Today Robyn and I spent some time in Fossil, OR, where Chris works at “RJs Steaks, Spirits & Sports”. We went looking for…fossils! And found some fossilised plants and some sort of primitive sea creature.
Our fossil digging was followed by digging into lunch at RJ’s and visiting with Chris, who was bartending and waiting on tables.
Our errands in Fossil took us past the Fossil Museum. It was affirming to see fossils on display that looked exactly like the ones we had found!
But we had to be back in Spray by 5pm for my scheduled Skype conversation with Rev. David Moffat, president of the New Church in Australia (NCIA) and chair of the Council of Ministers (COM). He wanted updates on my planned ministry visits in Auckland, Sydney and Adelaide, and had some wisdom to share about my plans. He was surprised to hear that, despite an invitation from the minister in Hurstville to lead a lay service while he is away, the General Church policy is so conservative that women are not allowed to be lay leaders. I guess I’m used to it!
The plan in Hurstville now is for a male lay leader to open the service, for me to lead a discussion about correspondences in nature, and the male leader to close the service with prayer. After that the congregation is going for a picnic and swimming at a local riverside park, hence the focus on nature. I’m happy that the service is effectively going to be co-lead by a man and a woman, even though I still marvel at the persistence of traditional thinking about exclusively male leadership in congregations.
Tomorrow I fly out of here, headed for Auckland, NZ via a brief stop in Honolulu, Hawaii.
I guess Co-lead is better than nothing….safe travels.
yes, view yourself as modeling inclusive pastorship!
your perseverance is inspirational!