D023 Amend Canons III.6.5(g)(4), III.8.5(h)(4), and III.10.1.(c)(4) and Estabish Task Force
The equitable treatment of any human being is central to God’s commandment to love our neighbor. Yet, it is clear from data on clergy compensation, and anecdotal reports by women in the church, both clergy and lay, that sexism is still a sin for which the church must repent. It is easy to suggest that because there are women clergy, with several as bishops, and one having served as Presiding Bishop, that we, the church, are somehow in a Post-Sexism era. As we know from similar arguments with regard to race upon the election of the first African-American President of the United States and Presiding Bishop, that is simply not the case. The data from Church Pension Group (CPG) makes it clear that women clergy still face enormous challenges with regard to hiring and compensation.1 The church should be at the forefront of equal opportunity for all, but it is far from that mark. There are still some places in The Episcopal Church where women clergy stand no chance of employment, and have faced difficulties in the ordination process. Adding to the inequity is that the gap in compensation follows women clergy through to their retirement, as that is compensation based. Further, women clergy have reported sexual harassment, and inequality in the workplace, by peers, episcopal leadership, and those they serve – the laity. These reports mirror that of the society in which we live, and include inappropriate touching, diminishing comments, and outright assault. Clergy women have turned to private Facebook groups to ensure that their voices and experience may be heard in a safe and supportive community. That community should be the larger church, but sadly it is not. The Church should always be at the forefront of justice, and the status and treatment of women and girls must be a part of that gospel mission. This required training is a start in that direction – exposing the sexism that has infected our hearts and minds that we might change ourselves, and our church. Just as the anti-racism trainings have opened the eyes of so many across the church, changing our culture of bias, it is hoped that the anti-sexism training will do the same. We also know this is only a step toward justice, it is not full justice itself. More needs to be done. Yet we can never hope to be freed from the tyranny of sexism and misogyny, or be an example of God’s all inclusive love, if we don’t work toward changing our culture, and so we must begin with training our eyes, minds, and hearts to recognize our biases and that of the church.
Explanation
The equitable treatment of any human being is central to God’s commandment to love our neighbor. Yet, it is clear from data on clergy compensation, and anecdotal reports by women in the church, both clergy and lay, that sexism is still a sin for which the church must repent. It is easy to suggest that because there are women clergy, with several as bishops, and one having served as Presiding Bishop, that we, the church, are somehow in a Post-Sexism era. As we know from similar arguments with regard to race upon the election of the first African-American President of the United States and Presiding Bishop, that is simply not the case. The data from Church Pension Group (CPG) makes it clear that women clergy still face enormous challenges with regard to hiring and compensation.1 The church should be at the forefront of equal opportunity for all, but it is far from that mark. There are still some places in The Episcopal Church where women clergy stand no chance of employment, and have faced difficulties in the ordination process. Adding to the inequity is that the gap in compensation follows women clergy through to their retirement, as that is compensation based. Further, women clergy have reported sexual harassment, and inequality in the workplace, by peers, episcopal leadership, and those they serve – the laity. These reports mirror that of the society in which we live, and include inappropriate touching, diminishing comments, and outright assault. Clergy women have turned to private Facebook groups to ensure that their voices and experience may be heard in a safe and supportive community. That community should be the larger church, but sadly it is not. The Church should always be at the forefront of justice, and the status and treatment of women and girls must be a part of that gospel mission. This required training is a start in that direction – exposing the sexism that has infected our hearts and minds that we might change ourselves, and our church. Just as the anti-racism trainings have opened the eyes of so many across the church, changing our culture of bias, it is hoped that the anti-sexism training will do the same. We also know this is only a step toward justice, it is not full justice itself. More needs to be done. Yet we can never hope to be freed from the tyranny of sexism and misogyny, or be an example of God’s all inclusive love, if we don’t work toward changing our culture, and so we must begin with training our eyes, minds, and hearts to recognize our biases and that of the church.