Episcopal Press and News
Women Discuss Sexism
Episcopal News Service. May 25, 1989 [89104]
Lucy Germany, Editor of the Texas Episcopal Churchman
AUSTIN, Tex. (DPS, May 25) -- Sexism remains the "most profound barrier facing women today," according to Pam Chinnis, vice president of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, speaking at the annual gathering of the Southwestern Network for Women's Ministries (April 21-22) at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Chinnis, a national Church leader who came up through the ranks of Episcopal Churchwomen and altar guild, confronted the issue directly as she addressed the Texas gathering. Five dioceses of Province VII of the Episcopal Church were represented at the two-day meeting: Texas, Dallas, Fort Worth, West Texas, and Kansas. The network offers a lecture by a well-known Church leader and speaker once a year. Topics are chosen that are of interest to lay and ordained women.
Deeply committed to the struggle for recognition of women's ministries over the years, Chinnis says she is involved in the struggle for wholeness in the Church, which, she believes, is still blocked by subtle gradations of discrimination. "The Church must understand its own traditions," Chinnis said. "We abhor discrimination by race, yet we allow discrimination against women."
The place of women in society has been and is still determined, Chinnis said, by the patriarchal system. We have worship that expresses unity in terms of brothers and sons. Our tradition has given us roadblocks, but our hope for the future is powerful.
Chinnis traced the long history of discrimination against women in the Church ("we are a majority in the Church in every way but leadership") and the increasing pressures women are facing in society as wives, mothers, and breadwinners. "Three-fourths of women in the world are poor. We are experiencing the feminization of poverty or the pauperization of women; take your pick!"
As chair of the Committee for Full Participation of Women in the Church, a study group mandated by the 1985 General Convention, Chinnis has had the opportunity of observing, in minute detail, how women are faring in the dioceses and congregations of the Church. Some of the old fears still work against women in local leadership roles, Chinnis said. These fears include: "women will drive men from participation in the Church"; "when groups are seen as a 'women's activity' they have less power and are devalued"; "we are called to be faithful to tradition -- which excludes women from leadership"; and "the Church is just not ready yet."
Chinnis warned women against falling victim to "the queen bee syndrome" (I'm so happy to be at the top with all those men) or "the closet matriarch syndrome" (she pampers the priest "and keeps him to herself").
Although, Chinnis conceded, the position of women is generally better than it was 20 years ago, there is still much left to do. Fifty-five percent of Church membership is female, but women hold only 22 percent of diocesan staff jobs. "We have gone from being an 'auxiliary' to being invisible," she said.
Her committee, which surveyed the status of women in 12 dioceses including Texas, will continue to function under resolutions approved by the 1988 General Convention. "We have asked that the Church keep better statistics on the numbers of women in leadership by asking for this information... in annual parish reports. We are urging all women to be aware of and participate in the Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women, which began on Easter. We need to look at the place women occupy in the Bible and to tell their (and our) stories. We need to understand the importance of building support groups."
Chinnis advocated each of the approximately 40 women present making a commitment for personal growth that would include being an advocate for fair play and justice, learning to love more fully and to sacrifice, avoiding the queen bee and closet matriarch roles, being a mentor to someone, being gentle to oneself and to the idiosyncrasies of those around one, expanding horizons, broadening interests, and keeping a sense of humor.
"I have a vision," Chinnis said, "that I can help lead this Church to a new community between men and women."