Dr. Emma Percy \u2013 it\u2019s challenging to track down information on you!\u00a0 I take pride in my sleuthing abilities, but Emma Percy gave me a run for my money. \u00a0Alas I located her dissertation and was able to dig a bit deeper into her research in an attempt to understand her context of gender (mothering as clergy) as she applies the characteristics of mothering (which she is clear to delineate is being used as a metaphor) to ministry attributes. It\u2019s also important to note that Dr. Percy\u2019s research was focused in England.\u00a0 A cultural lens for her perspective is key\u2026<\/p>\n
Inevitably, this thesis touches on issues of gender and I will return to them in a later chapter. However, one of the issues in writing is the need to use a gendered pronoun. I have adopted the convention of referring to a priest as female. This is a feminist piece of writing in the sense that it prioritises what can be learned from a way of being that has specifically female components and traditional female resonances, and in that it draws on the work of many feminist writers who critique assumptions about language, child development and the prioritising of abstract ways of reasoning over concrete practice.<\/em><\/p>\n As you can imagine I was intrigued by Dr. Percy\u2019s commitment to acknowledging the attributes of women \u2013 she, a priest herself, draws upon her own experiences as a priest and mom. At the core of her findings is the importance of relationship and nurturing. According to Percy, she sees the concept of mothering as two crucial components of ministry captured in one term \u2013 that of relationship and an activity that are \u201cinextricably linked\u201d. Dr. Perry sees these two facets of ministry separated\/differentiated too often.\u00a0 Instead, she asserts, both roles are equally important and should not\/cannot be separated. She views the mother\u2019s commitment to engaging in their \u201cresponsibility to relate and care for their children\u201d as the example which can help articulate this practice to clergy.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n I do see some irony in Dr. Perry\u2019s feminist approach to clergy \u2013 especially since so many denominations still have a complementarian belief system. My own spiritual beliefs \u2013 fully egalitarian \u2013 can relate to this writing and agree with and connect to what Dr. Perry is hypothesizing.\u00a0 Although I would be the first to tell you that the maternal attributes Dr. Perry refers to are generalizations.\u00a0 Not all women possess mothering instincts \u2013 and men can and do provide relationship\/nurturing and tasks to their parenting (more so in today\u2019s world than ever).\u00a0 I have to be honest, I can\u2019t wait to discuss this text asynchronously with my fellow LGP8\u2019s.\u00a0 In my mind, if you agree with the statement that clergy \u201cmother\u201d their congregants how can you condone that only men may pastor\u2026?<\/p>\n Dr. Perry provides some insight into her beliefs on egalitarian ministry\u2026\u201cIf women are different and humanity is only fully realised in both, then it can be argued that specifically female gifts are needed in ministry to reflect a fully rounded humanity. The feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether argues that this is the view taken by \u2018romantic feminism\u2019. This romantic notion of femininity as more altruistic, less egotistic, and less prone to sin lends itself to a bewildering spectrum of different social platforms and programs in Western societies.\u201d[2]<\/a>\u00a0 I appreciate this perspective.\u00a0 While this argument still recognizes that both women and men are designed differently, its core belief is that women have a role in ministry \u2013 for the fulfillment of humanity.<\/p>\n As a long time lay leader, administrative council chair, and staff pastor parish relations chair, I have had to field the insinuations from congregants (essentially the big question Dr. Perry poses in her title; What Clergy Do: Especially When It Looks Like Nothing)<\/em>.\u00a0 Those who have never been in a pastoring role cannot understand the significant number of needs congregations have.\u00a0 From a supportive coffee, to counseling, to paperwork, to sermon prep, to funerals and weddings, the responsibilities of pastor are pervasive and demanding.\u00a0 The problem is that others don\u2019t get to see how much time and attention is needed to nurture and support members \u2013 they just get to experience a great sermon on Saturday or Sunday.\u00a0 All the nurturing work is done outside of the church walls \u2013 and shouldn\u2019t be revealed due to confidentiality.\u00a0 There\u2019s also the expectation that the pastor be available at any time for any need.\u00a0 As someone whose work also requires crisis care, I know how overwhelming and exhausting a 24\/7 response can be.\u00a0 And for all these reasons, I believe Dr. Perry looks at ministry as mothering.\u00a0 Since mothers are generalized to be the nurturers all the while \u201cholding the home together\u201d this feminine description of relationship and nurture fit well with pastoring.\u00a0 Speaking of nurturing and holding my home together, I\u2019m going to step away from this blog and enjoy my son\u2019s graduation today from USAFA.\u00a0 Can\u2019t wait to dialogue with you (in true mothering fashion)\u2026<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> http:\/\/eprints.nottingham.ac.uk\/12576\/1\/AS_A_MOTHER_TENDERLY_correct2.pdf<\/p>\n