Life as a woman in a C of C isn’t easy. Life as a woman with
opinions and the ability to speak her mind is painful.
I’ve been struggling with the “new church” it’s the old
church with a new name. Not too much has
changed, a guitar, a drum of some sort, and a new meeting place. If I change the paint on my house and hang
new drapes nothing is really that different. I have the same opinions in my
house. Right? So why am I so sad I’m old
enough to know this truth? I was excited
about the changes! A new name! The one that I submitted that God put on my
heart years before! I stood up for leaving church of Christ on it! I thought
that we needed to stand boldly about who we are! I was happy to have a change
in music. The new worship minister slowed the music down and added more of the
old stuff. I even told him that I thought that it was a good idea so that the
changes weren’t so drastic.
But it’s not better,
not at all.
The minister has a token woman that he pulls out to show us
he is progressive, look at me I let a woman preach. He talks like he believes that woman are equal
but when a woman who isn’t a “You’re the greatest minister” BLANK kisser speaks
up he is floored. He can’t take it at all.
I’ve been told where to stand and who to talk to. I’ve been
told to stay quiet about how I feel.
I apologized for speaking up; he brought it up several
times.
How can you stand up on a stage and preach forgiveness when
you can’t forgive?
I’m not a perfect person but I forgive. Okay so I’m still
working on the baby daddy and that woman he married, they hurt my kids and the
mamma bear comes out. I’m working on it. I’ve spoken in confidence to him only
to have those words repeated from the pulpit. He has yelled at me when I simply
asked if one of the men was in the building because the guest speaker, the one
standing next to him, wanted to use some equipment. That man cussed me out in front
of my child and my minister set that up by talking behind my back and working
it up. The man and I are fine, I forgave, he forgave, and we are fine.
My children and I were asked to his home for dinner and I agreed
to come, when I went to confirm and get the address I was told he would be out
of town. Okay, life happens.
I’ve put in years of service. I’m honestly am not sure how
many. I’ve worked long hours; I did so because I believe in what I do. I believe
that I made a difference. The men have cut down my work, oh they don’t think so
at all.
Now we have more women doing what I do and that makes me
happy I can take a break. The issue is that one woman has done a lot of taking
and the men have listened and they have talked. They claimed that they didn’t
but I do know better. I was called into a meeting that was an attack on me.
They had no real reason to attack when it was all said and done.
The minister does know that he started treating me
differently when I was going through a divorce. What? You say. Yes, a worship minister did the
same. Perhaps I made them feel uncomfortable or they thought I was wrong. I don’t
know. I’m sure that I have changed, I know I have. I was raised to speak up; I stopped
because an abusive man hates that in a woman. Now I speak up.
I also loved the minister who came before him; he’s great at
challenging me. He and I had a relationship. He has just the right amount of
sarcasm. My dad once talked to me about a sermon and a couple of things he had
said. He made a joke about eating donuts and drinking diet soda then threw in a
democrat joke. I laughed and explained that it was all aimed at me. I miss him
a lot.
Why stay so long? After all I have choices, this is Oklahoma
we love our churches and banks. You’d laugh if you were from these parts.
I’ve stayed for my son. I’ve stayed for the people that I love.
I’ve now made new friends and I hate the idea of not spending time with them. My
heart hurts from the pull but I know that I need to seek Jesus somewhere else.
‘cause Bill didn’t raise his daughter to keep her mouth
shut. His response was “I should hope not!”
