Queen-486x60



another barrier comes down

Currently playing in iTunes: Life Less Ordinary from Indian Summer, by Carbon Leaf

This is one of those good news/bad news things.

The bad news is that my family's church is going to have to find a new pastor. The current pastor, Sharon Watkins, has been there for eight years and is leaving.

The good news is the reason for her move. Sharon was installed this past week as the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is the first woman ever to head a major Protestant denomination.

This has been coming since April, when Sharon was nominated. Last week she was unanimously elected, and today, July 31, is her last day as pastor of Disciples Christian Church in Bartlesville, a church that sponsors my son's Boy Scout troop and is about a mile from my house. Sharon and her husband are setting up two households, one in Indiana and the permanent home here. At least that's the plan as I understand it -- her term is six years, and I have a feeling the separations are going to be too much after a time, and they may move back to Indiana for good (Sharon's family is from Indiana and she grew up there).

It's a tremendous occasion for this small church. Everyone is thrilled for Sharon, but very sad at the same time to lose her. There will be a lot of tears today.

When I was my daughter's age, the election of a woman as the head of a Protestant church was a dream, and John and I have impressed upon her the importance of Sharon's election. Hopefully more denominations will follow the wonderful example of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and more women will be nominated and elected as national leaders.

Permalink # - Posted to Imitation of Life - Discuss - -



[ Print This Page ]