So since the church spokeswoman recently admitted there is no doctrinal prohibition against female ordination, and even one of the apostles admits he doesn't know why, I wonder how long before the majority start seeing that the traditional "this is just the way we've always done things" is a really bad reason to keep holding firm to a ban on female ordination.
(Especially, when we of all faiths have learned some tough lessons from a racial priesthood ban, such as the common assumption that God set things that way and even that it was taught as doctrinal for so many years.)
Indeed, we learn from history that there are many who do not learn from history.
True, "we do not know why", but my question is "what changes? How would a woman's life change when/if priesthood ordination is extended to our gender? Also, how would it affect us as a whole?"
Perhaps it would calm the soul of one who has felt less empowered. That alone, may be worth it. Maybe, it wouldn't feel so isolating when in ward council a woman speaks her mind and a less than noble congregate of men in leadership, grin and squirm as if to say "that's nice, now lets get on with the real work". Maybe then, we would be heard and respected more in such situations. I've been fortunate enough not to have had this experience too often in the many leadership positions I've held, but the few times it has occurred, have been irritating to say the very least. I'm not certain that having the ordination of priesthood would change this or much else.
I've said it before, that I feel strongly, that I have every access to the priesthood, that any man has. However, I am and always have had a self awareness that allows me not to let anyone, male or female cause me to feel less than I know I am. I recognize though, that not everyone has this experience and my heart aches for them.
So, I'm pondering this, very deeply....I have no answer as of yet, but it is certainly on my mind.
I'm completely with Lavina Fielding Anderson, who last summer at Sunstone shared the following:
“One of my personal insights is support for the order the church has established about the relationship between stewardship and revelation. I have no problem with assigning responsibility for church-wide revelation to the men who hold the office of apostle and prophet, but I can’t describe the pain I feel that *those who claim the privilege of revelation seem to refuse the responsibility to seek it.* Our church claims continuous revelation, yet it punishes those who implore its leaders to seek it. Some of the most horrifying statements and silences to come out of Kate [Kelly’s] excommunication is the denial that there is anything to pray about or any point on which further revelation should be sought.
"I feel such longing when I read calls from Steve Veazey (prophet and president of the Community of Christ) for the whole church to join in a discernment process. What if our leaders similarly ask its members to pray earnestly about ordaining women to priesthood? About supporting and celebrating our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who want to marry, have families, and participate in congregational life? What if our leaders really accepted Nephi’s assurance and invited us to join with him in the call: “Christ denieth none that come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female, *all* are alike unto God.”
-Lavina Fielding Anderson From her remarks during Session 324: "LIFE AFTER CHURCH DISCIPLINE" 10:35-12:16 https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/audio-files-from-the-2014-salt-lake-symposium/
My favorite answer is from Elder Andersen, "we do not know why"
ReplyDeleteSo since the church spokeswoman recently admitted there is no doctrinal prohibition against female ordination, and even one of the apostles admits he doesn't know why, I wonder how long before the majority start seeing that the traditional "this is just the way we've always done things" is a really bad reason to keep holding firm to a ban on female ordination.
ReplyDelete(Especially, when we of all faiths have learned some tough lessons from a racial priesthood ban, such as the common assumption that God set things that way and even that it was taught as doctrinal for so many years.)
Indeed, we learn from history that there are many who do not learn from history.
True, "we do not know why", but my question is "what changes? How would a woman's life change when/if priesthood ordination is extended to our gender? Also, how would it affect us as a whole?"
ReplyDeletePerhaps it would calm the soul of one who has felt less empowered. That alone, may be worth it. Maybe, it wouldn't feel so isolating when in ward council a woman speaks her mind and a less than noble congregate of men in leadership, grin and squirm as if to say "that's nice, now lets get on with the real work". Maybe then, we would be heard and respected more in such situations. I've been fortunate enough not to have had this experience too often in the many leadership positions I've held, but the few times it has occurred, have been irritating to say the very least. I'm not certain that having the ordination of priesthood would change this or much else.
I've said it before, that I feel strongly, that I have every access to the priesthood, that any man has. However, I am and always have had a self awareness that allows me not to let anyone, male or female cause me to feel less than I know I am. I recognize though, that not everyone has this experience and my heart aches for them.
So, I'm pondering this, very deeply....I have no answer as of yet, but it is certainly on my mind.
I'm completely with Lavina Fielding Anderson, who last summer at Sunstone shared the following:
ReplyDelete“One of my personal insights is support for the order the church has established about the relationship between stewardship and revelation. I have no problem with assigning responsibility for church-wide revelation to the men who hold the office of apostle and prophet, but I can’t describe the pain I feel that *those who claim the privilege of revelation seem to refuse the responsibility to seek it.* Our church claims continuous revelation, yet it punishes those who implore its leaders to seek it. Some of the most horrifying statements and silences to come out of Kate [Kelly’s] excommunication is the denial that there is anything to pray about or any point on which further revelation should be sought.
"I feel such longing when I read calls from Steve Veazey (prophet and president of the Community of Christ) for the whole church to join in a discernment process. What if our leaders similarly ask its members to pray earnestly about ordaining women to priesthood? About supporting and celebrating our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who want to marry, have families, and participate in congregational life? What if our leaders really accepted Nephi’s assurance and invited us to join with him in the call: “Christ denieth none that come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female, *all* are alike unto God.”
-Lavina Fielding Anderson
From her remarks during Session 324: "LIFE AFTER CHURCH DISCIPLINE"
10:35-12:16
https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/audio-files-from-the-2014-salt-lake-symposium/