In the first episode of Season 3, Cynthia and Susan discuss things they’d like the men at church to better understand about the experiences of Latter-day Saint women. How might our brothers—whether in leadership positions, or just in the pews—show increased empathy, amplify women’s voices, and encourage the creative thinking required to continue expanding our opportunities and influence at church?
Notes:
What the LDS Church Wants to Know from Young Adult Mormons, by Jana Riess
At Last She Said It’s Facebook post in response to Jana Riess’ article
Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women’s Local Impact, by Neylan McBaine
Kathryn Knight Sonntag
Responding to the comments about women being more spiritual than men. I agree that the comparison is useless, in the sense that men and women bring different things to the table and one approach is not necessarily better than the other. I believe some of the masculine and feminine approaches to spirituality are generalizable, others that are not. If you look at archetypal attributes, we see sets of strengths that center around different ways of knowing. Achievement, linear and intellectual approaches (think the Enlightenment) are largely associated with the masculine. The bodily, intuitive, sensorial expressions are largely associated with the feminine, and are largely mocked and ignored, and treated as inferior in patriarchy. I think this is what is meant in the idea that women are more spiritual…their affinity for community and integration connects and heals. They also bring more understanding of the importance of integrating ways of knowing. Bringing all these different ways of knowing to spirituality and discipleship would change the whole dynamic of family, community, and church.
I personally don’t think it was God’s (m+f) plan to call only men to positions of authority and priesthood power (priesthood power knows no gender) in the church. I believe that’s the way it has evolved (humans making choices) and God is not interfering in the agency of those in positions of privilege. I understand, from my studies, that Adam-and-Eve (before they were divided in the Garden of Eden) was the high priest. This is the true pattern of power and godliness. Until we can individually move toward the harmony of that union, we will see through a glass, darkly.
Scott Jones
I don’t know whether to post this reply… but as a male listener, I feel compelled to let you both know how much I agree with your concerns, questions, responses and opinions in this podcast. I definitely fit the privileged definition within the patriarchy. I would add one more layer to that patriarchy, and that is what I see as “grooming” leadership within the Church. Mission Assistant, Seventy, three Bishoprics, Stake Callings… I am an example, but I grew very uncomfortable with this as I got older. It was very apparent who was being groomed within the Stakes, and what the expectations were to continue on that path. The result is a very homogeneous patriarchy. I ran into problems voicing my dissent (Prop 8 for example) or insisting that women leaders choose their own counselors and teachers. I slammed that grooming door shut when I turned down being Bishop eight years ago because of my LGBTQ beliefs and my objections to the role of women in the Church and the Temple. I truly wish and pray for change… and women are an important part of that change and must have an equal voice. The Kingdom will benefit… My current relationship with the Church is based and limited by my feelings of Complicity (how could I be a Judge in Isreal when I feel certain Doctrine and Policies are in error. The Exclusion Policy cemented my feelings, and I was relieved I was not a Bishop at that time), Condoning (by attending the Temple when my LGBTQ siblings are not allowed to and with my heightened anxiety of how women were represented and treated), and Clarifying (by being vocal in my beliefs with leadership, quorum members and in Sunday School). I am a Mormon, and I always will be (love how Blaire Ostler described that). I am now very much ignored by leadership. I don’t believe they know how to handle someone with my leadership experience who opted out of the grooming.