I have the wonderful opportunity to speak at a symposium on women in ministry at this church this coming weekend. I am looking forward to meeting the great folks who have invited me, and hearing from those facilitating discussion throughout the day. I will be offering the keynote address during the luncheon, and I will be sharing my own story of being called by God to serve as a minister. I will do something similar to what I did when I spoke for Scot McKnight’s Women, Mary and Jesus class in April.
This will be my first time public speaking since Elijah was born. I remember the first time I did any public speaking after Mercy was born: I was invited to speak to the Freshman class at Azusa Pacific, and I remember catching myself unconsciously swaying back and forth during my lectures. Too many hours spent soothing an infant (Mercy was our fussiest so there was a LOT of walking and bouncing and swaying and shushing) can do that.
The day will be filled with talented and sincere Christian scholars and leaders providing a range of opinions about scripture and tradition concerning women’s leadership in the church. My job on Saturday is not to try to persuade anyone of any position, but rather to offer my own very personal experience of receiving a calling to serve in places and capacities that some would restrict to men. But, as Scot McKnight likes to say: “not infrequently the observation is made that one of the most compelling apologetics for women’s ministries is the compelling story of a woman.”
By the look of their website I don’t think you’ll face much real opposition.
Resistance is futile :^)
Gotta get prophetic chicks down south and up into the Rockies round Colorado Springs. I guess the trick is getting the invitation. No insight to offer there.
I’ll be with you in spirit! In real life … I’ll be (where else?) at a hockey game with my daughter!!
Thanks, Sonja!
sic ’em sister. With Jesus’ love and mercy of course!
hey erica. i’m patty (jeff’s tacklind’s wife) and i can tell you that we are very excited to meet you this weekend! thank you for coming in spite of a new little one. (are you bringing him? we love babies around here.) from my experience it’s hard to know minute to minute what life will be like in that situation! but, all of that said, our church is excited to go into these issues of women in leadership (finally, if you ask me. 🙂 ) jeff tells me that he thinks you and i will get along well, so i look forward to that too. 🙂 i hope you find this a place of grace and welcome! see you saturday.