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Thursday, January 27, 2011

A Woman on the Road to Christian Unity

"Is the road to unity a short road or a long road?"

I was asked this question by an Italian Catholic priest I met at the reception following the service of Prayer for Christian Unity hosted at our "home" congregation here, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Tuesday was our evening to welcome diverse visitors of the many different churches represented in Jerusalem. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been observed around the world for 105 years, and in Jerusalem we have the opportunity to worship in the Latin and Greek Catholic, Greek, Armenian, Ethiopian, and Syrian Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. It's a unique chance to see these stunning places of worship and pilgrimage while praying in solidarity with the many kinds of Christians living in the Middle East. It was a thrill to see our Redeemer sanctuary filled with priests, bishops, cardinals, sisters, brothers, and believers of every rite. Of course, each service is unique. Ours included a joint choir of the English, German, and Swedish congregations and an inspiring sermon in English from Bishop Younan appreciating the gifts of the various churches represented in Jerusalem.

But the most unique aspect of our service is one that I've too often taken for granted as an ordinary fact of my daily life -- we ordain women. Of the twenty Protestant clergy leading worship at Redeemer (and the dozens more presiding at other hosting churches during the course of the week) I was one of three women pastors -- United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, and German Protestant -- leading prayers as well as singing in the choir.

At ecumenical services, I invariably encounter someone who has never met a woman pastor. Though I attended other services this week, I was not wearing my robe, so I wasn't identifiable as clergy until we hosted the service at Redeemer. I was excited about the service, but I couldn't help being a bit apprehensive about how I would be received by the priests and heads of other churches that have strong stances against ordaining women. But after announcing the passing of the peace and stepping down from the chancel to shake hands with our guests, my anxiety melted away as I was met with friendly smiles and greetings in many languages.

Following the service, we gathered for an Agape reception. Still wearing my robe and green stole, I was approached by several visitors of Catholic and Orthodox backgrounds. Two young Franciscan monks from Mexico asked where I was from, and were happy to meet another North American. "We're neighbors!" They took turns posing for photos with me.

And four tourists from Ireland and Italy had lots of questions about me -- What are you wearing? Does that mean you're a priest? What kind of church do you serve? Where are you from? One of them shared that he was a priest too, and we agreed that we had much in common (though my Italian and their English was equally pitiful!). We remarked that solidarity among Christians of diverse churches has become more important than ever in these days following incidents of deadly violence against Christian minorities in Iraq and Egypt. And then the priest asked me the question: So, do you think the road to Christian unity is a short road or a long road?

It may sound trite, but the answer came to me instantly in that moment. The distance may be a long way for governments, church leaders, Popes; but between you and me it doesn't have to be far at all. Energized by the excitement of the service and the buzz of the refectory where we stood sharing bread and wine and conversation, I think it was evident to us that a simple gesture of peace carries the power to bridge more than a thousand years of controversy. I have no illusion that the partiarchal churches of the world will in my lifetime be transformed -- but I do know that there's a priest in Italy who now has a positive memory of meeting an ordained woman, and that I have been blessed by the kindness of this new friend whose own church is torn over the issue of empowering women in leadership.

I leave you with a shameless plug for Leora Tanenbaum's brilliant book exploring these very issues. Taking Back God: American Women Rising Up for Religious Equality just hit the bookstores in a new paperback version, and features insights from interviews Leora conducted with over 100 women leaders of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communitites -- including yours truly! I can't wait to reread it in light of the experiences I have had this year living in East Jerusalem.

Tim and I can feel that you are praying for us -- for our safety and happiness in a conflicted land. Let us all remember to pray also for unity, religious freedom, and friendship among God's diverse and yet divided people.