Gender in the Pulpit

A female colleague was recently told by a leader of her congregation that he felt more comfortable with a male pastor. Unfortunately, that is not a highly unusual comment. I have heard something akin to it several times myself. We hear such comments, but we don’t really stop to consider what is behind them. It got me to thinking. Why would someone comment to anyone that they feel more comfortable with a male pastor? I came up with a lot of questions, but very few answers.

Is it because men are more prone to be sexual abusers than women?

Is it because men are more likely to view power and authority as weapons by which to control others?

Is it because men are more likely to be seen in society as authority figures?

Is it because our culture tells us that women should not be leaders?

Is it because we tend to view the position of pastor as one of authority rather than the service of a shepherd?

Is it because we are still reeling from a history in which women did not have the same access to education as we granted to men?

Is it because we are hung up on masculine images of God to the exclusion of the Bible's feminine images of God?

Is it because a few isolated verses by Paul resonate more closely with our cultural and historical misogynistic norms than the way Jesus treated women and commissioned them as the first witnesses to the resurrection?

Is it because we want to project toxic masculinity onto Jesus in the guise of male clergy?

Is it because we have refused to take Paul seriously about there being no gender distinction of import in Christ?

Is it because we continue to confuse the reign of God with wrestling over power?

Is it because we have difficulty relating to women as more than objects of sexual gratification?

Is it because we struggle with Jesus’ teaching about a marriageless heaven and are grasping onto gender distinctions as something spiritual and eternal?

Is it because we still view God as male and thus want those who speak for God to embody the values we attribute to masculinity?

Is it because we just don’t like to be made uncomfortable and accept that not all of our received traditions are worthy of embracing?

Is it just easier not to deal with even the latent misogyny of our structures and expectations?

Our attitudes about women in ministry and positions of leadership do not originate with a faithful reading of Scripture. We just try to wield Scripture to suit our attitudes. Perhaps none of the questions I have posed address our reasons for being uncomfortable or averse to female clergy.

Why do you think we have a problem accepting that God might speak to us through the leadership and voices of women?

God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. God spoke to the spies in Jericho through Rahab. God led the Israelites through Deborah. God spoke to the people of Sychar through a woman. God corrected Apollos through a woman. God commissioned women as the first witnesses of the resurrection. It does not seem that God is the one with a problem using women as mouthpieces, servants, or prophets. Why do we have an issue with it?


— ©Copyright 2021, Christopher B. Harbin

http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/

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