It’s a topic I’ve been chewing on for a while, and I’d like
to get a little perspective from my fellow blogstresses. Marissa belongs to a
denomination that ordains women (obviously), I belong to the very last denomination
that will ever, ever ordain women (a cold day in Hell), and Bethany goes to a
church somewhere between the two (I think?).
Anyway, here’s the topic: Why is women’s ministry so lame?
Maybe you think it’s not. This blog post is not for you.
Are all those wrong people gone now?? Ok, let’s move on.
I got a phone call a little while ago from a woman at my
church asking if I wanted to be involved in a women’s bible study that’s
starting up this fall. Bible it up with my fellow chicas? Heck yes! Aaaaaand
then she asked the question that cut me into pieces: “oh wait, do you still work?”
Never mind.
Men’s bible studies are traditionally early Saturday
mornings. Women’s are held at 9:30 am on a weekday. Sorry, I’ll have been at
work for an hour and half before you’re even finished with the Danishes.
Don’t get me wrong, I love our church. They have been an
enormous blessing to our family in ways they probably don’t even know. And they
give us the opportunity to be a blessing to others. They have all the resources
of a big church with the community and unity of a small church. For us, it
feels like home.
Which is kind of my point – even in my amazing, well-led,
Spirit-filled church, women’s ministry is lame. Even worse, it’s completely
unavailable to anyone who isn’t a housewife.
WHY??????????
I also would like to connect with God in real and meaningful
ways. Don’t shut me out because I have a job.
While we work through that problem, let’s move on to the
next facet of lameness. I went to a big event last year and they had a “women’s
luncheon.” The theme was Find Your Inner Beauty or some such nonsense. I’m
sorry but has there ever, in the history of all things, been a men’s event
about Finding Your Inner Handsomeness? No. ‘Cause that’s asinine. Men learn
about Leadership and Blowing Up Toilets and women are given fluff devoid of
content. What is the message here? Ladies, sit there and look pretty while the
menfolk go and do the heavy lifting for the Lord.
I haven’t worn makeup in three weeks, I don’t need to find
out what personality type I am, and I don’t give a flying chili fart about
making a bejeweled prayer journal. I need to be equipped and supported in doing
the work for which my Father created me to do. I do not feel absolved from
responsibility to Do Good in this world simply because I have been taught that
women were only created to help men.
I also would like to serve God in real and meaningful ways.
Don’t shut me out because I have lady bits.
Well ladies, what do you think?
