Other "Thinking Drafts" and writing by Keith Drury -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .

IF I WERE A WOMAN...I'd not pick on Promise Keepers

Tuesday Column 9/26/95

If I were a woman I'd be happy about Promise Keepers, especially if I were a wife. I wouldn't be criticizing these meetings as if they are some sort of male conspiracy or retro-chauvinist movement. If I were a woman, (especially a wife), I'd be glad men in the church were waking up to their spiritual side. In fact, I'd be thrilled that my husband was getting excited about something besides Monday night football. And I wouldn't be worrying about the talk about becoming 'spiritual leaders at home.' Most men in the church have a long way to go before they even catch up spiritually, let alone get in front. If I were a woman, I'd be satisfied with the general effect of Promise Keepers on men. I'd be delighted with the morning prayer meetings, the accountability groups, fathers spending more time with the kids, and the men who learned to treat women with greater respect and dignity. In fact, if I were a woman I'd be happy with just about everything connected with Promise Keepers. Of course I haven't the slightest idea what I'd do if I were a woman. I'm just guessing.

HOWEVER... I know something I would NOT be happy about. When PK has their ministers convention coming this February in Atlanta if I were a woman (especially a woman minister), I'd feel that once PK got into the business of holding conventions for ministers, that they ought to invite all the ministers, and not just the ones with male appendages. I'd recognize that they may have a 'right' to have an all-male ministers conference. I suppose someone would have a 'right' to even have all-white ministers conference. But that wouldn't mean doing it was smart. Or right, either.

If I were a woman minister, I'd try to recognize that men often 'just forget' about woman ministers. And I'd try to remember that the Roman Catholic and fundamentalist segments of PK don't even understand why there are women ministers. I'd try to understand. But I'd still feel left out.

So, if I were a woman minister I'd want to be there, too, when 80,000 ministers show up this February for 'the largest gathering of ministers in the history of the world.' In fact, if I were a woman minister, I might just register and show up anyway. (After all, what are they going to do -- check at the gate?) I'd figure that if God was going to ignite a spiritual revival in this nation, He just might start with the 'largest gathering of ministers ever in the history of the world.' I'd want to be there. Woman or man.

I know, PK has been pressured but they refuse to listen. They won't listen to this either. And it is just this kind of arrogance that will bring the downfall of Promise Keepers. Funny isn't it. A need brings a ministry. Effective ministry brings success. Success brings arrogance. Arrogance brings a downfall. Then the downfall bring the need again. I know PK is the biggest thing going today. But unless the arrogance melts, God will melt PK -- he does that sort of thing you know.

So what do you think?

To contribute to the thinking on this issue e-mail your response to Tuesday@indwes.edu