Mar 8, 2018
By Katrina Goodrich
“It is women who make Jesus known in the world and yet it is men who critique their spirituality.” Hearing this statement was like a punch to the gut as I was scrolling through my facebook feed, lounging on my couch, relaxing after a long day of work, and listening to this video that automatically started playing on my feed. Mike McHargue was live talking about the role of women in the church and feminine spirituality. From the quote you would be correct in assuming this was not the typical evangelical spiel — or at least it’s one I’ve not often heard. He is upset about how women are treated in the church — not only how female pastors or those in stereotypical male leadership positions are treated — but also about the women who clean the building, who make the communion bread, who connect with their communities, oftentimes through “wiping dirty noses,” and who do whatever else it takes to keep a church in kingdom business.
Honestly, if it were just me, I probably wouldn’t be writing this now. I know so many women who are so much wiser than me and deserve more respect than I could ever hope to gain, who have been treated this same way and worse. Criticism and marginalization from the pulpit is a familiar feeling for a lot of women — but they bear it with grace and dignity because what else can they do?
I’ve met plenty of men in leadership positions who are ready and willing to listen to women and respect their opinions even where they differed. However, there are also plenty that I’ve met that don’t. And the disrespect doesn’t end at the theological debate table, it eventually leeches into everywhere. I’ve met men who are surprised that I can write a coherent thought and have thoughtful insight and then they turn around and plagiarize my work — claiming it for their own without fear of reprisal and completely comfortable doing so because I’m just a woman.
That’s pretty mild. I have been waved off, dismissed, made light of, manipulated, used, told of my inadequacy and lack of intelligence by virtue of my womanhood. I haven’t been specifically preached at from the pulpit, screamed at and mocked in public and online, or threatened professionally and personally — but I know many who have had those experiences or similar because they dared to share their ideas, beliefs, and discussions. And that is just in the church.
Consider the message being sent in a world where official positions are reserved for men only. It sends the message that women are not worthy, are not capable, are not able to understand, share, or send out the gospel as efficiently as men. Then it snowballs. Situations arise where a woman who may disagree with a certain policy or teaching, or who has an idea will not be heard or listened to, or heeded — just by virtue of being born with
a double X chromosome. A woman who is a deacon or
female pastor may be shunned for merely holding the
position, nevermind exerting her influence. (*Sidenote: many churches do have women pastors. We just tend to treat them differently and call them by a different name: pastor’s wives). That message circulates and goes out from the church to homes, to work places and may eventually be used to justify things like abuse, rape, trafficking, etc.
People — we have a problem; a problem caused by sin but perpetuated, however unconsciously, through the way we treat women in the body of Christ. There aren’t easy answers here but I won’t continue to laugh it off or accept that my gender dictates my role in the kingdom of God. Ladies — it’s difficult to acknowledge and respond to gender issues. But persevere in your calling in the kingdom regardless of the backlash. Gentlemen — examine your actions and listen to yourselves and the women around you. If how you are treating the women in your life is based on gender rather than their inclusion in the body of Christ — it’s time to make a change