Detroit Faith and Works

In our final part of our 4 part series of Episode 20: Women in Ministerial Leadership, it's discussed:  What does biology and medicine have to do with these women’s ministerial leadership? Or How does a calling to heal bodies result in a calling to heal body and spirit? We hear the personal stories of women who wanted to be doctors and found serving and caring for people in ministry to satisfy their calling.

The observation is made that with more women there would have been less rigidity, more flexibility. Feminist, Womanist and Liberation Theology bring a critique, but they also bring hope. Lost has been a respect for women’s voices and the power they bring to the public square.

Do women have a particularly explicit role in ministry and, if so, how does that impact those you serve? Or can boys be Rabbis too? In Part 2 we hear about that special role that is not the same as the male role. Bible stories will be interpreted differently and given different emphasis. From a woman’s point of view Miriam, for instance, will be seen as the pivotal matriarch that men likely miss. Women in ministerial leadership can prompt the question: “Can boys be rabbis too?”

How do you center yourselves as women around the idea of sacredness? We are invited to see the spirit of God as we would understand it while at sea in a kayak. There is the “Awe” of seeing the wonders of the created world. There is the sense of the gifts that give the kayaker “Agency” to give that kayak direction and move it forward. But then there is, lastly, “Acceptance.” Water will out. God will out! We also hear that Jews see a world where everything is sacred and to be blessed. And we learn that  women bring everyone around the table to that blessing .

How do you center yourselves around the idea of sacredness?  We are invited to see the spirit of God as we would understand it while at sea in a kayak. There is the “Awe” of seeing the wonders of the created world. There is the sense of the gifts that give the kayaker “Agency” to give that kayak direction and move it forward. But then there is, lastly, “Acceptance.” Water will out. God will out! We also hear that Jews see a world where everything is sacred and to be blessed. And we learn that  women bring everyone around the table to that blessing .