{"id":22534,"date":"2019-04-04T19:54:22","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T02:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=22534"},"modified":"2019-04-04T19:54:22","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T02:54:22","slug":"ordain-able","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/ordain-able\/","title":{"rendered":"Ordain-able"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat does the word \u2018ordain-able\u2019 mean? It literally means, \u2018possesses a penis,\u2019\u201d\u2026\u201cIt does not mean, \u2018is currently in seminary, has graduated with an M.Div,\u201d or master\u2019s in divinity, \u201c\u2018and has gone before a licensure committee.\u2019\u201d[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that this week\u2019s text by James R. Beck, Two Views of Women in Ministry<\/em>, is controversial, emotionally charged and an important and relevant topic to discuss in today\u2019s world.\u00a0 Beck\u2019s presentation of the subject via multiple counterarguments by both Egalitarians and Complementarians appears equally represented.\u00a0 Some lay reviewers felt the writings were \u201ctoo academic\u201d and others found the writings interesting and relevant\u2026 \u201cAcademic in its approach, it is readable enough for the average layperson; and its call for respectful dialogue between those of different viewpoints is admirable, especially to a former \u201cfighting fundamentalist\u201d preacher\u2019s kid like me.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

Regardless of where you fall theologically (and we could discuss\/debate our views for hours and probably not move from our positions), my goal in this particular dialogue is to raise awareness of the secondary danger of complementarian theology \u2013 gender violence.\u00a0 In global terms, the United Nations defines violence against women as \u201cany act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.\u201d[3]<\/a> This includes intimate partner violence (IPV), which, by definition, is the behavior of an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm. \u201cSuch intimate partner abuse and sexual violence is most often perpetrated by men against women, with a 2013 WHO analysis reflecting the fact that, world-wide, almost one third (30%) of women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and\/or sexual violence from their intimate partner.\u201d[4]<\/a>\u00a0 Research indicates Christian religious language perpetuates domestic violence in several key \u201cBiblical\u201d areas. The first area of concern is women\u2019s submission and male leadership; the second focuses on the sanctity of marriage; and the third attaches the value of suffering to the virtue of forgiveness. Women in several studies cite language and concepts in each of these identified areas being used by their husbands and pastor(s) to support staying in the marriage regardless of being the victim of domestic violence.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 The connection between gender violence and complementarianism is not that Christian men are more likely to abuse, regardless of whether you are liberal or conservative, it\u2019s that the Christian religious language is cited by Christian women as \u201clanguage to accept abuse\u201d.[6]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Of utmost concern and with bewildering persistence, nearly every \u201creligious or philosophical tradition\u201d, including Christianity, has perpetuated the distinctive superiority of males throughout history.[7]<\/a>\u00a0 The daughter of missionary parents and a Nobel Prize Awardee, Jenny Rae Armstrong was raised in Liberia. She writes, \u201cSee, it was in Liberia that I first witnessed the true ugliness of gender injustice, first understood that a tiny seed of pride and superiority dropped into the heart of a man would blossom not into a sheltering tree but into an ugly, invasive weed that choked . . . life . . . around it.\u201d[8]<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure of how \u201cChristian speak\u201d perpetuates abuse, let me share the story of a dear friend\u2026 \u201cSue\u201d.\u00a0 Sue is a Master\u2019s prepared professional and devoted follower of Christ.\u00a0 Her husband \u201cTed\u201d was also highly educated.\u00a0 Sue\u2019s theology may be considered somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between liberal and conservative.\u00a0 She married a fellow believer \u2013 someone whom she believed would be a spiritual equal, and espouse the values of being a loving, supportive mate.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t long after their wedding that Ted began to struggle with mental health issues\u2026and the psychological and physical abuse began.\u00a0 Sue sought counsel from her church\u2019s leadership (in which Ted was very active as a member and leader).\u00a0 The church pastor quoted scripture and repeatedly shamed Sue for her desire to leave her marriage\u2026 \u201cDivorce is Biblically forbidden\u201d, \u201crespect and love your spouse more\u201d, \u201cwork harder to meet Ted\u2019s needs\u201d, etc.\u00a0 The church leader victim blamed Sue and convinced her that God would be displeased by her desire to leave her marriage.\u00a0 Consequently, Sue suffered years of abuse at the hands of Ted.\u00a0 All because Christian leaders manipulated and misspoke Biblical language.\u00a0 \u201cIn the context of violence against women, religious teachings and communities will play a role; they will never be neutral.\u201d[9]<\/a><\/p>\n

The Christian community needs to do some significant reflecting and evaluating on its role in marginalizing women through its abuse supporting language.\u00a0 In this reflection, Christian leaders need to consider the following – religious beliefs, texts, and teachings can serve both as roadblocks and as resources for victims of violence – and religious texts and teachings should be examined and explored for new interpretations to minimize the roadblocks and maximize the resources for women.\u00a0\u00a0Safety and security should be a basic human right for all people, women included. \u00a0\u201cNo woman should ever be forced to choose between safety and her religious community or tradition. She should be able to access the resources of both community-based advocacy and shelter\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>faith-based support and counsel.\u201d[10]<\/a>\u00a0 So I implore Christian leaders, especially men, to carefully consider their language, narrative, and Biblical guidance when working with couples \u2013 especially when IPV is disclosed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMen who hit do so because they can…someplace they enjoy or need to humiliate another. There is no love in violence, only control and domination.\u201d
\n\u2015\u00a0Na’ama Yehuda,\u00a0Emilia<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/politics\/archive\/2017\/07\/truths-table-gender-race\/532407\/<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> https:\/\/www.cbeinternational.org\/resources\/review\/mutuality\/book-review-two-views-women-ministry<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/6\/3\/71\/htm#B32-socsci-06-00071<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/6\/3\/71\/htm#B32-socsci-06-00071<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/6\/3\/71\/htm#B32-socsci-06-00071<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/6\/3\/71\/htm#B32-socsci-06-00071<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> https:\/\/www.campbellsville.edu\/blog\/invisible-power-culture-oppress-every-christian-needs-know-gender-justice\/<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> https:\/\/www.campbellsville.edu\/blog\/invisible-power-culture-oppress-every-christian-needs-know-gender-justice\/<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> https:\/\/vawnet.org\/material\/violence-against-women-and-role-religion<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> https:\/\/vawnet.org\/material\/violence-against-women-and-role-religion<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat does the word \u2018ordain-able\u2019 mean? It literally means, \u2018possesses a penis,\u2019\u201d\u2026\u201cIt does not mean, \u2018is currently in seminary, has graduated with an M.Div,\u201d or master\u2019s in divinity, \u201c\u2018and has gone before a licensure committee.\u2019\u201d[1] It\u2019s no surprise that this week\u2019s text by James R. Beck, Two Views of Women in Ministry, is controversial, emotionally […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[434],"class_list":["post-22534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-beck","cohort-lgp8"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/99"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22534"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22535,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22534\/revisions\/22535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}