Essay #1

When the church building campaign was completed, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. Fourteen men and one little girl wearing branded hard hats with golden shovels in hand stood behind a row of dirt to be tossed on the count of three. It was just a ten minute ceremony, but there was much excitement in the crowd. A photo was taken that would go in the church history books and everyone applauded.

Having been part of church building campaigns before this, the women’s minister was excited for the venture her current church was taking! After at least eighteen months of prayer and discussion, it was decided that some of the existing church facilities would be renovated and brand new additional space would be added. She loved to see a church change and grow; she knew what it could mean to an entire community, and she felt that she was equipped to make a contribution.

When the day came that the list of committees and teams was distributed, she realized she had not been included. Here was the biggest thing her church was doing and she was an outsider to the whole thing. Other staff members had been chosen to be on teams, as well as a host of church members - men and women both. For those who have knowledge about interior design, they were invited. For those who have finance and marketing expertise, they served on those respective committees. Some were on the prayer team.

But not her.

She felt conflicted. She realized that carrying the title of Minister to Women didn’t clearly link to facility expansion in people’s minds, but she knew that other leaders were aware of her prior experience. As she sought to maintain her enthusiasm for the bigger picture and honor what God was doing in the midst of his people, she still felt a deep sadness. She was a builder by nature. She loved “building” the local church. She loved “building” people; she loved building anything they needed to see their lives and God-given visions realized. So to come to this project and have her current passion and past experience ignored was more than disappointing.

While everyone else was applauding at the Groundbreaking Ceremony, she had tears running down her face. Whether out of genuine grief or inklings of bitterness, she just kept thinking about that little girl. Why did she get to be included? Yes, she is an adorable little girl, and even more so she represents the future of the church - and that is a good reason to include her. But the fact that she was the only female who was part of the entire celebration was telling. Clearly the leadership was comfortable with a little girl being part of the celebration, but they kept the women at bay. Sisters who had been significant contributors were not welcome to stand next to their brothers. It would have meant that they had a seat at the table of decision; it would mean that their spiritual voice of influence had spoken into the process in a formal way. And this church, like many others, believed this was inappropriate. Women are not to be part of or speak spiritually into any matters related to church vision or leadership. It has been said that a “feminine touch” is welcomed and needed, but that is the extent of a woman’s contribution.

Departing the scene that day, the woman’s despair was palpable: not for herself, but for the little girl. The church had sowed a seed in the heart of that child that they never intend to nurture. What if there comes a day she believes God is calling her to ministry? What if she discovers God as given her a leadership gift and a passionate heart for his Church?

What if…?

What if she still has a print of that old picture in her keepsake box…and remembering that day…she goes searching for her hard hat, her shovel, and her place in line, only to find that there is no place for her? That’s the moment she will realize the truth about her first groundbreaking ceremony for her first church: it was only a mere photo op. That was all.