Rose has
another great post about women in leadership, where she gives a synopsis of her interview with
Rob Bell. There were a couple of times he didn't really answer her questions, though probably unintentionally. Many of our communities have gone past the theological struggle of whether women can lead. But change takes time, and Rose wonders - as I have many times - how we make opportunities or create new structures so that our practice can catch up with our theology.
Once in a small gathering of area pastors, I heard a very famous pastor of a very , very large church say he just didn't have any women who wanted to preach. Shame on his for thinking that (and shame on me for not speaking up). In reality, they just need to be mined. They are indeed there. There is a political theory that discusses the ambition gap which is applicable here. It is believed that fewer women run for office because the lack of role models do not give them the idea that they can hold office. They are not inherently less ambitious than men, it just doesn't enter into most women's vision of themselves. Being purposeful and recruiting women into all levels of leadership in the Cruck is crucial for that image to become the norm in all our minds.
Two thoughts from the interview I love...
1. Women' s initiatives tend to ghetto-ize women. Frederica Mathewes-Green makes a similar observation
here.. She is discussing women's ministry and "women's spirituality" which she says,
"...takes us out of the conversation.
Well, no harm done, you say—except that this beguiling subculture siphons women into a separate-but-squishy parallel world. Imagine that there was a special playland where women went to do their banking or medicine, apart from the more demanding he-man world where real things get done. A segregated spiritual subculture does women no good, even if it does have adorable butterflies in the logo.
That’s my final problem with activist "women’s spirituality:" it isolates women as a group, broods over past wrongs, and then demands restitution in the shape of power, praise, and honor. But any Christian effort that’s focused on demanding a bigger piece of the pie needs to go back and read the instruction manual. We are called to be servants, to die to self, to expect a cross and not a bouquet. This is an equal-opportunity challenge; men face the same tough terms we do, and have suffered as well. "
2. Rob states that our inclusion of women must become normal instead of novel. This is another reason I love the place I
work and worship. We have 4 women pastors and several women on the governing board. It just isn't an issue. But I do wonder how many brilliant women are still silent; how many don't even realize what they have to offer. And...I would like to see more women teach on Sunday morning. :)
So...what do you guys think?
How are we doing?
What can we do better?
Comments (3)
Assuming you were asking for a guy's response, specifically,
...
I see more real leadership from women, in this culture, than I do from men. Men with active leadership qualities are the exception. As I look around at the people in my life I see women leading families, children, healing ministries, and (less often, but definitely not absent in my little world), businesses.
In many cases I don't see them seeking recognition for this. They just do it.
In many cases the men I know who could lead, and aren't, have disqualified themselves from leadership (at least internally) by giving themselves over to lesser, self-destructive desires. In many of these cases a woman has stepped up to the plate and is now leading in their situation. In some of these cases she resents this.
I do also know some women who are gifted with amazing charisma and intelligence, who do not recognize or act on their leadership potential in some areas. Others I know have found themselves worn out by long periods of acting on their leadership potential in too many areas at one time. And others yet are annoyed by unwanted pressure to act on their leadership potential -- they know they are gifted, intelligent, and capable, and could lead in places all over the church, and just don't want to. Some others are annoyed by unwanted pressure in this area because their situation would require them to make (often unfair) sacrifices they are unwilling to make, to act on their leadership potential.
That's some of what I see.
Tom,
I use "guys" generically...and I am always glad to hear your thoughts.
Hey clarify a couple of things for me...
You said that you "see more real leadership from women". What do you mean by real leadership?
Also, it was interesting that you used “unwanted pressure” two times in yourresponse. Are both genders pressured into leadership, or just women?
@domisol1 - Much of what I mean by real leadership has to do with accepting responsibility. In response to an indirect or direct directive from God, a person takes responsibility for someone (such as a child) or something (such as a cause) that was or would be otherwise neglected, to the (eventual) detriment of the community. Others in the community recognize the value of this person's decision and either follow the example or join in the cause, and this is where grows from simple responsibility to "real leadership."
Yes, I was describing the same unwanted pressure and two different responses to it. Your question gives me pause for reflection and so I'll reflect on it a while and come back.