News from Sophia Christi

There is already much discussion about Pope Francis’ latest 50,000 word document, Evangelii Gaudium, Joy of the Gospel.  His strong encouragement that Christians take seriously the Gospel mandate to care for the poor and marginalized, as well as his clear example of what caring looks like, is a breath of fresh air in a church that had become an embarrassment of pomp and finery during the last two pontificates.  There is much to be grateful for in this amazing shift of papal priorities.  And yet there is a continuing sadness among women who stand on the ecclesial sidelines waiting to be seen and heard, waiting for their moral agency and vocational callings to be respected and welcomed in the sanctuary of public worship and witness.

A Gospel interpreted so as to exclude women from sacramental ministries to which they are called is not a Gospel of Joy nor does it speak to the continued marginalization and oppression of one half of humanity.  Some say Francis is just laying the groundwork for farther-reaching changes he plans to make in the months and years ahead.  Some say he is trying to unite left and right into one, unified church, and must take his time confronting litmus-test issues of the two former popes.  The “hottest button” in the church, as it is in all traditionalist and fundamentalist groups, is that of women’s rights, agency and power.  There is no escaping this issue, and merely calling for a “theology of women” without listening to the Holy Spirit as She summons women into pastoral and sacramental leadership roles within the church is an evasion of that issue.  We have a right to expect more from the Church into which all are baptized as full members of the Body of Christ in which, Paul says, there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free.

Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Pray without ceasing. If necessary, use words.” I take this statement to mean that our beliefs and our values should come through everything that we do: the way we carry ourselves, how we spend money, the words we choose to speak, and how we treat others.  Yes, professions of faith and explanations of beliefs can be powerful, but the everyday choices – or way of proceeding – may carry even more weight. I believe the same is true for organizations, especially mission driven organizations such as Sophia Christi.  I think that our way of operating and proceeding says just as much about who we are as a community as our mission statement.

Though gathering to share in a justice-centered, inclusive liturgy is what brings the community together, there are many other actions that allow the community to live out its prophetic voice. This belief in the importance of “the way of proceeding” and how it reflects the values of an organization are what motivated me to join the parish council. For me, the parish council is not something “extra” or “separate” that I do for Sophia Christi, it is an inextricable part of my belonging to the community. For me, the meetings are a form of prayer – perhaps less meditative or poetic than other ways – which allow me to consider how the mission is lived and how each decision reflects the community’s commitment to inclusivity, spiritual healing, and the social teachings of Jesus. In sum, the way we pray and the way we make decisions together are essential parts of living out our mission. So pray with the community. Attend a parish council meeting. Donate your time, talent, and treasure. Be spiritually fed by the community. I invite you to find your role in Sophia Christi’s way of proceeding    — Danielle, Portland