In the last few weeks I've had several people ask me what I wrote my Shepherd School dissertation about. How this became the hot topic at work is beyond me - thought I must confess I'm a bit curious. Its odd to think that people talk about me/what I think when I'm not around. I mean, obviously we do - i just never think about it. Am I really that interesting?
Apparently so . . . or at least the way that I think seems to be.
My dissertation is called Biblical Feminism. The title was obviously designed to get people think, and I received two very distinct reactions when it was mentioned. 1 - There's no such thing; that's an oxymoron. 2 - Interesting; can I read it?
Feminism has gotten a bad rap - especially in religious circles. If you were to truly study the concept, however, you would discover that God was the first feminist. The Bible is chock full of examples, illustrations, and real life situations where women were given positions of power and authority within God's structure.
Anyway.
So why is it (me?) a topic of current conversation? I propose that it is because our church is in an time of transition.
The question is not if women fit - the question is how/where women fit.
Not only is this an important topic - its a culturally relevant topic.
I'm convinced that one of the greatest reasons for a decline in my generation's attendance and participation in the local church is that there are limited opportunities for their involvement outside specific parameters (historically childcare is a women's best option). The world offers - and encourages - women to pursue a variety of interests.
The church should be leading that change - just as it has historically fought for change in a myriad of social structures.
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