Dear Female Pastors,
Dear Female Pastors,
You are my sisters in Christ. Your plight has not gone unnoticed. I wonder, If I’m so frustrated by everything going on in the church right now, what are the female pastors thinking? I also think that all of us women in the church can relate to your feelings. I want you to know that you are not alone. There are other women (and men) in the church that fully support you. We may not be pastors, but we certainly admire your calling and respect your God-given career.
I have a calling from God. He has called me to be a teacher. I am blessed to teach in a school setting where I can share my belief in God with my students. It is truly my very favorite part of teaching. Imagine now if someone disregarded my calling from God.
“Lori, I’m really uncomfortable with you saying that God called you to teaching. I mean, that’s really reserved for teachers,” someone might say.
“But I AM a teacher!” I’d undoubtedly protest.
“Oh, well, yes, you ARE a teacher, but let’s just say that God asked you to be a teacher, not that he called you. He’s called the male teachers at your school, but it’s different for you.”
“But how does that make sense? What’s the difference?”
“Exactly! It doesn’t matter. If you make a big deal about the word usage it’ll just upset and disrupt people in our school.”
I am so happy that I’ve never actually had a conversation like this, but I know that many of you have. It’s a conversation that is just as ridiculous as it is insulting. I’m so sorry. To be recognized as a pastor but to not be given the same respect or title as your male counterparts comes across as completely sexist. It hurts! You can’t even voice your frustration at injustice without someone questioning whether you truly follow the Bible. Your relationship with God, the very thing you want your members to be the most sure of, is cast in a dark shadow of doubt.
When we devalue women pastors in our church, we are effectively devaluing every woman in our church. We create a hierarchy of knowledge of God where woman can never attain the same heights as man. We create a competitive spirit in our church, where each woman has to prove her legitimate relationship with God. We make it okay to trust in the wisdom of man over woman. We make it normal to keep women silent and out of church leadership positions. It feels as though any time I go up front in church, any time I teach in an adult Sabbath School classroom, and any time I am part of a spiritual discussion, every man is pointing at me and asking, “What could you possibly have to contribute spiritually here? How could you even build up my faith in God?” We forget our most influential founder, Ellen White. God used her as a pastor and an authority figure for our church. The church didn’t recognize her as ordained, but there is no denying that God ordained her for His purpose.
Our God chose Deborah to wisely judge the nation of Israel, showing strength in her leadership over Barak’s cowardice. Rahab’s quick-thinking not only saved the Israelite spies, but herself and her family. Naomi’s words and actions convinced Ruth to pursue a life with God and Ruth chose God over her own family. Abigail had the wisdom and courage to stop a massacre and spoke out against her foolish husband. She was praised by the future king of Israel for it and she became the wife of David. Esther risked her own life to speak on behalf of her people and prevented genocide. Hannah prayed so earnestly and from the heart that Eli chastised her, but God honored her request. Eunice and Lois played a crucial part in Timothy’s spiritual formation. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus and encouraged by Jesus himself in her worship of Him despite the twelve disciples grumblings. The Samaritan woman was not even welcomed among her own people, but Jesus wanted to talk to her. Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus and even though it meant sacrificing her reputation she humbly decided to follow God’s calling.
God has always valued a female spiritual experience. God has always asked for female voices to represent Him too. He is not a God of exclusion, but of inclusion.
Sincerely,
Another woman in Christ
You are my sisters in Christ. Your plight has not gone unnoticed. I wonder, If I’m so frustrated by everything going on in the church right now, what are the female pastors thinking? I also think that all of us women in the church can relate to your feelings. I want you to know that you are not alone. There are other women (and men) in the church that fully support you. We may not be pastors, but we certainly admire your calling and respect your God-given career.
I have a calling from God. He has called me to be a teacher. I am blessed to teach in a school setting where I can share my belief in God with my students. It is truly my very favorite part of teaching. Imagine now if someone disregarded my calling from God.
“Lori, I’m really uncomfortable with you saying that God called you to teaching. I mean, that’s really reserved for teachers,” someone might say.
“But I AM a teacher!” I’d undoubtedly protest.
“Oh, well, yes, you ARE a teacher, but let’s just say that God asked you to be a teacher, not that he called you. He’s called the male teachers at your school, but it’s different for you.”
“But how does that make sense? What’s the difference?”
“Exactly! It doesn’t matter. If you make a big deal about the word usage it’ll just upset and disrupt people in our school.”
I am so happy that I’ve never actually had a conversation like this, but I know that many of you have. It’s a conversation that is just as ridiculous as it is insulting. I’m so sorry. To be recognized as a pastor but to not be given the same respect or title as your male counterparts comes across as completely sexist. It hurts! You can’t even voice your frustration at injustice without someone questioning whether you truly follow the Bible. Your relationship with God, the very thing you want your members to be the most sure of, is cast in a dark shadow of doubt.
When we devalue women pastors in our church, we are effectively devaluing every woman in our church. We create a hierarchy of knowledge of God where woman can never attain the same heights as man. We create a competitive spirit in our church, where each woman has to prove her legitimate relationship with God. We make it okay to trust in the wisdom of man over woman. We make it normal to keep women silent and out of church leadership positions. It feels as though any time I go up front in church, any time I teach in an adult Sabbath School classroom, and any time I am part of a spiritual discussion, every man is pointing at me and asking, “What could you possibly have to contribute spiritually here? How could you even build up my faith in God?” We forget our most influential founder, Ellen White. God used her as a pastor and an authority figure for our church. The church didn’t recognize her as ordained, but there is no denying that God ordained her for His purpose.
Our God chose Deborah to wisely judge the nation of Israel, showing strength in her leadership over Barak’s cowardice. Rahab’s quick-thinking not only saved the Israelite spies, but herself and her family. Naomi’s words and actions convinced Ruth to pursue a life with God and Ruth chose God over her own family. Abigail had the wisdom and courage to stop a massacre and spoke out against her foolish husband. She was praised by the future king of Israel for it and she became the wife of David. Esther risked her own life to speak on behalf of her people and prevented genocide. Hannah prayed so earnestly and from the heart that Eli chastised her, but God honored her request. Eunice and Lois played a crucial part in Timothy’s spiritual formation. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus and encouraged by Jesus himself in her worship of Him despite the twelve disciples grumblings. The Samaritan woman was not even welcomed among her own people, but Jesus wanted to talk to her. Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus and even though it meant sacrificing her reputation she humbly decided to follow God’s calling.
God has always valued a female spiritual experience. God has always asked for female voices to represent Him too. He is not a God of exclusion, but of inclusion.
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. ... For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-6)God loves you, my sisters. He has ordained you for His glorious purpose. I wish that the church leaders would recognize your calling. You are not less of a person due to your career. You are not unheard or unnoticed even though some people would try to silence you, even punish you for following God’s call. We see you being bullied and disrespected. You are not alone. You are not the reason for disunity in our church. Keep shining in the dark places. We need you now more than ever.
Sincerely,
Another woman in Christ
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