Gender Imbalance in the Pews

Recently, a thread I read regularly discussed the absence of men in our North American churches... I submitted the following:

Dear Friends ~

Thank you for bringing this crucial matter to our attention…

I believe that gender balance in our churches is important, therefore the creation of programs and support networks should be done with the needs of every group in mind. I am reluctant to argue against women’s ministries since these have been necessary in the past and continue to meet needs in the present. I also do not see value in the creation of a parallel men’s organization in the RCA at this time. There have to be more creative ways to address the ratio inequity and the involvement of men in the life of the church. After all, if one looks at the history of the RCA, a majority of efforts have been led by men with male “paradigms” as the foundation. I think it is fair to say that men have had, and continue to have, a strong influence in shaping the life of the church.

While at the “One Thing” conference in San Antonio, Texas in January I noted that a visible majority of participants were men. Not only were they men, but many were younger men who were passionate about the gospel and about growing the church/kingdom. I saw the event as a positive step toward getting people involved in Christ’s mission, many of them being men. Perhaps our emphasis should be on bringing a healthy gender balance to all facets of church life by making the focus the larger mission.

Recently I was encouraged to read the book “The American Church in Crisis” by David T. Olson (2008). In it Olson refers to David Murrow’s comments about the male – female imbalance of our churches and adds the following on his own:

“Research has also found that younger churches and growing churches have more balanced male – female ratios.” (Pg. 88)… “A study in 2000 from Switzerland provides insight on the importance of male attendance on the religious development of children in that country. ‘In summary, if a father does not go to church, no matter how regular the mother is in her religious practice, only one child in 50 becomes a regular church attendee. But if a father attends regularly, then regardless of the practice of the mother, at least one child in three will become a regular church attendee.’ The research seems to indicate that a balanced male-female ratio in a church correlates positively with growth.” (Pg. 89).

Let’s think in terms of balance and not get pre-occupied with who gets the “prodigal son (daughter)” treatment… Let’s be creative in challenging men to know and love Jesus!

Cor

The Shack - It makes you cry and think

I picked up the book at the Fuller Seminary Bookstore... Numerous people at Fuller were reading the book and they were bringing the author, William Young, to Fuller to speak.

I read the book in one sitting and was intrigued by it... Not only did I continually think to myself, "I am glad this is fiction," but, I also wondered if Young had not come up with a marvelous new way to explain the Trinity - a meaningful theological treatise.

The August 2008 issue of Christianity Today did a book review on the book and the author, Derek Keefe, recognizes that "The Shack's most prominent critics see troubling theological claims inherent in the story. Some argue, for example, that its Trinity erases important distinctions between the three persons, others that the book is anti-church." I personally appreciated how the Trinity was presented by blurring distinctives between the three persons of the Trinity - emphasizing three distinct persons, yet one.

I'd be interested in the perspectives of others...

Cor

Dr. Tim Brown teaching RCA Worship

It was at this year’s General Synod at Hope College in Holland, Michigan where I found myself at one point in time sitting beside the presidents of the RCA seminaries – we had a number of things to talk about, things such as theological education assessments, Certificates of Fitness for Ministry and how the Red Sox were doing. Most of the time it was Dr. Mast and Dr. Voskuil at the table, but, at one point Dr. Tim Brown, newly appointed president at WTS, also sat down and joined us. The conversation quickly turned to the MFCA summer intensive courses and who was teaching when.

It was during this particular conversation about the summer intensives that it dawned on me how privileged we were in the RCA to have these individuals as willing faculty members ready to take on extra assignments. In the midst of their busy schedules these men regularly make themselves available to teach for MFCA. Whereas they could perceive MFCA as an unnecessary evil or competition for their seminaries, they have become partners and with enthusiasm they teach in the MFCA program. Not only do they teach, but they are encourager's of the students and share their love for the RCA with them. They are also, without a doubt, amongst the best in their fields.

I believe that Tim Brown, Gregg Mast and Dennis Voskuil are men of God who are selflessly using their gifts to serve the RCA and the future leadership of the Church. The challenges of theological education continue to mount and I am grateful that these men have accepted the positions they have.

Brown and Mast also serve on MFCA certification committees. Recently, one of the committee members, Rev. Shirley Heeg, wrote a piece on her experience in her church’s newsletter about a recent meeting of one of the committees. It happened to focus on one of the presidents and it is included in our newsletter…

Cor

Reflecting…on something I observed at denominational meetings

As usual, he welcomes others with an easy smile as they enter the room. It’s one of the first things you notice about this professor, an intangible gift that he brings to the interview process at hand. He is the one among us who will summarize our conclusions later because we are all confident that he will deliver that information with both skill and kindness. Time and again, I have seen these ministry students relax in spite of their anxieties about the significance of this step in the process. In effect, he has opened the “second door” in the room, the door to trust.

I think how remarkable that is in itself and, yet, something even more rare is sure to follow. At previous meetings, I’ve discovered that behind this initial welcome is a genuine commitment to praise. I don’t know about you, but over the years I’ve learned to distrust a quick smile followed by words of flattery. Wisely, I think. There was a time when a traveling insurance agent flashed that kind of smile and used those sorts of words to press John and me to buy coverage we couldn’t afford. He ended up embezzling from our account and his own company. When we were younger, we both probably had “buyer’s regret” as often as we came down with the common cold. Consequently, we often remind each other not to fall for everything, not to trust without reservation. But, still, our hearts keep hoping.

We hope because there is always the possibility of coming across someone who genuinely welcomes and who genuinely praises – that is, someone who welcomes and praises without guile, without leverage, without ulterior motives, except to share the hope with us that all will be well here in this gathering. In this professor, I have met the “genuine article,” as they say. And it is good.

Given that I know I can be fooled, you may wonder how I recognize the difference. Let me tell you how I know he is genuine. This man measures up well against the biblical standard of praise. He frequently begins his prayers with a psalm. “Praise the Lord, How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise God!” (Ps. 147:1) And yet, where many of us might read or recite those same words, he seems to be able to absorb them differently. The goodness of God, God’s steadfast love, God’s creativity and joy and power and justice work like a caffeine-boost to energize his thoughts. They brighten his smile. They become the lenses through which he views the world and, blessedly, the lenses through which he sees me.

I’ve found that those who praise God like this are, at the same time, also more thankful for others. For example, the apostle Paul’s letters usually begin with a combination of praise for God accompanied by thankfulness for the persons he’s addressing. That’s because, at its core, praising is an expression of enjoyment, welling-up and spilling-over.

On the other hand, Paul’s letters do move on to include admonitions and call for corrections. In his writings, the psalmist does not gloss over strong, personal feelings and disappointments either. ‘Here it comes,’ we might think. ‘Praise is the bait and now we’re in for the hook.’ But not so. Surprisingly, reality checks are received differently when they follow genuine praise. This is what Paul calls “truth spoken in love.” When praise is offered humbly and without thought for personal gain, it allows us graceful space within which to look at ourselves without feeling threatened. It offers access to self-awareness, to any repentance that may be needed and to the possibility of change. Surely, praise is essential to the Christian community.

But, I suspect, most of us reserve our words of praise for coaching little-league or tee-ball, for describing our grand-children to our friends and maybe for anniversary cards as long as they don’t get too “mushy.” And, of course, for hymns during Sunday morning worship. We might unlatch that door-chain, don’t you think? Or, like we are doing in the church office these days, prop that door wide-open for all the fresh air we can get!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3)

“Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 147:20 and elsewhere and everywhere…)

Pastor Shirley