Women can be (church) leaders too -- And it's in the Bible

I have launched into a study of feminism.

What makes this study so interesting is that I’m approaching it from two sides. First, my bible study group at Park Methodist (feel free to join us Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.) decided to start reading “Every Woman in the Bible.” This book offers a complete look at every woman mentioned in the Bible, even those who are left unnamed. There is a detailed glossery in the back, and lots of good information spread over 16 chapters in this 302-page book. Written by the husband and wife duo, Larry and Sue Richards, this book strives to show how God appreciates women and it illustrates their contributions over the years.

I am also reading a variety of feminist essays (including “Sexual/Textual Politics” by Toril Moi) for a theory class I’m taking on the way to earning my master’s degree in English. These selections come from very different perspectives, but I have found a lot of overlap already after just a week and a half.

AT THE BEGINNING

In Christian churches, it is difficult to find women in leadership roles. As a woman, I find it very disconcerting to be without strong women role models. As a mother of a girl, I find it frustrating. I want to teach her that woman are valuable members of society, but the church we are a part of (loosely) doesn’t seem to place a high value on being a woman. Instead, many cling to the verses that seem to say woman are subordinate to men and valued less.

I don’t buy into that. I think that leaders should be the ones with strong leadership qualities that have nothing to do with their sex.

And I’m finding support in scripture. That’s wonderful.

The first chapter in “Every Woman in the Bible” takes a hard look at the creation and fall story. As representative of all women, the way God viewed Eve is pretty important. Plus, she was the first to taste the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Was she cursed to be subordinate to man because of that?

The short answer is “No.” Neither she nor Adam were cursed as the Serpant/Satan was. Instead, what Adam and Eve suffered were merely consequences of their bad choices. The ate and their eyes were opened. Things were changed. They couldn’t go back to how things were before. Bliss was outside of their grasp (which sucks for the rest of us).

If you pick up this book, I found the chart on page 9 to be particularly useful. Satan, Adam and Eve all suffered physical, spiritual, social and psychological consequences following the Fall.

Physically, women faced a more painful childbirth and increased frequency of menustration. Psychologically, women became filled with an urge to please men, replacing the former desire to please God. (Have you ever wondered why women are so obsessed about obtaining attention and approval from men? I sure have!) Societally, women’s roles were distorted and opportunities limited. Spiritually, women replaced an orientation to true self and God with an orientation to please men.

Men also suffered consequences. Because the earth was cursed, man’s achievements were riddled with struggle. The urge to achieve and dominate replaced a desire to please God. Male dominance was institutionalized and women subjegated. The orientation man originally had towards God was replaced with a desire to achieve dominance. Over nature. Over each other. Over women. Over everything.

If things in Eden were under the authority of the male, then certainly the Serpant would have gone directly to Adam to convince him to eat the fruit knowing that Eve would have no choice but to follow what Adam did. She would have had to do just what he did (under the current view of patriarchy). Instead, he went to Eve knowing that what she did, Adam was likely to do, as well. (See “Beyond Sex Roles” by Gilbert Bilezikian).

Why is this all important? Because it lays the foundation for not only Christian thought, but the way it has rippled through our entire male-centered society. Many people use the story of the Fall in Genesis to prove that women are supposed to be under male authority. But a closer examination of these verses show that this certainly wasn’t how God intended things to be. Instead, we should be working towards what God did intend: Equality and partnership between the sexes.