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The Latest Column By The Bishop
Getting Our Priorities Straight
Published: 3/19/2010
BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE
North Texas Conference
The month of March has been traditionallly designated as Women’s Month, where we celebrate the gifts, talents and contributions that women have made in life.
I was reading a blog this morning where the question was raised as to why we need a women’s month. The author of the question obviously proved the point for such a question.
Even to raise the question suggests that we have not come as far as we need to with regard to equal inclusion and power sharing when it comes to women. The truth of the matter is that the presence of women in our society has played a crucial role in the creation and development of life. We need to celebrate this each and every day.
Although women make up the majority of the world’s population, their presence and contributions have not been acknowledged in the history books. Fortunately, March Women’s Month provides an opportunity to call attention to the need to know and tell the whole story.
Several of my close friends chided me on the fact that during the announcements of the key leadership positions in the new strategic plan that it appears that males will continue to dominate and hold all the key positions. My response is: “Don’t judge me on this issue too early in the process.”
We do need to do more, and I am committed to being proactive in selecting the right leadership for church, as well as being diverse with regard to gender. I believe this is a time to lead. There will be more opportunities to come.
I remember attending the 2000 General Conference, where we held a service of confession and repentance for racism in the church. One of the leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church made a statement that stays with me even to this day. Paraphrasing him, he said, hopefully this sign of repentance will produce better fruit in the future and our role in the process will be “fruit inspectors.”
My hope is that as we move forward into God’s great future for the North Texas Conference, we will bring forth the best fruit that reflects the Kingdom of God. We can hope that there will be enough fruit inspectors to hold us accountable.