Women's Day - A Day Late
I know I'm am a day late in writing about International Women's Day, but I want to write more than congratulatory support.
When I began work in the church in the early '70s, women were the backbone of any parish with fund raising, maintaining the building, teaching Sunday School, reaching out to the poor and on and on. But, there were no women in decision making positions locally, regionally or nationally. Sure, there were women on national committees doing amazing things helping the world. But there were no women decision makers.
Decision makers, for the most part, were ordained clergy. In our denomination, women could not be ordained. There were the non-ordained decision makers who were lawyers or financial experts. Back then, lawyers and financial people were almost always men.
The first change for women did not come about with the ordination of women, but with women who decided locally that they needed to help with parish decision making. After sitting on parish boards, women pushed to sit on diocesan executive teams and then even more influential decision making bodies. With women's ordination came the possibility of women chairing church boards, becoming Bishops and then accepting authority at the very highest levels of the church nationally and internationally.
These few sentences don't do justice to the decades of talking, negotiating, crying, arguing, voting and rejoicing that it took to give women power and authority in the church.
I sat in the smoke filled decision making rooms of the 70's. Its not that there weren't great men making momentus decisions. The point was that it was only men making any kind of decisions. Today, rooms full of decision makers still argue. There is still anger and disappointment about decisions. Different points of view still form the best decision as concensus is achieved.
The difference in today's church is that the outlook of women, who see things a bit differently than their male counterparts, is influencing every part of the church life. It would be great to write that, once women joined and led the councils of the church, only good decisions were made. I don't think that's true. I think that more thorough decisions are made because concensus is now drawn from inclusive points of view.
The term "International Women's Day" is wonderful but somehow doesn't do justice to the hours, tears, arguments, prayers, struggles and changes that have occurred over decades to bring us to this celebratory day. The church has come a long way, but there is still a huge percentage of society that does not recognize the value of each woman. I wanted to write to say that I have seen women make a complete change in the church over the last 5 decades. International Women's Day celebrates change in the world.
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A very well written piece and helps those who have not seen the many changes that have occurred in the world as they have not seen what your wise eyes have witnessed.
Trust you will continue give us more of all that wisdom within.
R.
It would be different without, Women on decision making nowadays. Women love to be in those kinds of positions..
Especially if you meet an ARIES DRAGON woman in which really loves those.position
We will just say even the world is round but it is getting different every time.
Lydia
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I recently wrote on my website about International Women's Day because I also was a lone women in the 70's in the UK in a Financial Services office. I must admit to having a wonderful time as I was treated so well by my male colleagues. I became an 'honoury man' and joined them regularly, on Friday's, to the pub!
I was often asked for my opinion and frequently visited their clients with them as a "woman" was seen to be trustworthy.
However, it was a time to stand your ground, women were having a hard time trying to break through that glass ceiling (and still do). When looking back at the 100 years of women fighting, first for the vote and then civil rights, we still have a long way to go before Women are treated equal, not only in the middle east but also in the US.
Did you know that in a number of different states, young girls (children) are still forced to marry older men? Just one law that should be changed!
I want to thank all ladies of the past and present who are continuing with 'the fight' !
PKRango,
Great piece you wrote, and I very well understood.
How do we make the "Women's Rights" Civil Rights fair? Keep fighting for the right to be equal. There is no other way. I am on board.
Some have said that God said women should follow. I never saw the inspired words of the Bible as saying that - helpmate, yes! but unequal, no!
I think interpretation can be all over the place for many, or where others want it to be to win the argument.
However, let's all honorable men keep fighting for what's right in this county we stole from others to reap the spoils...and do something right going forward.
I posted all over social media on "Women's Day" I was wishful for the first female President in earlier years, it didn't happen, but as said...the ceiling is cracking.
Easy Talk-with Clarence
To women cheers, in South Africa we say Wathinta umfazi wathinta imbhokodo meaning you strike the woman you strike the rock. Thank you for sharing this about women.