, as she finishes painting an irresistibly cute wooden angel. She's joined in the fellowship hall by 120 women, all chatting and doing decoupage. They create darling flower bouquets, seasonal wall-hangings and cozy centerpieces — all for the cause of Christ.
As a result of intense craft training, the group has become an engine of world transformation, sending dozens of women into the mission field.
"My years spent doing crafts prepared me well for the incredible complexities and challenges of running an orphanage in rural Malaysia," says Tamara Gooden, who speaks three Asian languages and is now an unofficial liaison between her village and the central Malaysian government. "I recall the papier-mâché butterflies we made with Bible verses on the wings, the cutting, the pasting — all skills that directly pertain to my current work increasing crop yields and distributing basic medicines for the people here so they don't succumb to famine or disease."
Other women testify that their extensive training in crafts has equipped them to lead large overseas crusades, start multi-national food ministries and raise millions for relief efforts.
"Crafts is such an under-valued skill-builder," says Debby. "And when crafts are done right — take toll paining or bead stringing, for example — women sense the strong presence of God and break down under conviction, right here in the women's ministries wing."
(OK, I've pinched this from "Lark News". I'll confess I'm a bit "craft-challenged", and have more interest in women's leadership stuff. Of course, craft groups can be a fabulous form of outreach, and good creative therapy for some... but I have to smirk a little at this gentle poke at those who take craft rather too seriously!)
"Who knew that crafts were such a potent training ground for the gospel?" says Debby Wentworth, the group's chipper leader, as she finishes painting an irresistibly cute wooden angel. She's joined in the fellowship hall by 120 women, all chatting and doing decoupage. They create darling flower bouquets, seasonal wall-hangings and cozy centerpieces — all for the cause of Christ.
As a result of intense craft training, the group has become an engine of world transformation, sending dozens of women into the mission field.
"My years spent doing crafts prepared me well for the incredible complexities and challenges of running an orphanage in rural Malaysia," says Tamara Gooden, who speaks three Asian languages and is now an unofficial liaison between her village and the central Malaysian government. "I recall the papier-mâché butterflies we made with Bible verses on the wings, the cutting, the pasting — all skills that directly pertain to my current work increasing crop yields and distributing basic medicines for the people here so they don't succumb to famine or disease."
Other women testify that their extensive training in crafts has equipped them to lead large overseas crusades, start multi-national food ministries and raise millions for relief efforts.
"Crafts is such an under-valued skill-builder," says Debby. "And when crafts are done right — take toll paining or bead stringing, for example — women sense the strong presence of God and break down under conviction, right here in the women's ministries wing."
(OK, I've pinched this from "Lark News". I'll confess I'm a bit "craft-challenged", and have more interest in women's leadership stuff. Of course, craft groups can be a fabulous form of outreach, and good creative therapy for some... but I have to smirk a little at this gentle poke at those who take craft rather too seriously!)
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Swine Flu
Just phoned the NHS swine flu helpline and all I got was crackling.
How did the pig go on holiday? The swine flu
Swine flu isn’t a problem for pigs, because they're all going to be cured anyway.
The first sign of pig flu is that you come out in nasty rashers.
Swine flu is getting serious, it has been reported to be a hamdemic, which may lead to an aporkolypse... But we’ll get through. Where there's a swill there's a way.
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed at home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy had influenza A virus subtype hemagglutinin protein 1 neuraminidase protein 1.
The only known cure for Swine Flu has been found to be the liberal application of oinkment.
My friend says he’s got swine flu, but I think he's telling porkies
I have to say, I'm finding all these jokes about swine flu pretty boaring.
If you receive an email from the Department of Health telling you not to eat tinned pork because of swine flu, ignore it ............it's just spam.
(I just received this as an email this morning... who makes up all this stuff?)
How did the pig go on holiday? The swine flu
Swine flu isn’t a problem for pigs, because they're all going to be cured anyway.
The first sign of pig flu is that you come out in nasty rashers.
Swine flu is getting serious, it has been reported to be a hamdemic, which may lead to an aporkolypse... But we’ll get through. Where there's a swill there's a way.
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed at home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy had influenza A virus subtype hemagglutinin protein 1 neuraminidase protein 1.
The only known cure for Swine Flu has been found to be the liberal application of oinkment.
My friend says he’s got swine flu, but I think he's telling porkies
I have to say, I'm finding all these jokes about swine flu pretty boaring.
If you receive an email from the Department of Health telling you not to eat tinned pork because of swine flu, ignore it ............it's just spam.
(I just received this as an email this morning... who makes up all this stuff?)
Monday, 22 June 2009
And now... for the really big theological question
One of the many wonderful things about children is that they pop out fresh. They therefore see the world with new eyes, and ask unexpected questions.
My ten-year-old son was bemoaning the state of the world this morning (OK, he has a melancholy streak, and they've been looking at ecological sustainability, recycling, ethical shopping, child labour, carbon footprint etc. at school. I'm now living with a fully paid up member of the "eco-police").
I assured my son that when Jesus returns he'll make everything right.
"I hope he wears decent clothes this time" was his reply.
Yet again I'm theologically stumped. What would Jesus wear for his return? It seem perfectly reasonable to think that he wouldn't need to wear his 1st century styled robes. Any thoughts on contemporary gear for the second coming?
My ten-year-old son was bemoaning the state of the world this morning (OK, he has a melancholy streak, and they've been looking at ecological sustainability, recycling, ethical shopping, child labour, carbon footprint etc. at school. I'm now living with a fully paid up member of the "eco-police").
I assured my son that when Jesus returns he'll make everything right.
"I hope he wears decent clothes this time" was his reply.
Yet again I'm theologically stumped. What would Jesus wear for his return? It seem perfectly reasonable to think that he wouldn't need to wear his 1st century styled robes. Any thoughts on contemporary gear for the second coming?
Sunday, 7 June 2009
More on women in ministry
I have spent a bit of time in the blogosphere of late reading (and commenting upon) articles about women's ministry. (Not like me I know... ha ha!)
Those of you who can't bear to wait for the CBE conference next year, and who would like to engage in some biblical discussions around this issue, might want to look at:
Peggy Brown's article at "The Next Wave"
and Peggy's reflections on the "women must keep silent" passage in Corinthians
and How Junia became a male, then became a woman again
and my earlier post about headship, etc.
(Thanks to Matt Stone who has inspired me to use "blogger help" to learn about some of the zillion things I don't know about blogging. Let's just see if the links actually work...)
Those of you who can't bear to wait for the CBE conference next year, and who would like to engage in some biblical discussions around this issue, might want to look at:
Peggy Brown's article at "The Next Wave"
and Peggy's reflections on the "women must keep silent" passage in Corinthians
and How Junia became a male, then became a woman again
and my earlier post about headship, etc.
(Thanks to Matt Stone who has inspired me to use "blogger help" to learn about some of the zillion things I don't know about blogging. Let's just see if the links actually work...)
Friday, 5 June 2009
To ordain, or not to ordain... CBE to the rescue!
One of my life passions is seeing women step into their God-given vocation; to exercise the gifts and step into the calling that will be fruitful for them and a blessing to others. For some women, this calling is to parent well, or to teach, or to nurse, or to work in a variety of industries, or to engage in the creative arts, or to volunteer their services for the good of others, or a myriad of other possibilities… while for some, this involves a call to formal Christian ministry.
I’ve recently discovered that the international “Christians for Biblical Equality” conference will be held in Melbourne next year. You can find out more information about this here
I’m delighted to support this group, who provide solid evangelical explanations of the “tricky passages” that are used to block the leadership of women in conservative churches.
This “blocking” is understandable in groups that sincerely want to come under the authority of scripture, and live faithfully to God. It is strange however that this sincerity is often applied arbitrarily… female missionaries are accepted, returned female missionaries might “give a talk” (not preach) in their churches, women might lead singing, and women might be encouraged to work in chaplaincy or in parachurch groups (as if ministry outside the hallowed walls of a church building is suddenly OK.)
Literal interpretations of passages from the epistles are often applied inconsistently too. The command to “greet one another with a holy kiss” is dismissed as cultural; the command for women to “keep silent” is accepted as a universal decree from the LORD Almighty.
I’ve recently spied one interesting explanation of why the ordination of women was overturned in one Australian denomination in Queensland here:
Well, I’m glad I understand the phenomenon a little better…
Seriously though… it does sadden me that the gifts of women are blocked for reasons that (in my not particularly humble opinion) are very ill-informed. Churches impoverish themselves, disempower women who have leadership gifts, and alienate people outside the church, when they adopt such stances. Of course, sometimes women are disempowered not by formal “stances”, but by informal cultural church practices. I’d be interested in your reflections and experiences on this.
I’ve recently discovered that the international “Christians for Biblical Equality” conference will be held in Melbourne next year. You can find out more information about this here
I’m delighted to support this group, who provide solid evangelical explanations of the “tricky passages” that are used to block the leadership of women in conservative churches.
This “blocking” is understandable in groups that sincerely want to come under the authority of scripture, and live faithfully to God. It is strange however that this sincerity is often applied arbitrarily… female missionaries are accepted, returned female missionaries might “give a talk” (not preach) in their churches, women might lead singing, and women might be encouraged to work in chaplaincy or in parachurch groups (as if ministry outside the hallowed walls of a church building is suddenly OK.)
Literal interpretations of passages from the epistles are often applied inconsistently too. The command to “greet one another with a holy kiss” is dismissed as cultural; the command for women to “keep silent” is accepted as a universal decree from the LORD Almighty.
I’ve recently spied one interesting explanation of why the ordination of women was overturned in one Australian denomination in Queensland here:
Well, I’m glad I understand the phenomenon a little better…
Seriously though… it does sadden me that the gifts of women are blocked for reasons that (in my not particularly humble opinion) are very ill-informed. Churches impoverish themselves, disempower women who have leadership gifts, and alienate people outside the church, when they adopt such stances. Of course, sometimes women are disempowered not by formal “stances”, but by informal cultural church practices. I’d be interested in your reflections and experiences on this.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
Exiles
By the rivers of Babylon
There we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion....
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?
(Psalm 137: 1, 4. 21st Century King James Version,,, or was it Boney M?)
Psalm 137 a picture of utter disorientation. Worship in the temple is a thing of the past.
How could these Exiles be the people of God away from the temple, away from the rituals, away from the songs of worship, away from the place where the presence of God was promised to dwell? Should they forget the LORD and simply dissolve into the world of the Babylonians? Was it all too hard? How could they be the people of God in a strange place?
Of course, something profound happened among God’s people in the exile to Babylon. Over time they discovered a new way to be the people of God away from Jerusalem, away from the ruined temple, and outside of the sacrificial system of temple worship. The formation of the synagogue system, that have in one form or another has kept Judaism alive for millennia, occurred in the bitter crucible of the Exile experience.
There is an exile phenomenon in our midst today. Institutional churches in Australia of various stripes have a huge “back door”... the statistics tell a story of a massive drift from churches to... who knows where?
Anecdotally, this drift is for a whole host of reasons. Some people leave for very positive reasons... a sense of call to operate in organic missional forms of Christian gatherings... informal groups that fly under the statistical radar.
Some drift from church because of relocation for work or study reasons. Some drift slowly away as priorities shift, or as unresolved doubts fester, or because of a vague but growing sense of unease about their church.
Some leave churches for far darker and traumatic reasons. “Church discipline” and excommunication, unresolved conflict, burnout, getting “frozen out”, profound disappointment, spiritual abuse, and social ostracisation for a host of reasons (too loud, too quiet, too non conformist, too single in a “family” church, too young in an old church, too old in a young church, too female in a patriarchal church, wrong sexual orientation, wrong dress sense, wrong job status... whatever).
Whatever the reason for church exile, many people leave the institutional church... but not the faith. Something of Jesus remains “under their skin”. Regardless of doubts and disappointments, they still believe following the teaching of Jesus still makes the world a better place. Regardless of a crisis of confidence in an institution, the Spirit of God continues to whisper into their hearts and minds and consciences. Despite everything, the spiritual side of their lives continues to matter. But how can they be the people of God away from the temple?
What do you think is the reason for the “Exile” phenomenon.... and what is God up to here?
There we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion....
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?
(Psalm 137: 1, 4. 21st Century King James Version,,, or was it Boney M?)
Psalm 137 a picture of utter disorientation. Worship in the temple is a thing of the past.
How could these Exiles be the people of God away from the temple, away from the rituals, away from the songs of worship, away from the place where the presence of God was promised to dwell? Should they forget the LORD and simply dissolve into the world of the Babylonians? Was it all too hard? How could they be the people of God in a strange place?
Of course, something profound happened among God’s people in the exile to Babylon. Over time they discovered a new way to be the people of God away from Jerusalem, away from the ruined temple, and outside of the sacrificial system of temple worship. The formation of the synagogue system, that have in one form or another has kept Judaism alive for millennia, occurred in the bitter crucible of the Exile experience.
There is an exile phenomenon in our midst today. Institutional churches in Australia of various stripes have a huge “back door”... the statistics tell a story of a massive drift from churches to... who knows where?
Anecdotally, this drift is for a whole host of reasons. Some people leave for very positive reasons... a sense of call to operate in organic missional forms of Christian gatherings... informal groups that fly under the statistical radar.
Some drift from church because of relocation for work or study reasons. Some drift slowly away as priorities shift, or as unresolved doubts fester, or because of a vague but growing sense of unease about their church.
Some leave churches for far darker and traumatic reasons. “Church discipline” and excommunication, unresolved conflict, burnout, getting “frozen out”, profound disappointment, spiritual abuse, and social ostracisation for a host of reasons (too loud, too quiet, too non conformist, too single in a “family” church, too young in an old church, too old in a young church, too female in a patriarchal church, wrong sexual orientation, wrong dress sense, wrong job status... whatever).
Whatever the reason for church exile, many people leave the institutional church... but not the faith. Something of Jesus remains “under their skin”. Regardless of doubts and disappointments, they still believe following the teaching of Jesus still makes the world a better place. Regardless of a crisis of confidence in an institution, the Spirit of God continues to whisper into their hearts and minds and consciences. Despite everything, the spiritual side of their lives continues to matter. But how can they be the people of God away from the temple?
What do you think is the reason for the “Exile” phenomenon.... and what is God up to here?
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