To Pastors

Dear conservative evangelical pastor,

The reason I write is because I’ve listened to many of you in recent weeks, jumping online to decry the racism made (yet again) painfully visible through the George Floyd murder. Your response of heartbreak is appropriate. It is your responsibility as ministers of the Gospel to stand against all attitudes – and systems—that have led to such heinous acts as Floyd’s killing. Thank you for speaking up. But please, more is needed.

We are hopefully all listening more closely to our black brothers and sisters, and making ourselves students of those parts of our American history that we –by our privilege—could choose to overlook or avoid. As a white person, I listen in particular to what my black friends are asking for from the white community; specifically, to care, to listen, to educate ourselves, and to advocate. And as a woman in ministry, I recognize all of these as very familiar themes.

What I want to say to you is this: If you, dear pastor, have not done the work to figure out how to honor and respect godly women by granting them equality in the church, then how are women to trust your words about race? How is anyone to trust your words about race? With respect to race, the notion of “separate but equal” has been tragic for us as a country, and it is just as oxymoronic with respect to gender in the church.

Race conversations reveal our idols. They display our areas of ignorance, bias, and entitlement. But the topic of race doesn’t stand as a silo on its own. If our hermeneutic allows for the subjugation of anyone, then I would posit it needs to be deeply questioned. Human nature dictates that, if we settle for a biblical interpretation that allows for certain trees but ignores the forest, usually we’ve picked trees that benefit ourselves. For over a century (maybe more) people exercised hermeneutical gymnastics to “prove” that slavery (and later segregation) were acceptable to God. And that same brand of interpretation allows for the “less than” view of women in the church. What should sadden all of us is that this does not reflect the heart of God. How did we get here? More importantly, how do we course-correct?

We all need you to care, to listen, to educate yourselves, and to advocate for those with less privilege. You are important and your voice matters.

Lastly, dear pastor, allow me a parting blessing on you:

May you be filled with the love of God, such that considering your neighbor above yourself becomes reflexive and joy-filled.

May God grant you courage to stand for the convictions at the heart of the gospel, and give you humility to see your own unfair biases, and turn from them;

And may your courage, humility and love draw others to the level ground at the foot of the Cross.

Amen.