Reclaiming Paul in a Pantsuit State of Mind

By Caitlyn Furr

I woke up the morning of November 8^th excited and expectant. I dressed in my white pantsuit in honor of the suffragettes who worked so hard to gain the right to vote for women in the United States, and I wasn’t alone. At school that morning, I was one of many women proudly wearing a pantsuit and we shared a feeling of victory.

I voted absentee, so I wouldn’t be going to the polls, but I planned to spend the day celebrating. Needless to say, I was incredibly disappointed. Actually, disappointed does not adequately express how I felt on the evening on November 8^th.

I was dismayed, distraught and discouraged. As a self-identified feminist, I felt like our country took a 180 degree turn and began to regress instead of progress.

In my frustration and confusion, I was reminded of a similar feeling of frustration when I was in the 7^th grade. My whole life, I attended Baptist churches that ordained women without question, and encouraged their leadership in the church. My mother’s career has blazed the trail for the female chaplains at the Department of Veterans Affairs who followed her.

It had never occurred to me that anyone would view women as unfit to serve as ministers. Then I went to a Wednesday night service at the other Baptist church in town with a friend. When her youth minister began to make his argument in a mini-sermon for why women should not participate in church leadership, I was sure I was misunderstanding.

But he made himself painfully clear, and as I sat on a metal folding chair in the church’s fellowship hall, I became infuriated. Why would anyone try to prevent a woman from fulfilling her God-given calling? When it was clear that his mini-sermon would have no redemptive message, I got up from my chair and left. I called for my mom the pick me up early, and explained to my friend the next day why I was so upset.

I realize today that leaving this youth event in a huff was probably not the most mature response. My parents discussed with me why some Christians interpret certain passages to mean that women should not lead, and they helped me to understand the context of those passages. Their arguments were persuasive, but I have to admit that I still struggled with Paul after that experience. I began to recognize the church’s role in suppressing women, and I largely blamed Paul for it.

I am in my second year in the Masters of Divinity program at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, which means I am taking a year-long New Testament course. Paul has become unavoidable, though I find solidarity with my female classmates who also struggled with Paul.

Earlier this semester, our professor began a statement with “Some of you may not agree with all of what Paul says…” When the class snickered, she revised her precursor with, “Okay, some of you might not agree with a lot of what Paul says.” Apparently, I am not the only woman who feels assaulted by those exclusionary scriptures and blames Paul.

However, now that I am forced to study Paul, I find that the pain is weakening.

Increasingly, I find myself drawn to these writings. I never thought I would be able to reclaim Paul but that is exactly what is happening.

I am recognizing that while Paul’s writings may not perfect — he was human, after all — he has much to offer us as Christians. Paul encourages us during times of suffering, he reminds us of the good news that Christ has justified us, and he challenges us to use our spiritual gifts for God’s glory. If I reject Paul completely because of a few passages that I disagree with, I forego wonderfully empowering messages, too.

Much like I am learning to reclaim Paul, I hope to be able to also reclaim this nation after the recent election. Although the feminist in me may feel betrayed at this moment, I know the United States has much to offer as my home and can be a source of encouragement. I have seen women and men who are fearful of what the election results will mean, and pained by what it says about our country. I have also seen tremendous comradery and consolation. People are coming together all over the nation to support each other and provide care.

We will continue to be stronger together.

The women who wore pantsuits with hope and excitement on November 8^th are not giving up. For now, it may feel like my dream, and the dream of many who support gender equality is dead. We will keep praying, keep working, and keep supporting each other. No matter how long it takes, we will forever be in a pantsuit state of mind.

Caitlyn Furr is a student at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is the 2016 receipient of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Vestal Scholarship. Learn more here.

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