Sermon Notes Sunday June 18, 2006

Text: Luke 7:36 - 8:3

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

2006 is the fiftieth anniversary of the United Methodist Church recognizing the ordination rights for women. Preaching for us on the first day was Rev. Marion Kline who was one of the original women to be ordained as an elder in the Methodist Church. She shared with us the difficulty of securing an appointment in that time. This year she was received as a clergy member of the PNW.

Throughout the conference each of our communion services were presided over by women who are elders in our conference. The Women in Ministry gave their annual “Ruth Award” to all the women of the United Methodist Women who have for many years worked as an example of ministry for the UMC.

Women play a vital role in the life of the church. And for Father’s Day this year I think it is a fine opportunity for us to recognize that there is a history within the church of men taking the spotlight from women, while women get on with the work of doing ministry.

One of the exciting ideas to come from “The DaVinci Code” is the idea that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and that Mary fled to France with the child of Jesus and Mary.

The case for Marriage: Rabbi’s would normally be married. The Gospel of Phillip refers to Mary as “The Companion” of Jesus.
The case against: Jesus, while a rabbi, may have been one who like those in the Essene community believed in celibacy. The Gospel of Philip is not a reliable document.

The DaVinci Code also makes a strong argument that the early church worked to make women second class citizens within Christianity. The primary example given is the church tradition that was created when Pope Gregory in 591 called Mary Magdalene a prostitute. There is no scriptural reference to that effect yet it is a tradition that is believed by many people today. The Pope was clearly trying to discredit Mary Magdalene. It wasn’t until 1969 that the Roman Catholic Church finally acknowledged that there is no scriptural evidence that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute.

It is evident that by the third century the church had become a patriarchal society. One could argue that it started that way from the first 12 male disciples. Yet each of the four canonical Gospels record that WOMEN were the first to go to the tomb and experience the resurrected Christ. While the disciples may not have understood fully they kept the record of the high place Jesus gave women in the kingdom of God.

So on Fathers Day I believe one way we can empower Fathers is to recognize the women who have taught us about the faith. We need more “Fathers of faith.” It is my hope that the United Methodist Men will be as equally strong in mission as the United Methodist Women have been for generations. It is my hope that we will have as many men willing to teach Sunday School as we have had women. Just as it is my hope that someday there will be as many women in ordained ministry as there are men.

Fathers are not empowered when women are made second class. Men in ministry are not empowered when obstacles are created for women in ministry. Men and Fathers are empowered when men and women recognize the unique gifts God gives all of us for ministry.