There’s been a lot of press in recent years regarding women who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seeking priesthood ordination. I’m not sure how much of it has garnered national attention-it might just be isolated to LDS circles and/or news outlets in areas where a high percentage of members of the church dwell. Regardless, I feel like I need to insert my two cents, not only so I can put down on paper how I feel about the issue, but to clarify for my friends who are not members of the LDS church that not all Mormon women share the same views on this topic.
I must say, this is an issue for which a blog post has been swimming around in my head for a LONG time. That’s not to say that I’ve done extensive research on the role of women in the church in its 180+ year history, nor that my opinions are based in my knowledge of actual doctrine surrounding the roles of men and women, though certainly those have played a part. Priesthood ordination has never been something I’ve aspired to, nor is it a requirement for my sense of equality with men in the church. Why? Because I have rarely, if ever, been made to feel inferior in any setting within the church. Instead, I’ve always felt valued, respected, gosh, even revered for my contributions at home and in the church.
So what is the beef that these women (whose numbers are very small in relation to the body of the church) have with the general leadership of the church? You don’t have to go far to find out. My impression after reading the FAQ’s on their website is that because females are not equally represented at every level and in every council in the church, this is a reflection of a general inequality between men and women. It’s a secular argument which, when applied to a religion really has little clout.
For starters, since when did we decide that priesthood ordination and positions of leadership were the be all and end all? What does that say about all the men and women who humbly serve in quiet ways, as teachers of youth, as coordinators of meals and service for members in need, as the people who clean toilets at the church building? Are their contributions any less valued because they don’t have a fancy title? In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints priesthood leadership callings are simply synonymous with service and anyone who aspires to them is rebuked, according to LDS scripture. Not to mention the fact that I dare say Christ was no advocate for such behavior. Using Him as our model, wouldn’t we do well to value even the least of these and not ascribe extra blessings only to those who hold the priesthood or positions of leadership?
As a mother, I know how it feels to be undervalued. Much of the world does not really hold women who bear and raise children in high esteem, aside from their essential role to propagate the species. Much of what we do is repetitive, mundane, even downright thankless at times. We don’t get paid for our work, we never get to “clock out”, and most days we don’t receive so much as a ‘thank you’ for the endless needs we meet. Does that make our jobs any less important, just because we’re not paid, or thanked, or given a fancy title and a corner office? Heavens no. Likewise, women in our church whose value is tied up in priesthood ordination or leadership are missing the mark. Titles and prominence are not important to The Lord. For he looketh not on the outward appearance, but on the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7).
Also, as a quick note, I have been reading in the Old Testament lately and have been struck by the fact that The Lord has always delegated certain responsibilities to different populations within his kingdom. Anciently, only the tribe of Levi could perform the sacred rites and ordinances associated with the priesthood. Some may call it unfair that priesthood was given because of one’s line of birth. In one instance, members of another tribe of Israel sought priestly offices. What happened to them? They were swallowed up in the earth. Just sayin’.
I realize I am not hitting on even a fraction of the arguments a few women in our church have for supporting priesthood ordination. Heck, I wouldn’t argue against it if it were something that comes about at some point, assuming it came through the proper channels (ie, the prophet, who we believe counsels with and speaks for God). I am just explaining why it is a non-issue for me.
Having said that, I do want to mention that in the couple of years since this has become somewhat of a hot topic on the Mormon scene, there have been a good handful of talks (aka:sermons or addresses) given by men and women during General Conference which seek to address the concerns of those struggling with a sense of inequality. To be honest, my first reaction, upon hearing these talks was to roll my eyes and bide my time until the next talk which would hopefully be more applicable to me. I thought to myself, “I don’t struggle with feelings of inequality, I understand my role as a woman in our Heavenly Father’s plan, I love it and am happy. Now can we get on to the good stuff?”
I changed my tune, though, and marveled at the love that our Heavenly Father has for ALL of His children. He takes the time to address our concerns, and does so through his chosen servants, who, because they love God, also care about His children. Why else would they have bothered to respond? They would have dismissed the struggles of the minority and stuck to the status quo. But they didn’t. I think that says a great deal about the Lord and his commitment to the individual.
A final point. One of the reasons some women are disenchanted with their role in the church (based on what I’ve read) is that the leadership is predominantly male. Besides the fact that I think all opportunities to serve in the church are just that, and that we shouldn’t aspire to certain positions (even for the most altruistic of reasons) as I discussed in a previous post, the fact is that church leadership in terms of decision-making on behalf of others resides mostly in male hands. I suppose, for some women, this might evoke feelings of powerlessness or that their interests can’t possibly be represented unless there are equal numbers of men and women. The question is, can a male represent my interests in a church setting as effectively as a woman?
Do I trust members of the priesthood to make decisions on my behalf or is my experience in the church compromised because my gender is underrepresented in leadership councils? The answer is yes. To the first question. I am sure there are plenty of women who’ve had run-ins with a handful of jerks in church leadership. I haven’t. As God’s chosen servants, I expect the best from the men(and women) who make decisions on my behalf. And for the most part, that’s what I’ve seen. I believe they do so in counsel with the Lord and consider what is best for the individual and congregation. Sure, they make mistakes. But, if I believe they seek to serve the way Jesus Christ would, then I trust that they can represent me effectively, male or female.
Isn’t Christ male? Isn’t He my advocate with the Father? Isn’t His infinite Atonement the prime example that one can selflessly act in another’s behalf without respect to gender, or race, or marital status, or any of the petty differences we find with each other? If I believe that He suffered my afflictions and understands me perfectly, then certainly I can leave open the possibility that those who love Him can have a measure of that same understanding when they preside over me in church callings. It’s not us vs. them. It is just us. ALL of us.