I realize that it is shameful for the blogosphere police to post more than a month later than my last update. In all fairness, working for Jesus doesn't leave much time for leisure writing. I haven't had an actual week at real camp yet, so I can't quite speak to the "camp counselor" experience yet. We had two weeks of training, which included CPR, identifying sexual abuse, and handfuls of silly songs about grasshoppers and yodelers. I was in Wenatchee last week on a Day Camp, and now I'm home for a week, getting my wisdom teeth out. However, I would like to touch on a topic that has already been a heated discussion: women.
For my non-Lutheran readers (which as far as I know is everyone but Jess), an important distinction needs to be made. Within the denomination are two main sects: The ELCA (Ecumenical Lutheran church of America) and the LCMS (Lutheran church Missouri synod). Lutherhaven is a pan Lutheran ministry, meaning both divisions are represented. I realized about 15 minutes into staff training how big of a deal this was. The two sects share most of the same priorities, save for one major disagreement: the LCMS does not ordain women. And considering Sarah, who was the youth seat of the ELCA Northwest Senate in high school, wants to be a pastor, let's just say we both have taken on some heated debates with fellow staff members. It has been interesting for me to challenge my belief in building relationships with people despite opposing views, whether that be religiously, racially, politically, or whatever. I really do try to see people as whole people, and not representative of everyone that believes in the same principles as them.
However, I will have to say that this has never been as difficult as I've faced in the past few weeks. I love the friends I've made, on both sides of the political and religious isle. (I'm not Lutheran, so a lot of the denominational arguments don't really involve me, until people start thinking I'm weird because I don't stand board stiff during worship.) But I honestly have to bite my tongue when people start saying that the only Biblically-approved role for women is in a submissive position to a husband, running a house and raising children. I'm not kidding. There are people that would wholeheartedly argue that women aren't limited by society, but by God. And I couldn't more wholeheartedly disagree. My beef is not that women are still being coerced into a limited spectrum of roles that are considered "feminine." I believe that women actually have more career freedom than men. However, I just cannot believe that a God who created the universe and is beyond our intellectual understanding would tell any group of people that they are somehow less worthy to share his love with other people.
A large part of this debate also comes to the inevitable question of what exactly the role of a pastor is. But a main point of contingency comes with the fact that taking one or two verses of the Bible and making them an absolute, timeless commandment without context is a dangerous position. This doesn't just apply to women. It applies to many issues the church struggles to deal with, including homosexuality. But I would strongly urge you to think about where your viewpoints come from. Is it from a comprehensive discussion, looking at several sources and weighing all possibilities?
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