DISCIPLESHIP FOR A PRIESTLY PEOPLE IN A SYNODAL CHURCH TODAY

DISCIPLESHIP FOR A PRIESTLY PEOPLE

      IN A SYNODAL CHURCH TODAY 

      joan chittister. 

THREE STORIES MAY BEST EXPLAIN THIS REFLECTION:

FIRST, 

THERE'S A STORY GOING AROUND THAT'S GOT ME A BIT WORRIED. They say that 

GOD THE FATHER IS PLANNING AN IMPORTANT 

MEETING AND WANTS TO HAVE IT IN AN IMPORTANT PLACE...SO HE CALLS JESUS AND HOLY SPIRIT TOGETHER AND SAYS "I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING TO JERUSALEM FOR THE SYNOD:

 YOU KNOW. THEY'RE THE ORIGINS OF EVERYTHING;

THE VERY HISTORY ITSELF. 

THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE DON'T YOU THINK?

JESUS BANGS THE GAVEL: "SURELY YOU'RE NOT SERIOUS,?! THE SON SAYS TO THE FATHER. "YOU CAN GO IF YOU WANT TO. BUT I'M NOT GOING." HE SAYS. "THEY DIDN'T WANT ME THERE THE FIRST TIME! 

THEY PAUSED TO THINK A BIT...

FINALLY, GOD THE FATHER SIGHED..... "OH, ALL RIGHT," 

HE SAYS, " I GUESS WE'LL JUST HAVE TO GO TO ROME, AS USUAL..."

 "ROME?" THE HOLY SPIRIT SQUEALED," ROME?!" 

THAT'S TERRIFIC!" SHE SAYS, 

" I'VE BEEN DYING TO GO TO ROME.

 I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE FOR YEARS." 

                *********************

BUT THERE ARE OTHER TWO OTHER STORIES 

THAT MAY BETTER EXPLAIN 

REFLECTIONS ON DISCIPLESHIP

IN THIS INTERIM AGE:

SO LET'S BEGIN...

THE FIRST INSIGHT IS FROM THE ZEN POET BASHO

WHO WROTE:

"I DO NOT SEEK TO FOLLOW 

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THOSE OF OLD. 

I SEEK THE THINGS THEY SOUGHT."

THE SECOND INSIGHT 

IS FROM ANCIENT MONASTIC LITERATURE:

ONCE UPON A TIME, THE STORY GOES,

A TEACHER TRAVELED TO A FAR AWAY MONASTERY 

WHERE AN OLD MONASTIC 

HAD A REPUTATION FOR ASKING 

VERY PIERCING SPIRITUAL QUESTIONS.

“HOLY ONE,” THE TEACHER SAID.

”GIVE ME A QUESTION 

THAT WILL RENEW MY TIRED SOUL.”

“AH, YES,” THE OLD MONASTIC SAID,

WELL, IN THAT CASE YOUR QUESTION IS 

‘WHAT DO THEY NEED?’”

THE TEACHER WENT AWAY AND WRESTLED 

WITH THAT QUESTION FOR DAYS 

BUT THEN, DEPRESSED, AND DISAPPOINTED

HE WENT BACK TO THE OLD MONASTIC IN DISGUST.

“HOLY ONE,” THE TEACHER SAID, 

“I CAME HERE BECAUSE I’M TIRED 

AND DEPRESSED AND DRY INSIDE.

I DIDN’T COME HERE 

TO TALK ABOUT MY MINISTRY.

I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT 

MY SPIRITUAL LIFE.

PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER QUESTION:

“AH, WELL, THE OLD MONASTIC SAID,

“IN THAT CASE, THE RIGHT QUESTION 

FOR YOU IS NOT ‘WHAT DO THEY NEED?” 

THE RIGHT QUESTION FOR YOU IS

‘WHAT DO THEY REALLY NEED?”

THAT QUESTION HAUNTS ME:

WHAT DO THE PEOPLE REALLY NEED

IN A PERIOD 

WHEN THE SACRAMENTS ARE BEING LOST

IN A SACRAMENTAL CHURCH

BUT ALL APPROACHES TO THE QUESTION--

EVEN THE ADMISSION THAT THERE IS

AN ADMISSIBLE QUESTION

ABOUT THE NATURE AND MEANING

OF DISCIPLESHIP ARE BEING, SUPPRESSED--

AND BY SOME --EVEN DENIED!.

“WHAT DO THEY REALLY NEED?

HAS BECOME A HAUNTING REFRAIN IN ME

FOR MORE REASONS THAN THE PHILOSOPHICAL.

UP AT THE TOP OF A MEXICAN MOUNTAIN,

UP BEYOND MILES OF RUTTED ROAD

AND WET, FLOWING CLAY,

I VISITED AN INDIGENOUS VILLAGE

THAT WAS VISITED BY A PRIEST

ONLY ONCE EVERY YEAR......

BUT THAT WAS YEARS AGO.

NOW THE MOUNTAIN IS STILL JUST AS HIGH

BUT THE PRIEST

IS at least thirty YEARS OLDER.

 THEN TEN YEARS AGO

I SPOKE IN AN AMERICAN PARISH

OF 6000 FAMILIES--

THAT WAS BEING SERVED BY THREE PRIESTS.

BUT, THE PRIESTS TOLD ME,

THEY HAD NO PRIEST SHORTAGE IN THAT DIOCESE

WHY?!

BECAUSE THEIR BISHOP HAD JUST REDEFINED

THE RATIO OF PRIESTS TO PEOPLE

FROM ONE PRIEST TO EVERY 250 FAMILIES

TO ONE PRIEST TO EVERY 2000 FAMILIES.

 IN DIOCESE AFTER DIOCESE LIKE THAT,

PARISHES ARE BEING MERGED,

CLOSED, AND TURNED INTO 

SACRAMENTAL WAY STATIONS

SERVED BY RETIRED PRIESTS

OR MARRIED MALE DEACONS, --

BOTH OF WHICH ARE DESIGNED 

SIMPLY TO KEEP THE CHURCH MALE, 

WHETHER IT IS MINISTERING OR NOT.

THE NUMBER OF PRIESTS IS DECLINING.

THE NUMBER OF CATHOLICS IS INCREASING.

WHILE THE NUMBER OF CERTIFIED LAY MINISTERS

IS SHRINKING BECAUSE THEIR SERVICES

ARE BEING REJECTED OR REDUNDANT EVERYWHERE.

AT THE SAME TIME, OVER OUR BRIDGE INTO CANADA,

THERE’S A FIVE YEAR OLD GIRL

WHO, NOTICING THAT ALL THE PRIESTS

IN HER PARISH WERE MEN,

ASKED HER PARENTS ONE SUNDAY MORNING

WHERE THE WOMEN PRIESTS WERE.

THE MOTHER WAS CLEAR:

IN OUR CHURCH, DARLING,”

“WE DON’T HAVE GIRL-PRIESTS

THE LITTLE GIRL FROWNED, 

THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE 

AND THEN ANSWERED BACK 

JUST AS CLEARLY--

“THEN WHY DO WE GO THERE?!”

CLEARLY, THE CHURCH IS CHANGING

FROM THE GROUND UP...

EVEN WHILE IT REASSERTS

ITS CHANGELESSNESS. 

IT IS A FAR CRY FROM THE DYNAMISM

OF THE EARLY CHURCH IN WHICH 

PRISCA, AND LYDIA, THECLA, AND PHOEBE--

BECAME DISCIPLES OF PAUL AND

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “CONSTRAINED HIM!” TO STAY THERE AND OPEN MORE NEW HOUSE CHURCHES

WITH NO APOLOGY, NO ARGUMENT,

NO TRICKY THEOLOGICAL SHELL GAMES

ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE 

MINISTERING‘ IN PERSONA CHRISTI’

OR ‘IN NOMINE CHRISTI.’ 

 WHAT DO THEY REALLY NEED?

THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER ARE CLEAR:

THEY NEED WHAT THEY NEEDED 

WHEN THE TEMPLE BECAME LESS IMPORTANT 

THAN THE TORAH.

THEY NEED WHAT THEY NEEDED

WHEN THE FAITH WAS MORE A HEART-BEAT

THAN AN INSTITUTION.

THEY NEED WHAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS NEEDED:

THEY--NEED-- COMMUNITY,

NOT PATRIARCHAL CLERICALISM.

THEY NEED DISCIPLESHIP, 

SO WHAT IS TO BE DONE

AT A TIME LIKE THIS

WHEN WHAT IS BEING SOUGHT,

BUT WHAT IS CLEARLY POSSIBLE

ARE BEING MADE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS?

THE QUESTIONS MAY SOUND NEW

BUT THE ANSWER IS AN OLD ONE.

AN ANCIENT ONE.

A TRUE ONE.

THE ANSWER IS DISCIPLESHIP.

BUT IF WE SEEK THE ORDINATION

THAT JESUS IS SEEKING TO GIVE US--

TO MARY MAGDALENE TO PREACH,

TO THE SAMARITAN WOMAN TO TEACH,

TO COUPLES SENT ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS

WE, TOO, MUST PURSUE THREE THINGS:

FIRST, WE MUST UNDERSTAND

THE NATURE OF DISCIPLESHIP,

SECOND, WE MUST RECOGNIZE 

THE SIGNS OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP,

AND THIRD WE MUST BE WILLING

TO GIVE OURSELVES OVER

TO WHAT DISCIPLESHIP DEMANDS NOW.

*********

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP IS--BY NATURE-

A VERY DANGEROUS THING. 

IT HAS PUT EVERY PERSON 

WHO EVER ACCEPTED IT 

AT RISK. 

IT MADE EVERY FOLLOWER 

WHO EVER TOOK IT SERIOUSLY 

ON ALERT FOR REJECTION--, 

WHY?

BECAUSE DISCIPLESHIP CASTS 

EVERY FRAGILE NEW CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY 

IN TENSION WITH THE TIMES 

IN WHICH IT GROWS.

IN THE EARLY CHURCH

TO BE A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY 

MEANT TO DEFY ROMAN IMPERIALISM, 

TO STRETCH JUDAISM, 

TO COUNTER PAGAN VALUES 

WITH CHRISTIAN ONES. 

IT DEMANDED VERY CONCRETE PRESENCE; 

IT TOOK GREAT COURAGE, 

UNENDING FORTITUDE 

AND VERY CLEAR PUBLIC POSTURE. 

REAL DISCIPLESHIP MEANT

THE REJECTION OF REAL THINGS

AWA THE RISK OF THE NEW:

 IT MEANT THE REJECTION

OF EMPEROR WORSHIP, 

THE FORESWEARING 

OF ANIMAL SACRIFICE, 

THE INCLUSION OF GENTILES,

THE ELIMINATION OF DIETARY LAWS,

THE DISAVOWAL OF CIRCUMCISION,--

THE ACCEPTANCE OF WOMEN!

AND THE SUPPLANTING OF LAW 

WITH LOVE,

OF NATIONALISM WITH UNIVERSALISM--

OF A CHOSEN PEOPLE 

WITH A GLOBAL PEOPLE.

THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST 

WAS NOT, IOW, AN EXCURSION 

INTO PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT. 

IT WAS REAL AND IMMEDIATE AND EFFECTIVE.

IT WAS, IN OTHER WORDS, NOT EASY THEN

AND IT WILL NOT BE EASY NOW. 

TO FOLLOW JESUS, HERE, NOW, AND EVERYWHERE, 

IS TO FOLLOW THE ONE 

WHO TURNS THE WORLD 

UPSIDE DOWN--,

EVEN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD.

REAL DISCIPLESHIP IS A CALL TO RESPOND,

TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY, 

A REAL COMMUNITY....

PEOPLE WITH HIGH NEED 

FOR APPROVAL, FOR SOCIAL STATUS, 

AND PUBLIC RESPECTABILITY 

NEED/ NOT/ APPLY. 

"FOLLOWING JESUS" LEADS ALWAYS --

TO PLACES WHERE ‘NICE’ PEOPLE 

DO NOT GO, 

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

IS THE COMMITMENT TO LIVE A GOSPEL LIFE,

A MARGINAL LIFE.

IN THIS PLACE, AT THIS TIME--

WHATEVER THE COST. 

TO FOLLOW CHRIST 

IS TO SET ABOUT FASHIONING A WORLD 

WHERE THE STANDARDS 

INTO WHICH WE HAVE BEEN FORMED 

BECOME, TOO OFTEN, THE VERY STANDARDS, 

WE MUST ULTIMATELY FORESWEAR

FLAG AND FATHERLAND, FOR INSTANCE,

PROFIT AND POWER, 

CHAUVINISM AND SEXISM 

CLERICALISM AND AUTHORITARIANISM

justified IN THE NAME OF CHRIST 

ARE NOT CHRISTIAN VIRTUES 

WHATEVER THE SYSTEM --CHURCH OR STATE--

THAT LOOKS TO THEM FOR LEGITIMACY. 

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP IS ABOUT 

LIVING IN THIS WORLD 

THE WAY THAT CHRIST LIVED IN HIS--

TOUCHING LEPERS,

RAISING DONKEYS FROM DITCHES

ON SABBATH DAYS,

QUESTIONING THE UNQUESTIONABLE!

DISCIPLESHIP IMPLIES A COMMITMENT 

TO LEAVE NETS AND HOMES HERE,

STATUS AND SECURITIES HERE,

TO BE NOW-- IN OUR OWN WORLD-- 

WHAT CHRIST WAS FOR HIS:

LIKE JESUS, THE TRUE DISCIPLE HEARS THE POOR, 

AND MINISTERS TO ANYONE,--

TO EVERYONE--

UNHEARD AND ABANDONED, 

LEFT TO MAKE THEIR WAY ALONE

UNNOTICED AND UNWANTED 

BY A MAJORITY WHITE PATRIARCHAL WORLD

THAT ABUSES POWER TO GARNER PROFITS--

BOTH IMMORAL AND UNCONSCIONABLE. 

WHATEVER THE BURDEN FOR EVERYONE ELSE. 

THE PRICE IS A HIGH ONE. 

DISCIPLESHIP COST MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

HIS LIFE FOR FREEING OTHERS,

COST BP. ROMERO HIS LIFE 

FOR PROTECTING THE POOR, 

AND COST THE MONKS OF TIBHIRINE THEIR LIVES 

FOR REFUSING TO MAKE ENEMIES 

THEIR ENEMIES...

INDEED, THE NATURE OF DISCIPLESHIP

IS PASSION AND RISK.

BUT TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE

OF DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE MUST BE MARKED BY ITS MARK.

TO THE TRUE DISCIPLE 

THE PROBLEM IS CLEAR: 

THE CHURCH MUST NOT ONLY 

PREACH THE GOSPEL, 

IT MUST NOT OBSTRUCT IT. 

IT MUST BE WHAT IT SAYS.

IT MUST DEMONSTRATE WHAT IT TEACHES.

IT MUST, THEN, BE JUDGED BY ITS OWN STANDARDS.

THE CHURCH THAT SILENTLY COLLUDES

WITH THE LOWER WAGES OF WOMEN WORKERS,

AND THE HOMELESSNESS OF THE ABANDONED , 

OR THE ECONOMIC ENSLAVEMENT OF IMMIGRANTS

IN ORDER TO GARNER SPECIAL FAVOR WITH THE STATE

BECOMES JUST ONE MORE INSTRUMENT OF THE STATE.

THE CHURCH THAT BLESSES OPPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS, BUT FAILS TO SPEAK OUT

FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN LEAN-TO BARRIOS

IN ORDER TO GAIN PRIVILEGES FOR THE CHURCH

MAKES ITSELF AN OPPRESSOR AS WELL.

IN THE SAME VEIN,

RELIGION THAT PREACHES THE EQUALITY OF WOMEN

BUT DOES NOTHING TO DEMONSTRATE IT

WITHIN ITS OWN STRUCTURES,

PROCLAIMS A THEOLOGY OF EQUALITY 

THAT IS BIBLICAL BUT CONSTRUCTS FOR THE CHURCH

AN ECCLESIOLOGY OF SUPERIORITY

THAT IS OUT OF SYNC WITH ITS BEST SELF

AND SO ITSELF KEEPS DISCIPLESHIP IN BONDAGE. 

AROUND THE GLOBE.

REPEATING THE THEOLOGICAL ERRORS

THAT UNDERLAY CENTURIES 

OF CHURCH-SANCTIONED INVISIBILITY 

OF WOMEN EVERYWHERE

AND THE PAUPERIZATION OF WOMEN IN THE NAME OF 

KEEPING MOTHERHOOD IN THRALL 

AROUND THE WORLD YET

TO MALE OWNERSHIP AND INHUMAN CONTROL.

FLIES IN THE FACE OF THE JESUS 

WHO OVERTURNED TABLES IN THE TEMPLE, 

CONTENDED WITH PILATE IN THE PALACE, 

CHASTISED PETER TO PUT AWAY HIS SWORD 

AND, DESPITE THE TEACHING OF THE DAY, 

CURED THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD,

AND REFUSED TO ALLOW HIS OWN APOSTLES

TO SILENCE THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

ON WHOSE ACCOUNT, SCRIPTURE TELLS US,

“THOUSANDS BELIEVED THAT DAY.”.

INDEED, THE LIFE OF JESUS SHOWS US,

THAT THE INVISIBILITY OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH

THREATENS THE VERY NATURE

OF THE CHURCH. 

REAL DISCIPLESHIP REFUSES TO LEGITIMATE 

THE SIN OF SEXISM. 

IT MUST NOT BE BASED ON CULTURAL NORMS

THAT MAKE MALENESS SUPREME;

AND IT IS CERTAINLY MUST NOT BE BASED 

ON THE LIFE OF JESUS!

ON THE CONTRARY. 

EQUALITY PITS THE HEART OF CHRIST 

AGAINST THE HEARTLESSNESS 

OF AN EMINENTLY MALE ORIENTED,

MALE DEFINED,

MALE CONTROLLED, WORLD. 

WHERE WOMEN FOLLOWED JESUS 

IN EVERY CROWD. 

INEQUALITY IS SIMPLY NOT THE MODEL

SCRIPTURE GIVES US OF TRUE DISCIPLESHIP:

THE TRUE DISCIPLE INSISTS--

AS THE FEARLESS BIBLICAL CHAMPIONS

 JUDITH AND THE LIBERATOR ESTHER

DID WHAT HERETOFORE 

HAD BEEN ACCEPTABLE ONLY FOR MEN--

WHY?! BECAUSE MEN SAID ONLY MEN COULD DO IT--

AND SO THEMSELVES BECAME 

HOLY WOMEN WARRIORS 

WHO ANNOUNCED THE EQUALITY OF GOD. 

ESTHER AND JUDITH--

THE SAVIORS OF THEIR PEOPLE

AS SURE AS MOSES WAS OF HIS,

GAVE THE PEOPLE WHAT

THE MEN WOULD NOT GIVE--

FREEDOM AND POWER 

AND THE FULLNESS OF HUMANITY TO ALL.

BUT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH SAID 

NOTHING ABOUT THAT KIND OF DISCIPLESHIP

IN WOMEN

FOR ALMOST 2000 YEARS....

YOU SEE?

JESUS' "COME,FOLLOW ME" 

BECOMES ANTHEM 

OF PUBLIC EQUALITY

FROM WHICH NO ONE--NO ONE--

IS EXCLUDED

AND FOR WHICH NO RISK IS TOO GREAT.

DISCIPLESHIP IS NOT 

AN INTELLECTUAL EXERCISE OF ASSENT 

TO A BODY OF DOCTRINE. 

DISCIPLESHIP IS AN ATTITUDE OF MIND, 

IT IS A QUALITY OF SOUL, -- MALE AND FEMALE...

WHICH CHANGES A CHURCH INTO THE CHURCH

THAT IS MORE COMMUNAL, MORE GLOBAL, MORE EQUAL

THAN IT IS ECCLESIASTICAL, CLERICAL, OR MALE. 

DISCIPLESHIP CHANGES THINGS.

IT DOES NOT IGNORE THINGS AS THEY ARE-- 

SOME OF US FULLY HUMAN; SOME OF US NOT.

IT REFUSES ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING 

THAT DEFIES THE WILL OF GOD FOR HUMANITY...

NO MATTER HOW COMMON,

NO MATTER HOW HISTORICALLY PATRIARCHAL,

NO MATTER HOW OFTEN IT HAS BEEN CALLED

“THE WILL OF GOD” BY THOSE

WHO PURPORT TO DETERMINE WHAT THAT IS 

OR, MORE LIKELY, INTEND TO IMPOSE 

WHAT THEY SAY IT IS.

THE DISCIPLE TAKES AIM AT INSTITUTIONS 

THAT CALL THEMSELVES “FREEING”

BUT WHICH KEEP HALF THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD --

WOMEN--

IN SPIRITUAL BONDAGE, 

TRUE DISCIPLESHIP TAKES THE SIDE 

ALWAYS,-- ALWAYS--

OF THE POOR, THE MINORITY, THE OUTCAST, 

THE OTHER,

NOT BECAUSE THE POOR AND POWERLESS 

ARE MORE VIRTUOUS 

THAN THE RICH AND POWERFUL

BUT BECAUSE THE GOD OF LOVE

WILLS FOR THE NEEDY 

WHAT THE UNCARING, IGNORES FOR THEM.

DISCIPLESHIP CUTS A RECKLESS PATH 

THROUGH CORPORATION TYPES LIKE HEROD, 

THROUGH INSTITUTION TYPES LIKE THE PHARISEES, 

THROUGH SYSTEM TYPES 

LIKE THE MONEY-CHANGERS 

AND THROUGH CHAUVINIST TYPES 

WHO SEE THEMSELVES AS APOSTLES

WHO EVEN NOW, EVEN TODAY, EVEN HERE!

IN THIS PLACE, AT THIS TIME

WANT TO SEND THE WOMEN AWAY. 

DISCIPLESHIP STANDS BARE NAKED 

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD'S MARKETPLACE 

AND, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, 

CRIES ALOUD ALL THE CRIES 

OF THE WORLD 

UNTIL SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE 

HEARS AND RESPONDS 

TO THE POOREST OF THE POOR, 

THE LOWEST OF THE LOW, 

THE MOST OUTCAST OF THE REJECTED. 

ANYTHING ELSE--ALL THE POMP,

ALL THE GOLD LACE AND RED SILK,

ALL THE RITUALS IN THE WORLD,

THE GOSPELS THEMSELVES ATTEST, 

IS CERTAINLY MEDIOCRE 

AND SURELY BOGUS DISCIPLESHIP.

AND THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM:

IT IS ONE THING, THEN, 

FOR AN INDIVIDUAL 

TO SUMMON THE COURAGE IT TAKES 

TO STAND ALONE 

IN THE EYE OF A STORM CALLED 

"THE REAL WORLD." 

IT IS ANOTHER THING ENTIRELY 

TO SEE THE CHURCH ITSELF BE ANYTHING LESS 

THAN THE LIVING CHRIST

THAT HEALED THE SICK AND RAISED THE DEAD,

AND SENT THE DISCIPLES OUT TO PREACH...

WOMEN SPIRITUAL LEADERS,

FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, 

AS WELL AS MEN.

WHY? BECAUSE THE CHURCH

OF JESUS CHRIST

IS NOT CALLED TO CLERICALISM--

WITH THE PROPER UNIFORM

ANYBODY CAN DO THAT!

NO, INSTEAD--THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

IS CALLED TO TRUE DISCIPLESHIP.

FOR THE CHURCH--

FOR YOU AND ME, THEN,

AS WELL AS THE INSTITUTION--

NOT TO MEET WHAT DISCIPLESHIP DEMANDS NOW

IS FOR THE CHURCH, FOR YOU AND ME

TO ABANDON THE DISCIPLESHIP

OUR BAPTISM DEMANDS US TO PURSUE. 

TO SEE A CHURCH OF CHRIST 

IGNORE THE LITTLE ONES 

OR REFUSE THE INVISIBLE THEIR DUE, 

AND SO INSTITUTE THE VERY SYSTEMS IN ITSELF 

THAT IT PURPORTS TO DESPISE IN SOCIETY, 

IS TO SEE NO CHURCH AT ALL. 

IN THIS KIND OF CHURCH, 

THE GOSPEL HAS BEEN 

LONG REDUCED TO THE CATECHISM. 

IN THIS KIND OF CHURCH, 

PROPHECY DIES ,

AND JUSTICE WHIMPERS ,

AND THE TRUTH BECOMES TOO DIM 

FOR THE SEARCHING HEART TO SEE.

AS A RESULT,

NEW LIFE QUESTIONS ARE EMERGING 

WITH STARTLING IMPACT AND BEING IGNORED:

WILL OUR CHILDREN SURVIVE CLIMATE CHANGE?

WILL OUR GENERATION PROVIDE ENOUGH

FOOD FOR THE WHOLE WORLD?

WILL WE ALLOW IMMIGRANTS PLACE

AND PEOPLE OF COLOR OFFICE

WHERE WE ALL MAY GROW TOGETHER?

WILL WE OURSELVES PUT DOWN 

OUR OWN RELIGIOUS SWORDS

AND BECOME "THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY" 

RATHER THAN

CHRISTIAN ENEMIES?

AND THE GREATEST QUESTION OF THEM ALL 

IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WOMEN?. 

TO HALF THE INTELLIGENT, THE VISIONARY, THE WISE,--

TO THE OTHER HALF POPULATION OF THE GLOBE.

RIGHT NOW WOMEN ARE MOST OF THE POOR, 

MOST OF THE REFUGEES, 

MOST OF THE UNEDUCATED, 

MOST OF THE BEATEN AND BLOODIED,

MOST OF THE REJECTED, 

MOST OF THE ABSENT DECISION-MAKING VOICES 

EVEN IN THE CHURCH

WHERE EDUCATED, DEDICATED, COMMITTED WOMEN

ARE IGNORED YET--EVEN IN THE PRONOUNS

OF THE MASS!

WHERE IS THE PRESENCE OF JESUS 

TO THE ABANDONED WOMAN, 

TO THE WOMAN ALONE, 

TO THE WOMAN WHOSE QUESTIONS, CRIES 

AND LIFE EXPERIENCE 

ARE NO PLACE TO BE SEEN

IN THE SYSTEMS OF THE WORLD 

WHILE THE CHURCH SAYS NOTHING

EXCEPT OF COURSE TO BE DEFINED 

AS A SECOND KIND OF HUMAN NATURE, 

NOT QUITE AS COMPETENT, 

NOT QUITE AS VALUED, 

NOT QUITE AS HUMAN, 

NOT QUITE AS GRACED BY GOD 

AS MEN ARE?

3. WHAT DOES THE THEOLOGY 

OF DISCIPLESHIP DEMAND HERE? 

WHAT DOES THE THEOLOGY OF 

A PRIESTLY PEOPLE 

IMPLY HERE? 

ARE WOMEN SIMPLY HALF A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST? 

TO BE HALF COMMISSIONED, 

HALF NOTICED, 

HALF VALUED

AND HALF ACCEPTABLE. 

IN THE LIGHT OF THESE SITUATIONS, THERE ARE, 

CONSEQUENTLY, QUESTIONS 

IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY 

THAT CANNOT BE MASSAGED UUT OF EXISTENCE

BY FOOTNOTES, 

ANY LONGER;

NOR OBSCURED BY JARGON, ANY MORE;

NOR MADE PALATABLE TO THE CONSCIOUS

BY OUR RETREAT TO “FAITH” ANYMORE.

ON THE CONTRARY, 

BEFORE THESE ISSUES THE FOOTNOTES FALTER, 

FAITH ITSELF DEMANDS THE QUESTION. 

THE DISCIPLESHIP OF WOMEN 

IS THE QUESTION 

THAT IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

INDEED, THE DISCIPLESHIP 

OF THE CHURCH IN REGARD TO WOMEN 

IS THE QUESTION THAT WILL, IN THE LONG RUN, 

PROVE THE CHURCH ITSELF. 

IN THE WOMAN'S QUESTION 

THE CHURCH IS FACING 

ONE OF ITS MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGES 

TO DISCIPLESHIP 

SINCE THE EMERGENCE OF THE SLAVERY QUESTION

WHEN WE ARGUED THEN, TOO,

THAT SLAVERY 

WAS THE WILL OF GOD!

THE MAJOR QUESTION 

FACING THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY TODAY

IS WHAT DOES DISCIPLESHIP REALLY MEANS 

IN A CHURCH 

THAT WANT SILENT WOMEN IN A WORLD

THAT NEEDS THINKING, COMMITTED, CARING

COURAGEOUS ONES

LIKE MARY OF NAZARETH, MARY MAGDALEN, 

AND THE DEACONS 

PRISCA, LYDIA, THECLA, PHOEBE

TO GATHER THE CHURCH ANEW.

IF DISCIPLESHIP IS REDUCED TO MALENESS

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE REST 

OF THE CATHOLIC DISPENSATION?. 

IF ONLY MEN CAN REALLY LIVE DISCIPLESHIP 

TO THE FULLEST, 

WHAT IS THE USE OF A WOMAN 

ASPIRING TO THE DISCIPLESHIP 

BAPTISM IMPLIES,-- 

NO! CORRECTION:--DEMANDS,--

BUT DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE IN THE 

LIFE OF THE CHURCH AT ALL?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN 

FOR THE WOMEN THEMSELVES 

WHO ARE FACED WITH REJECTION, DEVALUATION 

AND A DEBATABLE THEOLOGY 

BASED ON THE REMNANTS 

OF A BAD BIOLOGY THEOLOGIZED.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN A CHURCH

Toys with THE EQUALITY OF WOMEN -

A READING HERE, DISTRIBUTION OF EUCHARIST THERE- 

BUT BUILDS ITSELF ON STRUCTURES 

THAT ASSURE THEIR INEQUALITY. 

WHAT, IN FACT, DOES THE REJECTION OF WOMEN 

AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF THE CHURCH 

MEAN FOR MEN 

WHO CLAIM TO BE ENLIGHTENED 

BUT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE VERY SYSTEM 

THAT MOCKS HALF THE HUMAN RACE? 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE CHURCH 

THAT CLAIMS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF THE JESUS 

WHO HEALED ON THE SABBATH 

AND RAISED WOMEN FROM THE DEAD

AND CONTENDED WITH THE TEACHERS OF THE FAITH--

AND FINALLY --

WHAT DOES IT MEAN 

FOR A SOCIETY BADLY IN NEED 

OF A COSMIC WORLDVIEW 

ON THE MORNING OF A GLOBAL AGE? 

THE ANSWERS ARE DISCOURAGINGLY CLEAR 

ON ALL COUNTS. 

CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP 

IS NOT SIMPLY IN DANGER 

OF BEING STUNTED. 

DISCIPLESHIP HAS, IN FACT, BECOME THE BARRIER

TO SOMETHING THE CHURCH ITSELF TEACHES I

IS REQUIRED OF US ALL--

WOMEN ARE BEGINNING TO WONDER 

IF DISCIPLESHIP 

HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM 

AT ALL. 

AND THEREIN LIES THE CONTEMPORARY QUESTION 

OF DISCIPLESHIP. 

SOME CONSIDER FAITHFULNESS 

TO THE GOSPEL 

TO MEAN DOING WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE. 

OTHERS FIND FAITHFULNESS 

ONLY IN BEING WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. 

THE DISTINCTION IS CRUCIAL 

TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF TRADITION. 

THE DISTINCTION IS ALSO ESSENTIAL 

TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF DISCIPLESHIP 

IN THE MODERN CHURCH.

WHEN "THE TRADITION" 

BECOMES SYNONYMOUS WITH "THE SYSTEM" 

AND MAINTAINING THE SYSTEM 

BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT 

THAN MAINTAINING THE SPIRIT OF THE TRADITION, 

DISCIPLESHIP SHRIVELS 

AND BECOMES AT BEST "FIDELITY" 

TO THE PAST 

BUT NOT DEEP-DOWN COMMITMENT 

TO THE PRESENCE 

OF THE LIVING CHRIST HERE AND NOW

CONFRONTING THE LEPROSIES OF THE AGE. 

THE WORLD INTO WHICH JESUS WAS BORN

CALLED THE BLIND AND DISEASED SINFUL, 

A FEMALE CHILD USELESS, 

A MENSTRUATING WOMAN UNCLEAN, 

AND SO ALL OF THEM MARGINAL 

TO THE SYSTEM;

CONDEMNED TO THE FRINGES OF LIFE, 

BARRED FROM THE HEART OF THE TEMPLE. 

BUT JESUS TAKES EACH OF THEM 

TO HIMSELF, 

DESPITE THE LAWS, 

REGARDLESS OF THE CULTURE, 

NOTWITHSTANDING THE DISAPPROVAL 

OF THE SPIRITUAL NOTABLES OF THE AREA 

AND FILLS THEM WITH HIMSELF

AND SENDS THEM AS HIMSELF

OUT TO THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS

OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.. 

TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS 

MEANS THAT WE MUST DO THE SAME. 

DISCIPLESHIP INFERS, REQUIRES NO LESS 

THAN THE CONFIRMING, ORDAINING, LOVE OF JESUS 

FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE.

BUT THEN WHO CAN DARE

TO TAKE UPON THEMSELVES

THE AUDACIOUS RIGHT TO DRAW LIMITS 

AROUND THE WILL OF GOD

FOR THOSE WE CALL USELESS, 

INCOMPETENT, UNLOVABLE.. 

DISCIPLESHIP AND THE AUDACITY OF FAITH

 ARE OF A PIECE. 

TO SAY THAT WE BELIEVE 

THAT GOD LOVES THE POOR, 

JUDGES IN THEIR BEHALF, 

WILLS THEIR DELIVERANCE 

BUT DO NOTHING OURSELVES 

TO LIFT THE WEIGHT OF REJECTION

FOR THE DIVORCED AND REMARRIED, 

THE LGBTQI AND THE WOUNDEDNESS OF THEM.

TO IGNORE THEIR PLEAS, 

TO QUESTION THEIR COURAGE, 

TO TURN OUR BACKS ON THEIR BEHALF 

IS TO PROFER AN EMPTY FAITH INDEED. 

TO SAY THAT GOD IS LOVE 

AND NOT OURSELVES LOVE 

AS GOD LOVES 

MAY WELL BE CATHOLICISM

BUT IT IS NOT CHRISTIANITY. 

TO PREACH A THEOLOGY OF EQUALITY

TO SAY THAT ALL PERSONS ARE EQUAL IN GOD'S SIGHT 

BUT AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAIN 

A THEOLOGY OF INEQUALITY, 

A SPIRITUALITY OF DOMINATION,

THAT BARS HALF THE HUMAN RACE 

ON THE BASIS OF GENDER--

THAT SAYS THAT WOMEN HAVE NO PLACE 

IN THE DOMINION OF THE CHURCH

AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTRINE--

AND ALL OF THIS IN THE NAME OF GOD ....

IS TO LIVE A LIE. 

BUT IF DISCIPLESHIP IS THE FOLLOWING OF JESUS, 

BEYOND ALL BOUNDARIES, AT ALL COSTS, 

FOR THE BRINGING OF THE REIGN OF GOD, 

FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT 

OF RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS, 

THEN TO GROUND A WOMAN'S CALLING 

TO FOLLOW CHRIST 

ON HER ABILITY TO LOOK LIKE JESUS 

OBSTRUCTS THE VERY THING 

THE CHURCH IS FOUNDED TO DO. 

IT OBSTRUCTS A WOMAN'S ABILITY 

TO FOLLOW CHRIST TO THE FULL

TO GIVE HER LIFE FOR THE OTHERS,

TO BLESS AND PREACH AND SACRIFICE

AND BUILD COMMUNITY

“IN HIS NAME”--

AS THE DOCUMENTS ON PRIESTHOOD from VAT II

SAY THAT A PRIESTLY PEOPLE MUST DO.

AND IT DOES IT 

IN DEFIANCE OF THE GOSPEL ITSELF. 

HOW CAN A CHURCH SUCH AS THIS 

CALL CONVINCINGLY TO THE WORLD 

IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE 

TO PRACTICE A JUSTICE 

IT DOES NOT PRACTICE ITSELF. 

HOW IS IT THAT THE CHURCH 

CAN WITH INTEGRITY CALL OTHER INSTITUTIONS 

TO DEAL WITH WOMEN 

AS FULL HUMAN BEINGS 

MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD 

WHEN THEIR HUMANITY IS PRECISELY 

WHAT THE CHURCH ITSELF HOLDS AGAINST THEM. 

IN THE NAME OF GOD. 

IT IS A PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION 

OF IMMENSE PROPORTIONS. 

IT IS THE QUESTION WHICH, 

LIKE THE CREATION OF WOMEN, 

BRINGS THE CHURCH TO THE TEST. 

FOR THE CHURCH TO BE PRESENT 

TO THE WOMAN'S QUESTION, 

TO MINISTER TO IT, TO BE DISCIPLE TO IT, 

THE CHURCH MUST ITSELF 

BECOME CONVERTED TO THE ISSUE,

IN FACT, THE CHURCH MUST BECOME CONVERTED 

BY THE ISSUE. 4000*************************************************

MEN WHO DO NOT TAKE 

THE WOMAN'S ISSUE SERIOUSLY 

MAY BE PRIESTS 

BUT THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY BE DISCIPLES. 

THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY BE 'OTHER CHRISTS:' 

NOT THE CHRIST BORN OF A WOMAN. 

NOT THE CHRIST 

WHO COMMISSIONED WOMEN TO PREACH HIM. 

NOT THE CHRIST WHO TOOK FACULTIES 

FROM A WOMAN AT CANA. 

NOT THE CHRIST WHO SENT WOMEN 

TO PREACH RESURRECTION TO APOSTLES 

WHO WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT THEN

AND DO NOT BELIEVE IT NOW.

NOT THE CHRIST WHO SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT 

ON MARY THE WOMAN 

AS WELL AS ON PETER THE MAN,

NOT THE CHRIST WHO ANNOUNCED HIS MESSIAHSHIP 

AS CLEARLY TO THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

AS TO THE ROCK THAT THEN SHATTERED.

IF THIS IS THE JESUS 

WHOM WE AS CHRISTIANS, AS CHURCH, 

ARE TO FOLLOW, 

THEN THE DISCIPLESHIP OF THE CHURCH 

IS NOW MIGHTILY IN QUESTION.

INDEED, THE POET BASHO WRITES: 

"I DO NOT SEEK 

TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS 

OF THOSE OF OLD. 

I SEEK THE THINGS THEY SOUGHT."

***************************************************

DISCIPLESHIP DEPENDS 

ON OUR BRINGING THE WILL OF GOD FOR HUMANKIND 

TO THE QUESTIONS OF THIS AGE 

AS JESUS DID TO HIS. 

AS LONG AS TRADITION IS USED TO MEAN FOLLOWING 

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR PAST 

RATHER THAN SEEKING TO MAINTAIN 

THE SPIRIT OF THE CHRIST IN THE PRESENT, 

THEN IT IS UNLIKELY 

THAT WE WILL PRESERVE MORE 

THAN THE SHELL OF THE CHURCH.

THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE UNIVERSALISM 

OF HUMANITY ACROSS DIFFERENCES 

HAS BECOME THE THREAD 

THAT BINDS THE WORLD TOGETHER 

IN A GLOBAL AGE. 

WHAT WAS ONCE A HIERARCHY OF HUMANKIND 

IS COMING TO BE SEEN FOR WHAT IT IS: 

THE OPPRESSION OF HUMANKIND

WHILE ON THE HORIZON OF COSMOS

THE HUMANIZATION 

OF THE HUMAN RACE IS UPON US. 

THE ONLY QUESTION FOR THE CHURCH NOW 

IS WHETHER THE HUMANIZATION 

OF THE HUMAN RACE 

WILL LEAD AS WELL 

TO THE CHRISTIANIZATION 

OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

OTHERWISE, DISCIPLESHIP WILL DIE 

AND THE INTEGRITY, THE TRUTH, 

THE JESUS LIFE OF THE CHURCH WITH IT.

WE MUST TAKE DISCIPLESHIP SERIOUSLY 

OR WE SHALL LEAVE THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE 

WITH FUNCTIONARIES --

BUT WITHOUT DISCIPLES. 

THE FACT IS THAT CHRISTIANITY 

LIVES IN CHRISTIANS, NOT IN CATECHISMS, 

NOT IN DOCUMENTS CALLED ‘DEFINITIVE’ 

TO HIDE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE--

 AT BEST--TIME-BOUND.

NOT EMBODIED IN PLATITUDES ABOUT 

“SPECIAL VOCATIONS,”

NOT IN OLD ERRORS 

DIGNIFIED AS ‘TRADITION.’ 

THE NEW FACT OF LIFE IS THAT

DISCIPLESHIP TO WOMEN 

AND THE DISCIPLESHIP OF WOMEN 

IS KEY TO THE DISCIPLESHIP 

OF THE REST OF THE CHURCH. 

THE QUESTIONS ARE CLEAR. 

THE ANSWER IS OBSCURE AND UNCERTAIN 

BUT CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE OF A CHURCH

THAT CLAIMS TO BE THE ETERNAL PRESENCE

OF THE LIVING JESUS.

A GROUP SUCH AS THIS, SUCH AS YOU,

AT A TIME SUCH AS THIS--

A PRIESTLY PEOPLE 

IN A GROWINGLY PRIESTLESS PERIOD--

MUST KEEP THE TOTAL VISION

CLEARLY IN MIND.

BUT WE MUST ALSO KEEP THE TASKS

OF THE PRESENT CLEARLY IN HAND:

AND THE TASK OF THE PRESENT

IS NOT PREPARATION 

FOR PRIESTLY ORDINATION

BUT FOR THE RIGHT TO DISCUSS

THE FESTERING QUESTION

OF WHETHER OR NOT WOMEN ARE FIT MATTER

TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT OF ORDERS.

NO, THE TASK OF A SYNODAL CHURCH 

AT A TIME SUCH AS THIS

IS TO GO ON YOURSELVES IN THE CO-CREATION

of A NEW COSMIC THEOLOGY OF THE CHURCH .

WE NEED A GROUP FREE OF CENTURY-OLD MANDATUMS

THAT WILL ORGANIZE SEMINARS,

HOLD PUBLIC DEBATES IN THE STYLE 

OF THE GREAT MEDIEVAL DISPUTATIONS 

ON THE FULL HUMANITY 

OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES....

HOLD TEACH-INS,

SPONSOR PUBLICATIONS,

WRITE BOOKS on the subject,

POST EDUCATIONAL WEB SITES,

GATHER DISCUSSION GROUPS

AROUND THE TOPICS

OF WHETHER OR NOT INFALLIBILITY WAS INFALLIBLE

WHEN THEY SAID IT WAS...

CHRISTIAN SENSITIVITY TO THE SENSUS FIDELIUM,’

AND THE CLEAR EXCLUSION OF WOMEN

FROM THE RESTORATION OF 

THE PERMANENT DIACONATE--

AN OFFICIAL MANNER OF DISCIPLESHIP FOR WOMEN

INCIDENTALLY--

IS MORE THAN AWARE OF ITS 

HAS ANCIENT THEOLOGY, HISTORY, 

RITUAL, LITURGY AND TRADITION

FIRMLY, FULLY AND CLEARLY 

ON ITS SIDE

AS IT DID 2000 YEARS AGO!!

CLEARY, IT’S TIME 

TO BRING INTO THE LIGHT OF DAY

THE DISCUSSIONS THAT LURK 

BEHIND EVERY CHURCH DOOR,

IN EVERY SEEKING HEART.

IF AS VATICAN II SAYS,

PREACHING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING,

ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT,

THEN PROCLAIMING THE COMING

OF THIS NEW SYNODAL CHURCH, 

SACRIFICING OURSELVES TO BRING IT,

AND SHAPING A COMMUNITY

NEW WITH THE NOTION OF A NEW KIND OF PRIEST 

AND PERMANENT WOMAN DEACONS

MAY BE THE GREATEST PRIESTLY SERVICE OF THEM ALL 

RIGHT NOW.

SO WE MUST KEEP TURNING,

TURNING, AND TURNING

IN THE DIRECTION OF DISCIPLESHIP---

AS WOMEN ALWAYS HAVE...

BUT DIFFERENTLY--AND ALONE.

FOR AS BASHO SAYS,

WE DO NOT, INDEED, SEEK TO FOLLOW 

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THOSE OF OLD.

WE SEEK THE THINGS THEY SOUGHT--

THE FULLNESS OF LIFE

BOTH HUMAN AND SPIRITUAL.

WE DON’T SEEK TO DO

WHAT THEY REALLY NEED.

NO, WE NEED MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

WE NEED NOW TO DO

WHAT THEY REALLY, REALLY NEED.

AND THAT IS A SYNODAL CHURCH--

THAT LISTENS.

GO ALL OF YOU AND DO IT NOW!!!

FOR AS WE GO INTO THIS MOMENT,

REMEMBER ...

THAT IF THE PEOPLE of God WILL LEAD,

EVENTUALLY....

THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW...