3Advent Thursday: Clergywomen Party

Today was the Heartland Districts (all 3) clergywomen's Christmas Party at my apartment abode. About 25 women came to this come-and-go event. I kind of like doing these clergywomen's parties because I never feel like the house has to be spic-and-span--since we all live with a messy house now and then. I have hosted this 4 or 5 times since I have been in Kansas City, even before becoming a d.s. They are usually a good venue for clergywomen to meet, to catch up, to laugh, and to stop at least for a bit during this busy time of year. It occurred to me this year, with two of the three d.s.s being women in the KC area, whether this idea of a women-only party is outdated. I remember when all of the women in the conference could fit into Bishop Sherer's living room in Saint Louis. I remember when the 40 or so women in the Missouri East conference were gathered together at Arlington UMC in 1985 by Bishop Handy and were asked to share out concerns with the all-male cabinet there. I remember serving in the old Carbondale district of the old Southern Illinois conference, because the then-d.s. of that district (in 1979), Boyd Wagner, was the only d.s. who would "take" a woman---he had three women serving and we were referred to, off the record of course as "Boyd's harem."

Yes, we have come a long way, friends. But I am reminded that it is not far enough. The way I see it, is this: the first year I have no PPR committee tell me, when I go to meet with them when a pastoral change will occur and ask them what qualities they think the church needs in a new pastor, the first year I go and NO PPR member says to me, "we don't want a woman," that is the year I may not feel like a women's party is a good thing. But that year has not yet happened, something I find nearly hard to believe. It is an odd spot to sit with a committee and have somebody say that to you when you, in fact ARE a woman.

So for this year at least, we had the party.