Things that never made sense finally fit together like pieces of a puzzle! Critically reading this book gave me insight into our current cultural and political context, helping me navigate an incredibly stressful season.
Her preaching opened my mind to the idea that all people, not just men, are created in God's image. I know this is simple, but it never occurred to me that God was not gendered or that God created men and women equally. My perspectives changed.
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A few months ago, a pastor friend posted a question on Facebook about what bible character we would vote for to be President. I quickly posited my answer, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Here's why.
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A few days ago, I shared with you about the unexpected results of COVID on this ministry and how our influence has multiplied significantly.
Today, I’d like to share the story of Amanda Clark.
A few weeks ago I received a text from Amanda, she has accepted the role of lead pastor at The Branches Church. Amanda is an excellent leader with a unique heart for Jesus and his people; she will mother her congregation well. They will be better because she is at the helm.
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You know me. My passion is to be present with people, to be near in body and spirit.
However, COVID pushed our Wine Women and Jesus studies onto Facebook Live, and I found a new way to be present. I never expected a more than three-fold growth in the number of women who could participate! Nor could I have predicted the level of need and engagement.
From book clubs on Zoom to the new Jackie Always Unplugged podcast and through my writings, The Marcella Project reached more than 10,000 people in more than 50 countries this year. Take that in for a minute. As a technological novice, I could pivot my work in a pandemic and reach thousands of women and men stuck in their homes. That's God for you.
My dear brothers, I am speaking on behalf of many of us white, conservative, evangelical women who attend your churches. In 2016, we found ourselves disappointed and perplexed by you, but we waited to see if you would rise on our behalf. Your silence about our President's sexual exploitation of women was deafening. It hurt. We felt invisible, devalued, and dare I say it--duped.
But we waited, giving you the benefit of the doubt.
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In my circles of Christianity, feminist or feminism is a dirty word. Often when I talk with male leaders about the role of women in the Church, they dropped the “F-bomb” (Feminist!) into the conversation. They’ve been taught that feminism is a threat to Christianity. It’s always interesting to see their expressions when I suggest that feminism started in a Church in upstate NY. Then I proceed to share a bit of their Christian heritage.
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Overused and under-utlilzed. Women who were taught roles and rules that were counter to how God made them. A sense of never fitting the mold, knowing something is off but not knowing what.
That is where our work comes in.
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Before we burned it we had each person write a word or two on the table that depicted what the “table” meant to them. What difference did being around that table make in their lives? Whew, the words shared were powerful. I was right, our table was set apart for a particular purpose
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I credit Lisa with their success. Her feet on the ground leadership motivated this group to go beyond what they thought they were capable both as individuals and as a group.
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Over the years I’ve sat with too many women “bent” by life and kept bent by the Church. I read the poem over and over, letting it twist and turn, float and sink. The more I read it the more truth I saw and the heavier it became. The weight of women being bent can be too much. The Church trying to keep her that way - unacceptable.
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As women walked to the front to partake in the Eucharist I checked out their shoes. Yes, I judged her by her shoes. After I made my choice I approached each woman and invited her to be my friend. I had a lake house, I would cook and we’d have great conversations - all they had to do was say yes to my invitation. (I told you I was an extrovert!)
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Did you know most male pastors don’t teach the stories about women in the Bible? Too often, if their stories are even told, the women are seen as an extra on the set or through a lens of gender roles.
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That’s why it meant so much to hear Mitch Little, tax attorney, and Lead Elder of Bent Tree speak on sexual abuse in the Church. He presented at the No More Silence conference hosted by Dallas Theological Seminary.
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My mother’s heart quivered. I shared my concern. She replied, “Mom, you know I’m nervous, too. If you say it, it makes it worse, so please don’t say it again.”
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