Can We Talk 2

Midwives of a Movement

         I saw a movie last night about women in ministry. On the one hand, it seems like we've made progress, but on the other, we are still in the dark ages. The ministry is a reflection of the culture at large, and the truth is women are not truly equals yet. One convention for instance is striking fellowship with any church that has a woman pastor of any rank. Some refuse to allow women deacons. Some will not let women even speak from behind a pulpit; if she makes announcements or reads scripture, she must stand "on the floor" (down below the podium).

         In fact, I heard a lawyer recently on a podcast say a judge told her that women are not equal under the law in some circumstances. If she can change the law, then he will consider her like he would a man. The example she gave was appalling. In a murder or other criminal case, the defendant's history and past record cannot be brought up in court. However, if a woman accuses a man of rape or violent assault, her record may be brought up legitimately. In the case she cited, the defendant discovered after his court date was set, that the victim had been molested by her father. Such cases have shown that both men and women who were molested as children then easily accuse others of hurting them later on. (I wonder how he or his lawyer discovered this info.) He demanded the counselor's records be shown in court. The lawyer protested about bringing decades old info into court, but he judge bluntly told her, in this circumstance, a woman was not equal and could be treated differently. The assailant got off free, and was able to repeat the offense. Meanwhile, the victim's family knew nothing of what had happened in the past. Now the whole community knew. Relationships were damaged, and the victim suffered even more.

         You've come a long way, baby, or have you? Does it only apply to smoking in public? When will women of any race be treated equally under the law, in business, or even in church?