It seems I caused a bit of a stir over at Baylor University on Monday with a chapel talk about my year of biblical womanhood. At the end of the program, I gave one of my first public readings from the new book, (due out in September), so if you’re interested, you can watch the entire chapel service here.
Later this week, I’ll be speaking at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena and Missiongathering Church and Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. (Check out the schedule here.)
So after chapel, I had the honor of hanging out with a group of students from Truett Seminary, and let me tell you, those female seminarians are such an inspiration and encouragement to me. I wish so badly I could introduce each of you to the young ladies pictured above.
They are smart. They are feisty. They are thoughtful and engaged.
And they are eager to use their gifts of leading and teaching to make a difference in the church.
More than 50 percent of all seminarians are women. And I can’t help but smile to myself when I think about the fact that over the next ten years, those who think that women should be banned from church leadership will have to contend with the talents and enthusiasm of these women of valor! That makes me incredibly hopeful for the future, becuase, trust me, their gifts speak for themselves.
During a Q&A time, one of these students—Aurelia Pratt, (second from the right)—confessed that sometimes all the anti-woman rhetoric in evangelicalism makes her angry.
“But you’ve encouraged us not to speak from anger,” she said. “How do you do that? Why aren’t you more angry?”
I wanted to shout, “YOU! YOU are why I’m not angry!”
Because of women like Aurelia, I believe deep in my bones that things are going to get better, that the future for women in the Church is bright.
So, if you are a female seminarian, please stay connected, and please let me know if there is any way I can use my little online platform to support you and to remind you that you are not alone.
Women like these truly inspire me, and I believe that, in the long run, they will do more to bring equality to the Church than any book or blog could ever begin to do. Let’s give them our love and support!