Sunday’s Epistle reading started off as a nightmare and turned out to be a wonderful gift.
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:23-29
Last week yet again I had words flung at me due to the fact I happen to be made in God’s image as a female not a male. This, as any female will tell you, is nothing new. It is certainly nothing new for me in my ministry, but when I then looked up the readings to prepare my sermon rather than filling me with the hope they have done in the past they filled me with despair, for the church is still far from reaching that goal 2,000 years on.
Back in the 1980′s when I told my father that I had been accepted for ministerial training he was horrified and walked out of my flat and didn’t speak to me for some time. I knew he wouldn’t be happy about it as I knew his views on woman even reading in church, but nevertheless God had called me and I was obeying that call. In time he came round and gifted me a lovely communion set when I was deaconed and a white chasuble when I was priested. After receiving at my first celebration he told me that he had been wrong and God had shown him the error of his ways; it was one of the most moving experiences of my life.
As I smarted from last weeks words and actions and read those words from Galatians my father was there beside me giving me strength not only to carry on, but reminding me of the power of God’s words and faith in Christ. All things can and will be made new, somethings will just take a little longer than others. I echo, with all my heart, the psalmist cry of ‘How long, Lord.’
Over on Lesley Fellow’s blog she used ‘mitregate’ to reflect on the wider prejudice in the church it is unfortunately true that prejudice still runs free and the views that my father expressed many, many years ago are still alive and well in churches up and down the land. What I had been struggling with is why such words and actions are somehow acceptable in Church when in the secular world they would be stamped on from a great height. Lesley hits the nail on the head, a big part of the problem is the institution, the institution of the church which allows such prejudice to go on, and even gives it a theological smokescreen. Let us talk not of theology but of respect and justice. Would any priest ever dream of speaking to a Rabbi, or Imam with anything other than respect? I certainly hope they wouldn’t. What if the Rabbi was a female would that make a difference, again I doubt it.
Recently at our General Synod we discussed the Gender Audit, well actually we didn’t, it got sidetracked into a request for inclusive language liturgy. In the paper it refers to a group I had never, to my knowledge and shame, heard of before ‘The Elders’, this group have wise words for the church if only the church would listen.
“Religion and tradition are a great force for peace and progress around the world.
However, as Elders, we believe that the justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a higher authority, is unacceptable.
We believe that women and girls share equal rights with men and boys in all aspects of life.
We call upon all leaders to promote and protect equal rights for women and girls.
We especially call on religious and traditional leaders to set an example and change all discriminatory practices within their own religions and traditions.
The Elders are fully committed to the realisation of equality and empowerment of all women and girls.”
The Elders, 2 July 2009.
Who are ‘The Elders’? You may be wondering, well you can find out about them here, but basically this is their mission statement
The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.
While there have been lay people throughout my ministry, like my father, who have been wary of a non-male priest I now encounter that less and less. It is from within the priesthood itself that the majority of prejudice manifests itself. Why is this? I don’t know. This isn’t about theology it is about justice no one; Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; should be belittled.
I am lucky, with the memories of my own father, with the support of Hubby and colleagues, and with my faith I have survived, for a time I wasn’t sure I could. However …
How long, LORD, will you forget me? For all time?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I think such sad thoughts? All day long?
How long will my enemy win?
Look! Answer me LORD.
My God, give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.
My enemy will say, “I beat them!”
My enemies will be very happy when I fall.
But I will believe in your love that never fails.
My heart will be very happy because you make me safe.
I will sing to the LORD.
For the Lord is so good to me.
Psalm 13