Women in Ministry - Part 2

First - My thanks to all of you who posted your comments and were so encouraging. This whole issue has been in the news with the woman in New York as well! As my friend Josh put in his blog (and I don't quote exactly) "and why is this headline news?" It is strange after all of these years this issue of women in ministry can still make it to the "top news" of the day, but I think it is because we are still divided on exactly what Paul meant!

Anyhow this is the "rest of the story":

After my confrontation with the staff member I looked up with all of these questions on my mind, I saw one of my fellow Duke students walking towards me. I asked her if she had a moment as I needed to talk to someone. I told her the story of what had just happened and asked her for her opinion. She asked, “did you use the word ‘call’?” And I told her yes. She said that she was sure that the word call is what set the staff member off. She said especially some religious Southern Baptist black women do not believe God calls women into ministry – into other areas of leadership in the church, perhaps, but not into ministry. I told her I appreciated her insight. She said, “Cari, look at all of the women being called into the ministry at Duke. You are not alone. Right now there is an unprecedented number of women trying to get into seminary. Don’t let her question your call.” I looked at her with a broad smile and thanked her. God had put HER in my path at the right time.
Almost every day since that encounter I have heard her ask that question of me using the tone she had used. It has challenged me to really think about what I am really doing in seminary. It has made me go back through my journey and remember the day in which I felt the Lord was clearly saying “there is only one thing I need for you to do, and that is to serve me.” I have never felt worthy of this call. I have never understood why out of all of the people on this earth God chose me.
But then I also reflected on my days since I felt the call. My life has been immeasurably blessed by those who I have been able to minister to because the truth is, we minister to each other. The ministry is not a one way street – it is a two way street. And the best ministry is done in relationship – real, honest, warm, caring relationship. I may not be perfect and that is okay. The person I am ministering too isn’t perfect either. And the best thing is we know that! We can laugh about our imperfections, bolster each other up by saying what gifts we do have, and cry with each other when the weight of all of life’s struggles gets to be too much. Quite simply Jesus called me to love. Jesus said if you will be my hands of compassion and voice of love, I will do the rest. I have tried to live each day with that simple thought in mind. And Jesus reminds me that it really is just that simple.
I have seen this staff member since our exchange and she does all she can not to be in the same room with me. I just let that be okay with me. I don’t have a clear theological response to her real question of women in ministry. All I know is the simple truth of what Jesus called me to do – and actually what He calls each of us to do – look for those around you who are in need, reach out your hand to them, acknowledge them, and make them feel loved and special. So the real truth is, Jesus calls us all to be ministers – just all in our own way.