The Elephant in the Room

Edit: I shamefully neglected to mention that I realize there are many male leaders in the church who DO NOT fall into the categories in this blog post. I hope my readers realize I'm not intending to make gross generalizations about ALL male Pastors, I'm simply speaking to those who continue to support gender inequality, or likewise to support those who support gender inequality. You know who you are.

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I debated about commenting on the latest hoo-rah surrounding America's favorite male-chauvinist pastor, however, as usual, I can't help myself. So sue me. This issue is too close to my chromosomes.

Some of my "sisters" are calling it as they see it, and I'm proud of them for that. We can't just sweep the issues of gender equality under the narthex rug and call it good. Eventually it's going to stink.

Disclaimer - I do not know this person, I have never heard him teach beyond a few videos and blog posts and articles. I can't actually testify to his character, his marriage, or his leadership skills beyond those few resources. However, I do believe these resources speak volumes, and I'm just about sick to death about the way his misguided teaching is being handled in the greater church world.

So, I was in a bit of a tizzy today and was talking with a friend - asking if I'm off base on what I'm going to say here. She responded that once upon a time she heard a woman Pastor make the statement that "gender equality isn't a theological issue, it's a justice issue".

With that, I'm going to argue, again, for people to call out those who continue to teach gender inequality as Biblically acceptable by any measure.

At this time I'm not going to point fingers at specific individuals, but I may at a later date, if I get angry enough.

It sure seems to me that even in the supposedly theologically liberal, or at least tolerant, mainline/emerging circles, Pastoring is still a slap-on-the-back boys club. As a generalization about the specific issue of gender equality, whenever a male Pastor disagrees with what another male Pastor teaches, the conversation [or blog post] will go something like this:

"I thoroughly disagree with Pastor ______ on the issue of [insert favorite gender issue here - whether it be the evil of women as Pastors, biblical submission, whatever]. Many of the cultural norms in Biblical times are no longer relevant today. As I understand [cite scripture references here], it doesn't mean women are unequal to men in any way. I believe this Pastor is off base on this subject "

"However, Pastor ______ has an amazing ministry, he's a great evangelist, and I have tremendous respect for him. I love what he's doing in [ministry area] and I thoroughly enjoy his [books, podcasts, lectures]. I have to differ with him on this issue, but otherwise he's a great guy."

What?

WHAT!?

Now, I'm a great proponent of can't-we-all-get-along theology in the cases of Baptism, liturgy, worship style, etc., the non-essentials, as I see it.

However I cannot and will not express that same indifference on an individual's equal rights: not gender, not race, not sexual orientation.

This is about social justice.

I honestly struggle to continue to respect or support the male emerging/missional leaders who insist on gently criticizing the specific teachings while at the same time wholeheartedly supporting the individual as a teacher.

Love the sinner, hate the sin. Is that what I'm hearing?

Someone please explain to me how an influential and loud-mouthed leader can continuously and viciously negate women as leaders or as valuable for anything other than sex, meals and child-rearing; not only that but to suggest that women are somehow at fault for their husband's acts of sexual unfaithfulness ...

... and not be yanked - clean and simple - from his pulpit?

Why? Why!?

Because in all honesty, this line of thinking benefits all men, so they are unwilling to tear it down completely. I'm sure this particular pastor's elders are all men, as are all leaders of almost any kind in his church. Because most of the strongest emerging/missional voices are still men, who still belong to the boys club even as they try to hold it at an arms distance - they secretly are afraid to speak out against it for fear of losing credibility, or worse, for fear of being accused of being, cough, feminized.

Of course, [thanks to this man and all other men like him] there are no women in the Church who are seen as possessing powerful enough voices to do anything about it.

The way I see it, we need to raise a stink! We need to say Enough! We need to say we will no longer support male leaders who do not strongly and determinedly go to bat for us on this issue - and I don't mean niceties and gentle chastisement. I mean shout it out to the other male leaders that this is an unacceptable belief system and it must end. Stomp your feet if you must - you're MEN fercryinoutloud!

As one of my sisters said today [paraphrased to protect her identity]:

"If you are a man, especially a man in a role of church leadership, and you think any of his words are ok, then you are continuing to support the oppressive silence that is perpetuated against women."

I'll go one further and say:

"If you are a male in any form of Pastoral leadership and you don't call this man to the carpet, not only on specific beliefs but entirely as a leader who is damaging the place of women in the world, I hold you accountable. If you are not *AGAINST* him, then you are *FOR* him.

Thanks for listening.