CLERGY LETTER FOR

SEPTEMBER 2010

The Rev'd Anthony Searle writes..

One never expects the Mothers’ Union

Recently I have somehow found myself reflecting on and studying the ministry of women throughout salvation history – all the time that God has spent restoring and re-restoring our relationship with the Trinity.  At Cambridge last year I elected to study Feminist Criticism, learning to read the Biblical texts through various shades of spectacles and recognise the glasses others use when they read the bible, notably the patriarchal and male-orientated lenses that have skewed some interpretations.  I also chose to explore the role of women in (ordained) ministry and the controversies that began in the mid-nineteenth century but still continue even today as the recent Synod testifies.  The Weescotts – Westcott’s Sunday school – took us at college through the ‘Killer Women’, Jael and the like, who did God’s work in sometimes gruesome fashion (kids seem to love a bit of gore).  And now I’m busy writing my first sermon for you... which will have been aired by the time of publishing... on the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I don’t know about you, but the bible I’ve discovered in recent years is far more thrilling and exciting than the one that was read to me in my childhood; it’s full of humanity, in all its guises, and there are some very unexpected heroes and villains – and some even more unexpected heroines and villainesses.  Take Achsah for example.  What do you mean you’ve never heard of her?!  Well, I’m not surprised; she is, literally, Othniel’s ‘bangle’ (Judges 1 & 3), a wife that he wears.  Yet it is only through her presence and actions that he gains his status, for only by marrying Achsah can Othniel be counted as a Judahite, and she is the owner of the valuable land and water.  Without Achsah, Othniel is a bland cardboard cut-out of a character: she gives him the colour and depth needed to make him the Lords’s judge.

There are numerous Biblical and historic women that provide Christianity with colour and depth, and I think that this is one of the reasons I am so disturbed about those who argue against their ministry in the church.  Our leadership is shallower and drabber for their absence.

From my youth I distinctly recall the Superman spin-off, ‘Wonder Woman’.  During my first few weeks here I had cause to reflect on some of the Wonder-Women who came to my rescue when I was taken suddenly ill prior to ordination: donning the red-and-blue to rush me to A&E; being at the end of the phone and holding the tiara just in case; pulling on the boots to check up on me; all this metaphorical, you’ll be pleased to note, for I would not wish her (male-designed?) costume on anyone.  And this has made me reflect further on the many other colourful and deep ‘wonder women’ who are getting on with the life of the church and serving their community.  Then I read the Mothers’ Union Prayer:

Loving Lord, We thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray for families around the world.

Bless the work of the Mothers’ Union as we seek to share your love through the encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life.

Empowered by your Spirit, may we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and service reach out as your hands across the world.

In Jesus’ name.  Amen

It seems to me that many could pray the above and are already involved in the love and service it describes.  And I am thankful that there are colourful and deep women involved throughout our church supporting her in God’s mission.

The Spanish may have had the Inquisition, but we have the Mother’s Union – and I know which I want on our side!  One never expects the Mothers’ Union, but they are always there.

Thankfully.                          Anthony