This weekend, I met Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes, the Dean of Yale Divinity School. Rev. Dr. Townes is a professor of Christian ethics, womanist ethics, critical social theory, cultural theory and studies, as well as on postmodernism and social postmodernism. While I do not agree with Rev. Dr. Townes on every issue, I take not her experience and knowledge lightly. Her words in the article reflect a leadership style modeled on the Christ and his ability and desire to liberate His people from bondage. They represent leadership modeled on the shepherd who helps others along, rather than dominates or lords over them with a heavy hand.
Rev. Dr. Townes tells us, "A womanist spirituality of leadership knows that genuine liberation is loud work ."
In Rev. Dr. Townes words, "we (leaders) are not called to be tourists." She states that a womanist spirituality of leadership means, "declaring that part of who we are is about seeking liberation, daring transformation, living justice." Inherently, Rev. Dr. Townes believes that leadership, above all, should be intentional, not a climb up a broken and wobbly ladder. Leaders are not just to rise up through the system or church hierarchy or parachurch ranks. They are not to, "rationalize climbing on each others' backs," in order to become leaders, but are instead to lift as they climb. It is also imperative that, while climbing, leaders ask "tough questions of ourselves and our churches and our academic institutions and our ministries about just how faithful are we being."
I agree with the concept of serving as leaders instead of striving to be leaders using people and discarding them when they no longer meet t needs to reach the top. I do understand the effort that Rev. Dr. Townes has given to women of all ethnicity and how she has been laying the ground work for all of us women who are walking with God as he leads.
ReplyDeleteI have some trouble with the “womanist spirituality” label though. I believe that letting people know that liberation needs to happen so that women can be free to lead as God calls them is important, what I fear is that the action of liberation gets entrenched with the label.
As a woman, I feel as we lead we should always lift others up. Sometimes God may use us, to get those who are resistant to him to move and do as he asks. Deborah was called of God because she was willing to do what the man was not willing to do and leading the people. We need to be careful of labels and how they get interpreted by others, we need to always put Christ’s likeness on whether we are male or female, slave or free.