A Trifle for Tuesday - World Day for Social Justice - Lent 2024

 

Ceiling Fresco, St Saviour's, Chora, Istanbul (Circa 1500)

(Originally a Church, then a Mosque, then a museum and since 2020 a Mosque)

(Photo krb)

It is a strange thing that in a church in which participation is dominated by women, the place of women in leadership is still contentious. Many denominations in Australia, notably the Uniting Church and its component denominations have a long history of female clergy and lay leadership which is as it should be.

In the Anglican Church, however, there are still a number of Diocese that refuse to ordain women to the priesthood and therefore women in these dioceses cannot become bishops. There also seems to be a push back in other dioceses against the ordination of women.

It is clear that both among the close followers of Jesus - those designated disciples and in the early church, women were strongly represented in leadership roles. In the first century world and through most of history before and since women were chattels of their husbands or of their fathers. Women (and children) had no power or agency in the largely patriarchal world. Jesus attitude to both was radical and revolutionary. The male leadership of the church has sought to maintain the subservient role of women ever since.

If the church cannot bring itself to a place where women are given an equal status and empowerment as men one wonders what chance that it will become enlightened enough to change its attitude towards all dispossessed in our world. It seems instead to happily continue to believe that it is part of the establishment, the wealthy, white, male power elite of our society.