Greetings my sisters,
As I was writing and posting my Bible Study Lesson, I wondered how have our ministry impacted the church as a whole. We know women make up the majority of the church but does it really reflect in the church structure?
Have our lives a women preachers caused changes or things remained the same? If preacher is suppose to bring about change why are so many churches still lagging behind the Great Commission?
What are you going to do to make an impact in your church in 2011 if you haven't done it in 2010?
Praising God
Showing posts with label God's Troublemaker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Troublemaker. Show all posts
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Single and Clergy
Over the last two decades women have been called into the ministry. Some of the women are married and some are single. Most women who are married have the support of their spouses, family or friends on the journey. However, the single women support maybe family or friends.
Single women in ministry have flexibility to do more in ministry because they may not have the demands of a spouse or family but they may have other demands for instance caring for their elderly parents, supporting members of their family or working in another profession. Just because a clergy woman is single doesn't mean she want to always be in the company of other single clergy women or always at the church every time the doors are open.
Being single and clergy is not a curse, it gives us more time to focus on what God as for us to do. We have less interruptions and we are able to travel on moments notice. Then we have those days when we want to be in a relationships. Some clergy women find it hard to date because once the man find out they are a women of the cloth it changes everything.
I was told one time that most women enter into ministry to find a husband. That was an interesting comment from a single clergy male. If that was the case then many single clergy women would run into ministry with the mindset of just getting married. If we recall women went to college to get an education but also to get a husband. In the life we live in today women are delaying marriage or getting remarried.
One issue single clergy women face is dating a suitable or potential person. Dating is hard for anyone but when you add Rev, Minister, Dr. or Prophetess in the mix it makes women off limit. There are some men who are brave to date clergy women and some are clergy and non-clergy men. When it comes to non-clergy men, some of them are hesitant to date a clergy women for a variety of reasons. The main reason I've heard from some men was they are not spiritual enough and feel they may go to hell because of what they are thinking or doing.
Why is the thinking different when the clergy is a woman instead of a man. Women are open to dating a clergy man, but why are some men not as open?
Single women in ministry have flexibility to do more in ministry because they may not have the demands of a spouse or family but they may have other demands for instance caring for their elderly parents, supporting members of their family or working in another profession. Just because a clergy woman is single doesn't mean she want to always be in the company of other single clergy women or always at the church every time the doors are open.
Being single and clergy is not a curse, it gives us more time to focus on what God as for us to do. We have less interruptions and we are able to travel on moments notice. Then we have those days when we want to be in a relationships. Some clergy women find it hard to date because once the man find out they are a women of the cloth it changes everything.
I was told one time that most women enter into ministry to find a husband. That was an interesting comment from a single clergy male. If that was the case then many single clergy women would run into ministry with the mindset of just getting married. If we recall women went to college to get an education but also to get a husband. In the life we live in today women are delaying marriage or getting remarried.
One issue single clergy women face is dating a suitable or potential person. Dating is hard for anyone but when you add Rev, Minister, Dr. or Prophetess in the mix it makes women off limit. There are some men who are brave to date clergy women and some are clergy and non-clergy men. When it comes to non-clergy men, some of them are hesitant to date a clergy women for a variety of reasons. The main reason I've heard from some men was they are not spiritual enough and feel they may go to hell because of what they are thinking or doing.
Why is the thinking different when the clergy is a woman instead of a man. Women are open to dating a clergy man, but why are some men not as open?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
The Clergy Woman and Education
When one is called into the ministry is it necessary to attend seminary or a program that will help you become more aware of the social and economical conditions of the people in the Bible?
Why is education still a stigma in certain profession especially in the church as clergy. If you decide to not obtain additional education beyond daily reading of the Bible then why are so many people getting an attitude with those who decided to go to seminary, Bible College or Divinity School?
I ask these questions because of a interesting conversation I had today. We as women must put our best foot forward in all we do. We are still in a male dominate area in ministry. If we decide not to attend seminary are we allowing others to mentor us and the pastor setting up a mini-seminary to help educate clergy?
When I started this journey I wanted to know more about the people and situations of the Bible. I wasn't sure about seminary but after my church offered mini-classes in theology and history of the Bible I wanted more. As we enter into ministry let us be open to what is available to us. Learning is a two way street, the educated and uneducated can learn from each other.
I'm always fascinated by stories I hear about the wisdom of some of our elders who never learned how to read or write but they pushed their children to get their education. In many of their times or their parents time it was illegal to learn, but they knew education was the key. The old saying is still true if you want to hide something put it in a book. When we pick up our Bibles let us also pick up the history book, a newspaper and an atlas.
Why is education still a stigma in certain profession especially in the church as clergy. If you decide to not obtain additional education beyond daily reading of the Bible then why are so many people getting an attitude with those who decided to go to seminary, Bible College or Divinity School?
I ask these questions because of a interesting conversation I had today. We as women must put our best foot forward in all we do. We are still in a male dominate area in ministry. If we decide not to attend seminary are we allowing others to mentor us and the pastor setting up a mini-seminary to help educate clergy?
When I started this journey I wanted to know more about the people and situations of the Bible. I wasn't sure about seminary but after my church offered mini-classes in theology and history of the Bible I wanted more. As we enter into ministry let us be open to what is available to us. Learning is a two way street, the educated and uneducated can learn from each other.
I'm always fascinated by stories I hear about the wisdom of some of our elders who never learned how to read or write but they pushed their children to get their education. In many of their times or their parents time it was illegal to learn, but they knew education was the key. The old saying is still true if you want to hide something put it in a book. When we pick up our Bibles let us also pick up the history book, a newspaper and an atlas.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Volunteerism in Ministry
How long must one be a volunteer in a ministry before asking for compensation? I ask this question because there is a vast majority of seminary trained/ordained clergy women working in the church on a volunteer basis. There is something wrong with this picture. When I completed by MDIV, I incurred a debt that still needs to paid back. Over the years since I've completed my degree I haven't made any additional income to pay down this debt. (shaking my head). Some of us are blessed to have a church/denomination to pay for our education so we will not struggle with additional debt. I know many of us do not expect a large salary in ministry, but we ought to expect some kind of compensation or position that will help relieve the extra financial burden we added to our household. We all know a seminary degree is not cheap and our current job doesn't cover the cost for this added expense. We can not tell Sallie Mae, Direct Loans, SunTrust or Citibank can we just volunteer in your company to pay this debt.
Why do some churches and pastor believe that the work of the church by ordained staff should be volunteer work? If we continue to run the church with volunteers only, the commitment over time will fade away. As I was reading in the USA Today they talked about the compensation of a position in the church doesn't even come close to the amount of debt one obtains in seminary. Also they talked about the inability of clergy securing a position in a church during these economic hard times. The interesting point of the article is that there will be a discussion in Boston about the salary of clergy and how to increase it even during these hard economic times.
Why do some churches and pastor believe that the work of the church by ordained staff should be volunteer work? If we continue to run the church with volunteers only, the commitment over time will fade away. As I was reading in the USA Today they talked about the compensation of a position in the church doesn't even come close to the amount of debt one obtains in seminary. Also they talked about the inability of clergy securing a position in a church during these economic hard times. The interesting point of the article is that there will be a discussion in Boston about the salary of clergy and how to increase it even during these hard economic times.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
To Move or Not to Move....
To play on the words of Shakespeare, "To Be or Not To Be". Many women in ministry struggle with a call to ministry and then they struggle to be accepted. While I was in seminary several women changed churches because their current pastor did not give them the support needed as they pursued their calling. Some of women joined "mega churches" where their gifts were recognized and appreciated.
As I talk with some of my classmates I hear the stories of how their pastor have mentored and opened doors for them. Some have been moved beyond the volunteer position to a paid position in the church and some have been placed into a pastoring position.
However, there is a flip side to all of this. There are ordained women who are still sitting in the second chariot/chair waiting for their pastor to mentor and open the door of opportunity for them. The opportunity to move beyond the volunteer position of the church or to pastor. Some pastor are still reluctant to push their female minister out as they do the males.
As female clergy we have a choice to make when this happens to us. We either leave the church after much prayer and fasting to seek a church that will appreciate and accept the gifts we bring to the ministry. We start our own church if God has called us to pastor. Lastly, leave the denomination and go to a denomination that is more accepting of women clergy.
Many clergy women have been too loyal for too long. Many have endure the abuse of leadership and the constant saying of just keep waiting. Some of us have been waiting for more than 10 years and we are still doing the same thing which have made us lose our flavor.
Maybe today we will honestly say to ourselves ENOUGH! I have not been obedient to the call God has placed on my life. Everything we do just doesn't work any longer. It is our time to take a spiritual inventory and ask the question do we move or do we stay.
As I talk with some of my classmates I hear the stories of how their pastor have mentored and opened doors for them. Some have been moved beyond the volunteer position to a paid position in the church and some have been placed into a pastoring position.
However, there is a flip side to all of this. There are ordained women who are still sitting in the second chariot/chair waiting for their pastor to mentor and open the door of opportunity for them. The opportunity to move beyond the volunteer position of the church or to pastor. Some pastor are still reluctant to push their female minister out as they do the males.
As female clergy we have a choice to make when this happens to us. We either leave the church after much prayer and fasting to seek a church that will appreciate and accept the gifts we bring to the ministry. We start our own church if God has called us to pastor. Lastly, leave the denomination and go to a denomination that is more accepting of women clergy.
Many clergy women have been too loyal for too long. Many have endure the abuse of leadership and the constant saying of just keep waiting. Some of us have been waiting for more than 10 years and we are still doing the same thing which have made us lose our flavor.
Maybe today we will honestly say to ourselves ENOUGH! I have not been obedient to the call God has placed on my life. Everything we do just doesn't work any longer. It is our time to take a spiritual inventory and ask the question do we move or do we stay.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
New Topics coming in 2010
Good Morning it has been too long more like 2 years since I started this blog. Life happened and things changed, however, God is still on the throne through it all. I have started working on new topics for 2010 and making this blog my commitment to you my sisters. We need to hear how things are going in ministry from across the world. We need to hear about the struggles and success encountered as female clergy.
I was in Cokesbury bookstore last week and saw a book called "God's Troublemaker". The title caught me by surprise because I preached a sermon "Troublemaker in the house" from the book of Amos, how Amos was a Troublemaker for God. The book talked about How Women of Faith Are Changing the World. I didn't buy it cause I was too busy looking for the book titled Clergy Killers another good book for pastors and congregations under attack.
As women we are God's Trouble maker cause many of us have hit the glass ceilings within our denomination. We as women have been abused by the congregation and pastors we serve. We have been leftout the pulpit supply selection and we have been reduced to areas where others think women should serve in ministry. These are just some of the topics I will blog and seek response as we trouble the waters for the rights of women clergy.
Be bless my sisters and see you in 2010!
I was in Cokesbury bookstore last week and saw a book called "God's Troublemaker". The title caught me by surprise because I preached a sermon "Troublemaker in the house" from the book of Amos, how Amos was a Troublemaker for God. The book talked about How Women of Faith Are Changing the World. I didn't buy it cause I was too busy looking for the book titled Clergy Killers another good book for pastors and congregations under attack.
As women we are God's Trouble maker cause many of us have hit the glass ceilings within our denomination. We as women have been abused by the congregation and pastors we serve. We have been leftout the pulpit supply selection and we have been reduced to areas where others think women should serve in ministry. These are just some of the topics I will blog and seek response as we trouble the waters for the rights of women clergy.
Be bless my sisters and see you in 2010!
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