Cracks in the ‘stained-glass ceiling’: Women reach prominent pulpits

[hrmjustin]

Adelle M. Banks

(RNS) Chicago. New York. Washington, D.C. In quick succession this year, three women have been chosen to lead historic tall-steeple churches in all these cities.

In May, the Rev. Shannon Johnson Kershner became the first woman solo senior pastor at Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church. In June, the Rev. Amy Butler was elected senior pastor of New York City’s Riverside Church. And finally, in July, the Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli began leading Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.

“For women to speak in those pulpits and speak boldly as public voices in these very public buildings is very powerful,” said the Rev. Serene Jones, president of Union Theological Seminary, who recently hosted a dinner party with some of New York’s movers and shakers to welcome Butler to town.

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/29/cracks-stained-glass-ceiling-women-reach-prominent-pulpits/

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. The men gripe and complain, and eventually the denomination changes.

Unless it's the Catholic church or the fundamentalists in any religion that refuse to ordain women because they take Paul's writings seriously. He was a woman-hater.

I remember when the Episcopal Church was in hissy fits over women being "illegally" ordained, and "illegally" baptising a black female baby in Washington, D.C. The Washington Four. That was in the Seventies. Well, the institution changed and women didn't destroy the institution.

I heard the same thing when they started admitting girls to Texas A&M. Those macho Aggies were convinced that admitting women would ruin the school and destroy it. Didn't happen.

When Kathy Whitmire was mayor of Houston, I heard lots of angry white guys say it was just terrible, and having a woman mayor would destroy the town. Didn't happen. Now they have a lesbian mayor, and I don't know if they are still griping.

These men used to threaten to move out of Houston. I wish they would keep their promise. Like the libertarians that think this country is going down the tubes because it has governments. Why don't they move to Haiti or Somalia if they don't like it?

[ColesCountyDem]

2. Dr. Butler is not only the first woman to hold the post, but also the first American Baptist.

I've had the privilege of hearing her speak and preach at both regional and national gatherings, and she's an incredible person.