It’s International Women’s Day, so here’s another round-up of links on women in the church (and the world).
Brooke Eikenberry: “Unbinding the Feet: Women in Ministry”
To me, it is a question of injustice, and we as believers should seek justice for the oppressed and downtrodden. But it is more than that; it is also a desire to see the Church be all that it should be. In hindering some women from the fullness of their callings, we hinder the entire Body of Christ as well.
Mary E. Hunt: “Bishop Minerva CarcaNo Has a Nearly Impossible Job”
The daughter of Mexican farmworkers, [Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño] was born in Edinburg, Texas. She grew up in the cotton and tomato fields wondering if anyone cared about her. She heard a local pastor who preached a word of justice from Isaiah say that God cared about those who toiled on the land—that same man took action, going to the school board to find out why all of the local Hispanic children were tracked in the lowest classes and how to change that. Minerva decided early on that she wanted to be like him, preaching and doing the work of justice.
After college at the University of Texas Pan American, Minerva completed a Masters of Theology degree at Perkins School of Theology of Southern Methodist University. She was ordained as a Methodist Elder in 1979 and served as pastor of various churches. In 1986, the Rev. Carcaño was the first Hispanic woman named a District Superintendent in the Methodist Church. She served in West Texas, New Mexico, and Portland, Oregon, where her ministry always focused on the marginalized.
In 1992, she organized the Southern Albuquerque Cooperative Ministry, an ecumenical venture with emphasis on services for immigrant families. Such efforts were rare at that time, but the success of her leadership remains visible in a vibrant organization today.
In 2004, Minerva was elected and consecrated a Methodist bishop, once again the first Hispanic woman in the role and one of then only a handful of women across the country. She is now the very busy Bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference, which encompasses huge swaths of that region including southern Nevada, some California communities along the Colorado River, and Arizona. Relations with Mexico and immigration are major parts of her pastoral concern.
Naomi K. Walker: “Jesus’ View on Women in Ministry”
When the Holy Spirit reveals to women (and men) that the status quo they’ve bought into for so long is a lie – despite well-meaning instruction by trusted parents, religious leaders and mentors – their responses are varied: Shock. Betrayal. Bewilderment. Frustration.
Alise Wright: “To My Sons on International Women’s Day”
As you get older, people are going to tell you that men and women are already treated equally and that feminism isn’t something that you need to concern yourself with, especially as a man. In a lot of ways, we are seeing equality. And I hope that as you’re older, that will be even more the case.
But when you happen upon inequality, I hope that you’ll notice. If you don’t notice on your own (and it’s okay if you don’t — we can’t all see everything), I hope that you’ll pay attention if someone points it out to you. And I hope that you’ll do what you can to change it. It might be something small, it might be something big. Know that making the effort is far more important than the size of the effort.
See also:
- Wendy McCaig: “In the Company of Junia“
- Cathleen Falsani: “Eugene Peterson: The Pastor on Preaching, Women Clergy“
- Serene Jones, president of Union Theological Seminary, on women in the church and women in politics.
- Burner blog: “Mimi Haddad on Gender and Equality in the Church“
- Disoriented. Reoriented: “The Church’s Trouble With Women“
- Sandra Glahn: “Women’s History: Give Credit Where It’s Due” (via AZspot)
- Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite: “The GOP’s war on women and our right to self-defense“
- Ann Friedman: “International Slutty Women’s Day: A Story in GIFs” (via Feministe)