by Kelly Pelton (written 09 Mar 2022)

This conviction did not develop overnight.
After decades of prayer and thinking, careful study,
thorough healing from second-guessing-fight-or-flight,
I have discerned by God's kind Spirit something muddy

in church culture that is worldly and pervasive:
subordination of the weaker by the stronger 
using scripture - handled wrongly, but persuasive -
to keep women out of power ever longer.

The whole structure of church power needs reform,
each voice valued, no restrictions based on gender.
Let our sharing in decisions be the norm, 
no controlling of another, trusting our Mender.