{"id":143,"date":"2023-06-22T13:08:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T19:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/convergingpaths\/?p=143"},"modified":"2023-06-28T18:57:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T00:57:43","slug":"women-as-spiritual-leaders-embracing-equality-across-faith-traditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/convergingpaths\/2023\/06\/women-as-spiritual-leaders-embracing-equality-across-faith-traditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Women as Spiritual Leaders: Embracing Equality Across Faith Traditions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
Female Spiritual Leader Offers Blessing \u2013 Photo Source: Canva<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
I grew up attending the Catholic church with my family. When I was about eleven, I asked if I could serve as an altar boy. The priest sternly scolded me, referring to the story of Eve\u2019s fall and informing me I was only allowed to step on the altar platform if I was there cleaning, getting married, or if he called me up for something. I went home and told my mom that I wasn\u2019t Catholic anymore. That was a long time ago and the world has changed.\u00a0 I\u2019m now an ordained Unity minister and, today, little girls are allowed to serve on Catholic altars \u2013 but they still can\u2019t become priests.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the Southern Baptist Convention has recently expelled two churches for having female pastors. While I respect all faith traditions, I feel compelled to express my sorrow for women who hear the calling to serve but are forced to leave their chosen faith in order to answer their calling.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s explore different faith traditions and scriptural references that might be interpreted to support and celebrate the inclusion of women in positions of equality and leadership. With a little research, I easily found common threads from different faiths that recognize the wisdom, spirituality, and guiding capacity of women in inspiring communities.<\/p>\n