In Denver, Pastor Kathy Escobar was invited to speak at a local high school’s baccalaureate service (basically, an optional, religious graduation ceremony).
***Update***: As a few readers note, I should explain these ceremonies a bit more. I’ll just quote Drew M.:
A baccalaureate is an religious service for the graduating class. It is held off school property and attendance is optional, so it doesn’t violate separation of church and state.
Now, back to what Kathy wrote:
… they were looking for a female pastor, someone who would inspire the kids & open up some doors that hadn’t been opened previously by some of the standard baccalaureate sermons/messages.
As far as those services go, it sounds like a respectable choice.
But Kathy says that didn’t last very long:
… yesterday i got an email from him letting me know that unfortunately when the other pastors and leaders found out that a female pastor was speaking, they banded together to reject the idea. they said they couldn’t listen to someone they didn’t agree with and strong-armed a very conservative evangelical into the spot instead.
…
… i asked, “so, is it really just the woman pastor thing or is it about my beliefs…“ he said that the woman thing was definitely the main issue, the deal breaker, and anything that remotely is connected to the word “emerging” was just icing on the cake.
Well done, Christians leaders in Denver.
Those high school graduates are about to learn that they can do anything they want to do in life!… unless they’re female, relatively liberal, and use the title “Pastor.”
It’s probably for the best. The menfolk wouldn’t want Escobar warping the kids’ minds with her ridiculous ideas.
That’s their job.

(via @rachelheldevans)
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