Oh, how wonderful to see a reference to women in ministry as “gals” (oh, don’t we all remember the "girls" scandal of February ’04, courtesy of TallSkinnyKiwi); this is an excerpt from an email from someone at Westwinds Community Church. Blogger Ann (her post is here) received this email while inquiring about a teaching position at a church that has the following job description online at their website:
You probably connect with today’s culture if your iPod is part of your wardrobe; if your play lists include U2, Black-Eyed Peas, Moby, and Coldplay; if your library shelf contains N.T. Wright, Leonard Sweet, Bill Easum, Jim Collins, John Grisham and John Steinbeck; if your DVD collection goes beyond Disney to Cohen brothers, Oliver Stone, and Mel Gibson; and if you can successfully order at Starbucks without tripping over your tongue or holding up the line.
Westwinds Community Church is seeking a strong teacher/communicator and team player who connects with the inquirer as well as the seasoned Christ-follower and who accurately and passionately exegetes Scripture and culture. This catalytic leader must guide the ongoing theological and cultural dialogue while exploring different approaches to ministry. Five years experience in an emergent church would be ideal as well as a master’s degree and/or seminary training.
Anyone else wondering how one could have 5 years experience in an "emergent church" when the word really hasn’t even been around that long…? Just checking. At any rate, this is just sad and another reason why the whole issue of women in ministry needs to become a non-issue NOW for Emergent. I understand that it is hard for some emergent churches that are coming out of a more fundamentalist background, and in their desire to maintain unity, know that they need to take some of these things slowly…making slow changes here and there. But I think that there is a time, a breaking point, at which one needs to stand up and proclaim and loud "No" in the face of injustice and wrong-doing. I have a hard time, as does Ann, in seeing how a church that is apparently claiming to be "Emergent" would still be stuck in this rut. If someone can convince me as to why this should be acceptable among churches that are seeking to be progressive, or "emergent" – let me know. Otherwise, I think it is time to proclaim a loud "No."