Tonight Joey sent me a link for a news story that I hadn't heard about. It seems that Harvard University has made the decision to close one of it's athletic facilities for several hours a week so that only females can work out during those times. As I read the short article I was intrigued and wanted to find more. After going to google, I simply searched for "Harvard women only gym hours." In all the articles I read, I couldn't find a listing for the actual hours.(I did finally find the hours listed in one of the blogs quoted below). What I did find was articles that had quotes from male students who were not happy. I found blogs written by people who had many negative things to say about Muslim women, and Islam in general. I immediately thought, if the men don't like it they should ask for male only hours.
I finally found the article that was in the Harvard Newspaper. The article shared about the implementation of the female only hours as well as some of the reasoning for it. While the article listed here is an opinion article, it did include many facts. However, the opinion writer did share many things that I feel were jaded. For instance, the writer feels that the new policy shows a readiness to put minority interests ahead of the entire community, even when it creates disparity in resources. The writer also shared the following closing paragraph: "That Harvard’s misguided accommodationist policy may inadvertently divide as opposed to unite the diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds present in Cambridge is regrettable. More dangerously, it bolsters support for the idea that religious fundamentalism (particularly Islam) is incompatible with Western society. Harvard would do well not to make itself a breeding ground for this sort of feeling."
I found other blogs while searching the topic. Some listed some of the most hurtful things I've read in a long time regarding Islam. Muslim's will always have a near and dear place in my heart and so to read this I was saddened. One of the blog's made light of Muslim tradition by mocking the use of insha allah's and salamu alaikums. This blogger said that the closing of the gym for six hours is a great inconvenience not only to men but to the 98% of women at the university who are not Muslim. I guess that the 98% just won't want to work out with the 2% Muslim women. This blog also included the supposed email that was sent out to Muslim students by one of the officers of their association. However, the blogger incorrectly referred to Ola as "he". Ola is in fact a she, and one of the supporters of the women's only hours. As I read the hours listed in the supposed email, they were not inappropriate. There were 6 hours listed spread out among 3 weekdays.
I'm saddened by this whole ordeal. I may be completely wrong and putting myself out on a line here but I think the big deal is not about the 6 hours but it's about the Muslim women. The Muslim women and the Islamic Student Association on campus were the ones asking for this policy change. They were not asking for it to be closed for 6 hours a week for just Muslim women. They were asking for a number of hours a week that would just be women present. Due to Sharia (Islamic) law, women should be covered in front of men unless they are family. While a Muslim women could work out in a gym with a man present, she would need to be fully covered. In the case where there are a number of covered women wanting to work out, I can see where it would make sense for them to ask for female only hours. I believe that these news articles and arguments among students would not have taken place if white women had asked for special hours for women only. America is scared of Muslims. Most Americans equate Muslims with terrorists. We have every right to be scared of terrorists and to hate them for what they have done...but we do not have every right to hate Muslims.
As a strong Christian, it make seem strange that I stand up for the rights of Muslims in America. As a person who has many Muslim friends, I have seen the way they are treated and I don't think it's fair. While life is not fair, I believe that we should treat each other with respect. I think it's important that we listen to each other and try to get along.
So really, if it's that big of a deal then have men only hours as well. But please, don't take away the women only hours just because the Muslims asked for it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
I don't need a map...
As you know, I went to the meeting of the New Baptist Covenant back at the end of January. Once we arrived in the city of Atlanta, we checked into our hotel, got ready and made our way to the CNN center. Of course when we got to the CNN Center there was no where to sit even remotely close to our group. So after finding a place to sit and eat we completed our meal and made our way over to the World Congress Center for the opening plenary session. After the session was over it was like a mad rush for the door. Our group was trying to successfully find our way back to the MARTA station.
Somehow I ended up leading the way (probably because I said I knew where I was going.) I thought I had seen a sign for MARTA so I led the group down a winding set of stairs. We kept going and going only to discover that we were in a parking deck not the Marta Station. I hadn't bothered to look at a map to see where the station was, I thought I could find it on my own. Finally we made our way back up out of the underground garage and over one block to the station. In the end we made it back to our final destination.
As I have had time to reflect on the New Baptist Covenant meeting I wonder if they approached this meeting with no map. Now obviously they had plan and lay out for the three days of meetings that occurred in January. So I wonder, do they have a map for the "what next" question? Do they know what will come of this gathering?
The meeting was great. I participated in wonderful worship and listened to great speakers. I attended two special interest sessions and was inspired by some of the things I heard. I went with a sense of excitement and encouragement. I left with more questions than answers.
Did the leaders and planners of the New Baptist Covenant go into this blindly hoping that the people would show them what was next? Or did they have a map for the future that just hasn't been revealed to us. For now, I don't know. What I hope to find out is how the people that participated can work together as Baptists to carry out the kinds of work that we discussed.
But really... I think we need a map.
Somehow I ended up leading the way (probably because I said I knew where I was going.) I thought I had seen a sign for MARTA so I led the group down a winding set of stairs. We kept going and going only to discover that we were in a parking deck not the Marta Station. I hadn't bothered to look at a map to see where the station was, I thought I could find it on my own. Finally we made our way back up out of the underground garage and over one block to the station. In the end we made it back to our final destination.
As I have had time to reflect on the New Baptist Covenant meeting I wonder if they approached this meeting with no map. Now obviously they had plan and lay out for the three days of meetings that occurred in January. So I wonder, do they have a map for the "what next" question? Do they know what will come of this gathering?
The meeting was great. I participated in wonderful worship and listened to great speakers. I attended two special interest sessions and was inspired by some of the things I heard. I went with a sense of excitement and encouragement. I left with more questions than answers.
Did the leaders and planners of the New Baptist Covenant go into this blindly hoping that the people would show them what was next? Or did they have a map for the future that just hasn't been revealed to us. For now, I don't know. What I hope to find out is how the people that participated can work together as Baptists to carry out the kinds of work that we discussed.
But really... I think we need a map.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Ordination
Yesterday afternoon, I was ordained. It was a brisk winter afternoon. The winds were high and there were wildfires across the state of North Carolina. There was one fire close to Neill's Creek Church and for parts of the day the roads around the church were closed. Some people had a hard time getting to the church.
The service began at 5p.m. on the dot. I didn't want the service to begin until all of my family and friends were present. Some of them were late due to the fires. My mother counted that at least 25 people traveled from Virginia to be at the service in support of me. I was surprised by the children's choir being present to sing two selections for me. They prepared this as a surprise and a gift. It touched my heart. The service continued on with prayer and singing. Two of my friends read scripture and one friend sang and played the piano. Dr. Brock delivered the charge to me. He used Romans 12 as his text. I felt as if he were speaking directly to me when he spoke. It touched my heart.
Dr. De Brand followed with the charge to the church. He said he wasn't sure what to charge them so he would start out with $99.95. There was a congregation full of laughter.
One of the most touching parts of the service for me was the laying of the hands. This is what Joey ( as well as others) refers to as empty hands on empty heads. As I have thought about this statement and talked with him about it it has made me think about what I am. Without God, I am nothing. With God, I can be everything he has called me and wants me to be. During the laying of the hands, I kept my head bowed and my eyes closed. I listened as folks came by and offered words of prayer and blessing. My dad went first; he cried and I cried. Following him was the rest of my family, then all ordained ministers and deacons, and then anyone in the church that wanted to come forward.
My friend Brandon was present for the service. He is 23 years old and is mentally handicapped. He is autistic, mentally retarded, and epileptic. I was unsure if he would even be able to make it because of his seizures. When his aunt and her husband came forward as ordained ministers, he ran down the aisle. They asked Brandon if he had anything to say to me. He started off with, "I hope you get better." I had a tear in my eye and looked up at him. He continued, "because you have a new bed." While that moment probably didn't make any sense to anyone else in the room, it touched my heart. Not so much the words that he spoke but his presence there and his will to try to say something to me.
After the service I was presented with my certificate of ordination and the Bible that everyone who laid hands signed. The chairman of the deacons presented these to me and said that they were honored to ordain me when I asked them to. I kind of cringed at that statement. The truth is that I did not ask. There were people in the church who affirmed my call and saw it in me. They approached the pastor at the time and he talked with me. After discussion with him, I went through the processes that the church had in place to be ordained. It was a big deal because I was the first female minister for them to ordain.
Ordination in fact was a big deal for me. I attended the ordination service of my former youth minister when I was 16 years old. When I participated in that service I knew that one day, I would be ordained. It was not something that I decided on my own, it was a sense that the Holy Spirit laid upon my heart. This was not a service in which I was made to be anything more than just me, the person God has called me to be. It was not a coronation or an inauguration. However, it was a service that recognized my calling and my abilities to serve. I have agreed to serve alongside fellow believers and be committed to all that God has called me to do, where ever God calls me to go.
The service began at 5p.m. on the dot. I didn't want the service to begin until all of my family and friends were present. Some of them were late due to the fires. My mother counted that at least 25 people traveled from Virginia to be at the service in support of me. I was surprised by the children's choir being present to sing two selections for me. They prepared this as a surprise and a gift. It touched my heart. The service continued on with prayer and singing. Two of my friends read scripture and one friend sang and played the piano. Dr. Brock delivered the charge to me. He used Romans 12 as his text. I felt as if he were speaking directly to me when he spoke. It touched my heart.
Dr. De Brand followed with the charge to the church. He said he wasn't sure what to charge them so he would start out with $99.95. There was a congregation full of laughter.
One of the most touching parts of the service for me was the laying of the hands. This is what Joey ( as well as others) refers to as empty hands on empty heads. As I have thought about this statement and talked with him about it it has made me think about what I am. Without God, I am nothing. With God, I can be everything he has called me and wants me to be. During the laying of the hands, I kept my head bowed and my eyes closed. I listened as folks came by and offered words of prayer and blessing. My dad went first; he cried and I cried. Following him was the rest of my family, then all ordained ministers and deacons, and then anyone in the church that wanted to come forward.
My friend Brandon was present for the service. He is 23 years old and is mentally handicapped. He is autistic, mentally retarded, and epileptic. I was unsure if he would even be able to make it because of his seizures. When his aunt and her husband came forward as ordained ministers, he ran down the aisle. They asked Brandon if he had anything to say to me. He started off with, "I hope you get better." I had a tear in my eye and looked up at him. He continued, "because you have a new bed." While that moment probably didn't make any sense to anyone else in the room, it touched my heart. Not so much the words that he spoke but his presence there and his will to try to say something to me.
After the service I was presented with my certificate of ordination and the Bible that everyone who laid hands signed. The chairman of the deacons presented these to me and said that they were honored to ordain me when I asked them to. I kind of cringed at that statement. The truth is that I did not ask. There were people in the church who affirmed my call and saw it in me. They approached the pastor at the time and he talked with me. After discussion with him, I went through the processes that the church had in place to be ordained. It was a big deal because I was the first female minister for them to ordain.
Ordination in fact was a big deal for me. I attended the ordination service of my former youth minister when I was 16 years old. When I participated in that service I knew that one day, I would be ordained. It was not something that I decided on my own, it was a sense that the Holy Spirit laid upon my heart. This was not a service in which I was made to be anything more than just me, the person God has called me to be. It was not a coronation or an inauguration. However, it was a service that recognized my calling and my abilities to serve. I have agreed to serve alongside fellow believers and be committed to all that God has called me to do, where ever God calls me to go.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Children of all ages....
Tonight I went to the circus in Raleigh. When I was growing up my dad would take me every year. I loved the circus; the clowns, animals, tricks, and fun. When I was a teenager and in college I often asked friends to go with me, but never went as much. I wanted to go last year but I was quite sick so I didn't get to go. When I found out the circus was coming to Raleigh I definitely wanted to go.
As we arrived to the RBC center there were PETA folks outside with signs about Animal rights and fair treatment of animals. Somehow, I don't remember that from my childhood.
We had seats on the third row of the section. The whole row in front of us was children. They were buying cotton candy, icees, hats, light up toys, and popcorn. I was quickly reminded of growing up. All the children around me would get that "junk" as my dad called it, but I didn't. I never thought it was fair. As I looked on tonight at all the money that was being spent on that "junk" I realized why my dad never bought it for me.
When I was growing up my favorite part of the circus was the elephants. As they entered the arena tonight I realized just how much I like the elephants. They are such giant creatures and they have been taught and trained to do such neat things. As I was watching the elephants my mind wandered to the signs I saw outside about animal rights. I know that Ringling Brothers treat their animals with respect. As we were leaving each person was given a brochure about animal treatment and the use of elephants.
No matter what people think or say... I love the circus and my favorite part will always be the elephants.
As we arrived to the RBC center there were PETA folks outside with signs about Animal rights and fair treatment of animals. Somehow, I don't remember that from my childhood.
We had seats on the third row of the section. The whole row in front of us was children. They were buying cotton candy, icees, hats, light up toys, and popcorn. I was quickly reminded of growing up. All the children around me would get that "junk" as my dad called it, but I didn't. I never thought it was fair. As I looked on tonight at all the money that was being spent on that "junk" I realized why my dad never bought it for me.
When I was growing up my favorite part of the circus was the elephants. As they entered the arena tonight I realized just how much I like the elephants. They are such giant creatures and they have been taught and trained to do such neat things. As I was watching the elephants my mind wandered to the signs I saw outside about animal rights. I know that Ringling Brothers treat their animals with respect. As we were leaving each person was given a brochure about animal treatment and the use of elephants.
No matter what people think or say... I love the circus and my favorite part will always be the elephants.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Rise up suckers...
On the second day of the New Baptist Covenant Celebration we had the joy of hearing Tony Campolo speak to us. He began with the challenge to preach Christ, but which one. We were reminded that the Bible tells us that others will try to trick us into believing they are prophets. The truth is that they are false prophets. We are called to preach the Jesus of the scriptures. Campolo said that the Jesus of the scripture challenges us to live radical lives and get our values straightened out.
I felt challenged by the story that he shared of the Lawyer versus the Doctor. Campolo tells of one former student that he had that was one of the brightest students he ever had. This student went on to law school and was in the top of his class. He could have opened his own practice but instead he moved to Southern Alabama and practices law representing inmates of the jails that would otherwise have no one to even care about them. He compared this lawyer to another student he had. This student went on a mission trip to South America with Campolo. He saw the lives of the poor people there and said that he was going to come back to that place and practice medicine. After medical school this doctor opened his own practice in New York and was in the practice of giving breast implants. When Campolo saw him years later he asked him about the commitment he had once made to going and helping those poor people. The doctor said, well I am helping people. Campolo said no son, you sold out. One went on to help people truly in need, the other completely forgot about his commitment.
Jesus called us to take up our cross and follow him. He wasn't kidding when he said this.
Campolo gave us a few challenges and shared stories of why he belonged to a black church, including the "Goodnight Clarence" story. The final challenge from Campolo came in his words:
"Rise up you suckers and go out and do the work of Jesus."
What a challenge we are called to. Let's rise up suckers.
I felt challenged by the story that he shared of the Lawyer versus the Doctor. Campolo tells of one former student that he had that was one of the brightest students he ever had. This student went on to law school and was in the top of his class. He could have opened his own practice but instead he moved to Southern Alabama and practices law representing inmates of the jails that would otherwise have no one to even care about them. He compared this lawyer to another student he had. This student went on a mission trip to South America with Campolo. He saw the lives of the poor people there and said that he was going to come back to that place and practice medicine. After medical school this doctor opened his own practice in New York and was in the practice of giving breast implants. When Campolo saw him years later he asked him about the commitment he had once made to going and helping those poor people. The doctor said, well I am helping people. Campolo said no son, you sold out. One went on to help people truly in need, the other completely forgot about his commitment.
Jesus called us to take up our cross and follow him. He wasn't kidding when he said this.
Campolo gave us a few challenges and shared stories of why he belonged to a black church, including the "Goodnight Clarence" story. The final challenge from Campolo came in his words:
"Rise up you suckers and go out and do the work of Jesus."
What a challenge we are called to. Let's rise up suckers.
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