EVEN NOW

Even now it seems we women clergy still hit the brick wall of churches and church members who aren't open to women pastors. I ran into this during my many years of interim ministry. I know that I have broken the way for some churches to call a female pastor - some probably more ready than others. I had hoped that we would've moved beyond this in this 21st century and with women being pastors for 60 years in the PC(USA),  a few years less in the ELCA, and I'm not sure how long in the Methodist Church.
   I only bring this up since at the M church I serve as visitation pastor, has had their pastor reassigned as Methodists are wont to do and he has left. He was my age and will likely be serving his last pastorate. As always, whenever there is a pastoral transition, some will leave the church and new folks or those who weren't happy with the present pastor will come back with a new pastor. I've experienced that many times as an interim.
   The new pastor coming in is fairly young, in her 30's, with 2 young children. She was most recently at a larger church as assistant pastor, after apparently serving a couple smaller, rural congregations.
The District Bishop must be grooming her for larger and multi-staff positions and so she will serve as Head of Staff here. All of which means, there will be a learning curve for her.
   As with any pastoral transition, there is always some amount of anxiety amongst staff and members as to how things will work, function and be with this new pastor.
   Since this M church is in an affluent suburb with working professional families, a highly regarded
school system and fairly progressive in theology - they are a reconciling congregation (LGBTQ welcoming church), there has been some rumbling about a female minister. Which I have found
surprising! Granted I'm not here on Sundays, since I am serving as an interim at L church, so I'm not always in the loop as perhaps I could be.
   At the farewell picnic for the last pastor this past Sunday, I connected with some folks and made rounds at a few tables. There is one older couple in their early 80's, very active, he helped repair bikes for the bike ministry here, she attended the women's circle and UMW, etc. Now, they had attended a Baptist Church for quite awhile, I believe she was Methodist growing up and early adulthood. They have a granddaughter who serves as a missionary on a Native American Reservation out west, or somewhere in the world. (there is another person's granddaughter who has done missionary work o a reservation out west as well - hoping I'm not mixing them up). So, she came up to me a little teary-eyed and saying they are going back to the Baptist church, because she so loves the Word, meaning Scripture, and studying the word, and bringing her Bible to church where no one here seems to.
I said I was so sorry to see them leave, and that I know what God's Word means to her. She said she heard some folks weren't too keen on a woman pastor, and I replied, that I find it hard to judge someone I haven't meet yet and perhaps folks should give her chance because "she might blow them out of the water!" The whole thing, excuse for leaving M church seemed a bit odd, as they truly enjoyed the fellowship here.
    Today, from the office administrators, I heard that they know this couple is leaving and that they have a problem with women clergy. I'm like, OK, I've been at the Circle meetings and their Bible study, sometimes leading them when the Ed Director is gone, and I helped at one World Communion Service presiding at communion. Her granddaughter is a missionary for heaven's sakes and obviously has a call to share the Word of God and probably lead worship services or at the very least, help with them.
    All of which, strikes me as inconsistent. If she so loves the Word of God and studies it, what does she make of Priscilla and Aquila, Lydia, the women followers of Jesus (oh, it's ok to follow, but never to lead) Phoebe, etc. The women at the tomb who were the first evangelists telling of the good news of Christ's resurrection! What of Paul's words: "There is neither Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free, for all are one in Christ."? Maybe she needs to study some more!
   It still frosts me and blows me away that some folks are still this way.
   So I pray, for the new pastor coming on aboard here at M church. Even I don't know how we will get along. But I trust in the work of God and because I keep a low profile and don't meddle or get in the way, I hope that is helpful for her. I pray God will give her wisdom and guidance in her ministry here and as she ministers in such a liminal time for the M church and their discernment whether to stay with the UMC or to break off with the other progressive UMC churches to form a new denomination. And what all that will mean for me as I serve here.
    Blessed be her time here with a fresh voice and new perspective and I pray that folks here, who have experienced many different pastors, be open, get to know her, and come to love her.
    I guess we, women clergy, will still come up against this for some time to come yet. More's the pity. I had thought we had moved beyond this by now. God help us all.