A fundamental contradiction became clear to all who participated in the Maundy Thursday worship service. The enactment of the Last Supper included the reading of 10 male parts, but many of the parts were read by women. The role of Judas was also played by a woman. Seeing women take roles assigned to men reminded me of times past when men played women’s roles on the stage because women were not allowed to be in theater.
If we look at the actual record of church history we discover that in the early church leadership roles were shared equally by men and women. The only reason we have twelve male disciples is because the church wanted to represent itself as the new Israel. Therefore, the twelve tribes of Israel were represented by twelve men. A fair reading of Romans 16:7 is evidence that women were apostles. “Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” There is no question that Jesus called women to full discipleship and empowered them to be apostles, teachers and leaders in the early church. One translation of Galatians 3:28 reads: “Hence there is in Christ and in the Church no inequality on the basis of race or nationality, social conditions or sex.” [source: Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza, “Women Apostles,” Discipleship of Equals (New York: Crossroad, 1993), 87-88].
As a church we affirm equality in our services of ordination. Many of us are comfortable with the image of “Mother-and-Father God.” But the cultural shadow of patriarchy still hovers over us. We are reminded that images still have great power in our lives. Our spiritual welfare calls for us to find ways to nurture and support each other as equals.
Blessings, David