Dear Friends,

Weather permitting, this Sunday we will have what promises to be a lively and informative discussion based a Chapter from John Shelby Spong's book: Born of a Woman: A Bishop Rethinks the Virgin Birth and the Treatment of Women ;by a Male-Dominated Church. The discussion will be facilitated by Jim Fitzgerald whose M. Div. thesis was based on research of St. Augustine's view on sexuality and its resultant impact on our church's theology of sexuality (or lack thereof).

The particular chapter of Spong's book that we are reading and discussing, The Cost of the Virgin Birth, Spong contemplates the reality that "ideas have consequences". Taking that to heart, Spong explores the development of Christianity's understanding of Mary as conceiving Jesus without "knowing man" as the story is relayed in 2 of our 4 gospels, and its subsequent evolution of Mary into "a male created female figure who embodies the kind of woman dominant males think is ideal-docile, obedient, powerless." (Spong, 221) This image has provided a "safe" feminine connection for male celibates who "could safely adore the virgin with passionate prayers and romantic meditations" without compromising their celibate souls. However, this 'privilege' has contributed to the cost of women bear in every conceivable circumstance, with the trickle down effect being that women who seek to self-actualize and to claim their power in the world (and church), are seen as aberrations, 'sinners', evil. What if Mary hadn't been a "virgin"? What if she and Joseph had a normal healthy loving sexual relationship? Surely the God who created us as sexual beings could take on flesh in keeping with this Loving Creator's design. If that had been so, how might our church look on married love, and on sexuality itself? My sense is we would have a more highly developed and, indeed, reverenced theology of sexuality.

Sunday we will read Luke's story of the angel announcing to Mary "the virgin" that she is to bear a child, Jesus. Despite the wording we are given of her response "be it done to me according to your will" and whether spoken as "virgin" or not, Mary's "yes" was not the commitment of a weak, submissive woman. It was an assent born of strength and integrity, and the opening of her heart and her body, in a way that only woman can, to enable God's Word to become flesh in our world.

If you are looking for a "spiritual home" to support as you say "yes" to God 's coming to birth anew in your life, we invite you to join us at the Spirit of Life. As a community, we try wholeheartedly to "be Christ" to one another, to tend to the needs of one another and to those in need in our world. Together, we celebrate our belief that we are being transformed by God's grace as we gather together in prayer. We warmly invite you to come and gather with us at our Table and join in our experience of the 'kin-dom' of God. We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of 'justice and joy'.

Loving blessings to you as you in these final days of Advent,

Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.