The Ox is in the Ditch

Pope Francis is considering allowing married men to become priests in the Amazon. Married men from other denominations can already become Catholic priests in some cases, so this is not so strange, since there are about 120 married Catholic priests in the United States. In 1980, a path was made for married Episcopal priests to continue their ordination in the Roman Catholic church, as long as they did not marry again.

But no matter how deep the ditch is, they will not allow women to become priests. I wrote this letter to Pope Francis in 2016.

His Holiness, Pope Francis,

You most likely think it strange that I am writing you this letter, pleading on behalf of women priests. However, the ox is in the ditch and we need your help.

Roman Catholics and Southern Baptists have thrown a common net of denial over all women who feel a call as pastor or priest. If Roman Catholics will bend and allow women priests, Baptists will bend, too, and allow women pastors. On the other hand, if Baptists bend, well, I hope it works that way, too. I can’t guarantee it either way, but I am trying to remove the restrictive net that has been cast over all Christian women.

There are 7 billion people in the world, most needing the Savior, and there are many women, called and ready to preach the gospel.  The ox is in the ditch and Christian religious leaders will not break the law to rescue the ox. The law has become more important than the people and the people will starve because the ox will die in the ditch.

I plead for your help to empower this generation of women to full Christian service as priests. It will be a power like no other, unleashing the magnificence of God.  We read of this power in Acts 3, 4:1-18, paraphrased.

 “By what power are you doing these things?” they asked Peter and John the next day. Peter looked them in the eye and said that it was by the power of Jesus Christ, whom they had killed, but who had been resurrected, and now they were able to do this good deed in his name. If these unschooled and untrained men were able to do this, then what else could they do? After all, these men had been with Jesus. So they talked, and they talked some more, and came up with the only thing they could think of: “in order that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any man in this name.” Peter and John said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge.”

Like Peter and John, we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard. We are empowered by the same Source. We, too, have walked with Jesus. Peter and John could not quit telling about Jesus. They were told to stop, but they could not, because they were just getting started. We who believe in equality, cannot quit now as the battle is not yet won for women’s equality. We, too, have been with Jesus. Saved by the blood of the lamb and a witness to what he has done through his Word, and to how he has spoken to us. Women are called, ready and willing to pastor and to preach.

It’s the Sabbath. The ox is in the ditch. The children need to be fed