The purpose of this forum is to facilitate communication and mutual support and edification among those who strive toward gender justice in Churches of Christ. If you would like to join the forum, send an e-mail (including your first and last name) from your primary address to forum@gal328.org.
Great story, Katie! Gave me goosebumps.
:::posted by Vicki on 10/28/2005 02:31:00 PM
Thank God for all the Dotties of this world....I hope they all get the chance to experience the freedom.
:::posted by julie on 10/27/2005 09:43:00 PM
Yesterday I went to a meeting of the Atlanta area Disciples of Christ ministers. There were about 20 of us sitting around tables, eating lunch and talking about whatever. A couple chairs down from me was a woman old enough to be my grandmother. Maybe in her 70s. (Okay, I'm getting too old to have a grandmother in her 70s. Whatever.)
Anyway, I couldn't figure out who she was and why she was there. Maybe one of the pastors brought one of their parishioners out for lunch? Shame on me.
After a little while we went around the tables introducing ourselves, and this is what she told us:
"My name is Dottie. I was married to my husband for 47 years. He was a Disciples minister for all 47 of those years and I was proud to be his wife. He died seven years ago, and when he died I went to a new church and started volunteering for things that I never did when I was the minister's wife. After a couple of years, the pastor asked me to come on staff as the associate pastor. I went through the process and received my licensure for ministry five years ago.
"I loved my husband very much, and I miss him. But in some ways these have been the happiest five years of my life. I have baptized two of my grandchildren, and last year I married my granddaughter. Imagine that! I performed the wedding ceremony for my granddaughter and her husband! I never imagined this is where I would be, and yet here I am. Thank you, Lord."
peace -- Katie
:::posted by Katie on 10/27/2005 04:12:00 PM
Chad, I was at Zoe. I wish I had seen you but since I have only met you once, I don't know if I would immediately recognize you. I thought it was their best conference yet. grace, Julie
:::posted by julie on 10/16/2005 05:22:00 PM
Hi Friends,
I'm overdue for a post on here, so I figured this would be a good break from studying for mid-terms. I know several of you (myself included) check the blog often only to find some sparse postings. I wouldn't worry too much about it - hopefully it means people are having face to face conversations about gender justice. I'm inclined to think so; I'll say why below.
If you've subscribed to our email list, be on the lookout for an update soon, most likely after exams. :-) We have some information to share with you - again, overdue (many apologies!) but we do appreciate your patience.
Last week I attended the ZOE leadership conference at the Woodmont Hills church in Nashville. I know several of you have attended ZOE before, and this was my third year to be there. While I can't report about the regular worship conference, the leadership portion this year was FULLY egalitarian. Women and men praying, singing, teaching, facilitating - all in public roles, including keynote sessions. The teaching was thougthful and challenging, and the worship was beautiful as always. I hope they will keep up the good work. If anyone else was there, please give us your reports.
Blessings,
Chad
:::posted by Chad on 10/16/2005 02:28:00 PM
Hi Katie,
Just finished reading your article in Leaven. Great article. Linda and I teach (well -- Linda teaches and I push 7 year old hyper active boys back down in their chairs) a couple of classes on Habakkuk in the spring quarter. Thanks for your insight!
:::posted by Wiley on 10/15/2005 11:18:00 PM
Katie, I will check it out. I still come here and check everytime I come to the computer to read blogs. Not much action here. So much I want to say but am not sure it is wise to voice it all here. Many things going through my mind lately. I recently read through the archives and they most definitely tell a story...mine and many others. grace, Julie
:::posted by julie on 10/15/2005 09:47:00 PM
In the 9/20/05 Christian Century there's an article called "Back to Fundamentals" by Jimmy Carter. The essay is adapted from a Bible study he led at the Assembly of the Baptist World Alliance in the summer. It's a brief study on Galatians in which Carter describes Paul's relationship with the historical Galatian church and uses it to explain the (obvious) righteousness of gender justice in the contemporary church. The article is nicely written and not highly technical -- one that I would distribute to friends not convinced of the essentiality of the "fundamental" of tangible justice for all especially, but not only, in our churches. Check it out. peace -- Katie
:::posted by Katie on 10/15/2005 11:56:00 AM
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