Mormons and Like-Minded, Your Women Problem Will not go Away


There are several Mormons and former Mormon women writing these days about their treatment by the denomination. They are symbolically patted on the head by church leaders and told how much they are appreciated then set in their proper place.

With Catholics, it is often pointed out, there is this "fundamental difference" between the genders. Women have babies, they say. From that, the conclusion is made women cannot be clergy.   

I recall decades ago there was a well-known Mormon at the time came from Washington DC to Fargo Moorhead to tell her story of speaking up about injustice in the denomination--I don't recall her name just now. She told of being invited to speak at a congressional hearing near her home in DC. After her testimony, a Moorman Senator cleared his voice and addressed her in a tone of voiced she had heard all of her life. Something like, "Mrs. Jones, we appreciate your life as a Mormon wife and your knowledge of how important wives can be to the lives of their husbands..." He was incensed she did not understand her proper place.

The issue of women being denied access to the clergy in large swaths of Christianity will, I believe, continue to drag down specific denominations which, in turn, will prevent any large change in the downward trajectory of the faith. At this time in our culture the old argument that "the Bible says.." or "Jesus surrounded himself with men..." sounds a touch loony. How can it be, modern men and women ask, women are not qualified to be priests and preachers? It is an insult with consequences--goodbye Christian churches and denominations.  

Let's say there is a young couple with small child who move to a new area. They are invited or walk into a Lutheran Missouri Synod church and enjoyed the people they met. One of their children is a little girl. Both of the parents want the little girl to believe she can be who or what she wants to be. After attending and enjoying the church for a while they learn its hierarchy does not allow women to be its preachers. This is exactly what they did not want their little girl to experience. They move on to a Methodist church that has a woman as head preacher.

All kinds of explanations are out there as to why the Christian decline. This one is looking right at leaders but they look away.

 

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