A Landmark Decision
by Rev. Dr. Lisa W. Davison
In a joyous, “feel-good” moment, the
CC(DOC) elected a new General Minister and President, Rev. Sharon Watkins. With
only a handful of opposing votes, the crowd in the Assembly Hall rose to their
feet several times. We first stood at the announcement of the name for GMP,
then to vote, and finally when Sharon took to the platform. It was an exciting
moment.
However, what was not mentioned
was that this was a landmark decision in the history of the CC(DOC). We had
elected our first female GMP. In our entire history there has never been a
woman at the top leadership position. Why did this not come up in the
discussion? I wonder. Could it be because people were afraid to point this
out, lest they rouse some voices of dissent, those who still refuse the gift of
women in ministry? Or was it that people didn’t think it was necessary
because sexism is no longer a problem for our church? Or was it both? If so,
then the irony is obvious, and the honest truth is in our faces. Sexism is
still an evil that plagues the CC(DOC).
If anything, the past decade seems to
indicate that, like our culture, women’s rights in the church are being
threatened. Too many churches have said that they will not consider a female
minister. That number is growing in place because some churches have one bad
experience with a woman in ministry, and they decide that all women must be bad.
Of course, if they have an unhappy experience of a male minister, they
don’t write off all men. Sexism
exists.
Perhaps the landmark decision to
elect a female GMP was not celebrated because we knew that sexism is all too
real, and we didn’t want to talk about it. Whatever the case, having
Sharon as GMP will be different, if for no other reason than the fact that there
has never been a
husband of a
GMP. Only time will tell.
Filed Wed - July 27, 2005, 05:19 PM in
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