Within the ranks

In college, we were shown Women's Ministry brochures from churches all over the country.  As I read through them I felt a deep grief within.  There were invitations to crafting, social events, teas, and luncheons. There were games and classes on being a better wife or mother.  Only two had Bible studies and neither had much depth.  None had a mention of knowing more of Christ, going deeper with Him, finding oneself through Him and living for Him. This was what was being offered to daughters of the Living God to help them grow.

My experience in the church is that there is a silent, thoughtful, disillusioned group of women sitting unnoticed among the crowd.  They feel as if they are the only ones that aren't fitting in with the women's ministry agenda, look and feel.  They don't belong, they don't get it, they don't want it.  But where is the alternative to crafts and teas and fluff for a woman who longs for Christ, longs for relevance, longs for deep connection?

A church I attended offered a retreat with a woman speaker who wore an octopus on her head and talked about tentacles of faith.  I was offended by the offering. My pastor urged me to go and I asked him why when what was being said to me was that women are child-like, little was expected of them in terms of maturity and depth and impacting the world for Christ.  I told him that when the men's retreat featured a speaker in a full pirate outfit, including eye-patch, and the men were being taught to say, "argh," and how to have pirate faith then I would consider it. 

I've included a link to an article that is bringing out these hidden women and their thoughts about what Women's Ministry offers them today: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/giftedforleadership/2007/08/why_i_dont_do_womens_ministry.html

I encourage everyone to read this article and especially the comments.  If we are to have a life that dares to live through and for Christ then discussions such as this are absolutely essential.  Once we come forth and voice our thoughts and longings and hear each other confirm that they also feel the same way, then we can start to come up with solutions for a true community of women in Christ.  We can design something for the rest of us.  We can think outside the box.  We could even have inspiring, life-changing relationships with one another around the world here on the web.  We could even...

Comments

[zanne]

thanks, kim, for directing us toward that great article. it was so great, in fact, that i had to post my own comment there... this is such an important issue, and one that the church needs to recognize and address.

i can't wait to see what we can all do for the Kingdom as we join ranks!