50th Anniversary of Women's Full Clergy Rights

On this day in 1956, the General Conference of The Methodist Church voted to affirm full clergy rights for women, ending a long history of baby steps and individual cases of recognizing women called to ministry with decisive action.

The United Methodist Church has declared 2006 a year to recognize this 50th anniversary, and so here are a few resources for those interested in joining the celebrations:

This month's issue of the Circuit Rider is full of articles on women in ministry.

The General Board of Discipleship has a listing of Worship Resources to celebrate the anniversary.

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry sponsors a website by, for, and about UM Clergywomen.

And, just to lighten things up a little, here are the
Top 10 Reasons Why Men Shouldn't Be Ordained:

10. A man's place is in the army.

9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.

8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.

7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.

5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.

4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.

1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.