Madame President

I was reading a column in the Washington Post this morning about Hilary Clinton and how the right is already maneuvering to portray her as a flip-flopper in anticipation of her 2008 presidential bid. Personally, though I have always admired Clinton for her strength and positions, I have been deeply skeptical of her ability to win such an election because she was seen as such a polarizing figure when her husband was president. But just for a moment I allowed myself to think about what it would be like to have a woman as our president.

I have never been one to overlook the role of gender in just about any situation, but I think it is particularly important when it comes to leadership roles. When I was in middle school I started to think about what it would be like to be a pastor in a church. But one major problem I had with seeing myself in that position was that all the religious leaders that I had ever had were men. I didn't see women as religious leaders in that way. Sure they ran the inner workings of the church, but up there preaching and representing God to the congregation, no. Then, many years later when I had abandoned my dream of being a pastor and decided to go into social work instead, I met a female pastor. She was awesome. She ended up officiating at my wedding and when we later moved to that area, we attended that church.

It was an incredible revelation to have a woman up in the pulpit. It helped that she was an incredible woman and spiritual presence and could give a sermon that stayed with you all week. And yes, I have since seen some women that are not such great pastors. I am certainly not saying being a woman gives you an edge that way. But just seeing a woman up there and hearing her stories and understanding of life and the divine, made me rethink my own path. If Diane could be a strong, wonderful, Christian leader, maybe I could too.

Yesterday, Mother's Day, a female ordained member of our congregation gave a wonderful mother's day sermon about the many names of God and allowing ourselves to use Mother among those names. What would it mean to see God as a feminine presence, a motherly presence that held us and took care of us and loved us as sometimes only mothers can? What about and image of a fierce mother God protecting Her childen? This is what having a woman in the pulpit brings home for me. God isn't only a an old guy with a white beard. S/He is much bigger than that.

So what would it mean to see a woman as our president? Would more woman think they cold get into politics and make a difference? Would that role model give us hope for our own aspirations? Would it perhaps give us a different perspective on things? I'm not saying a softer perspective, but just a different one? Would women maybe feel as if they are more fully members of this society if a woman was in charge? I am not sure what difference it would really make. I can only guess from the impact that having a woman in a religious leadership position has made on me. But I think we can safely say that it would certainly be a paradigm shift and maybe open people's eyes in ways we can't even imagine yet.

And yes, in another year I will be applying to seminary to finally fulfill that dream I had back when I was 11. I will be a woman pastor. Thank you Diane Darling.

Hilary Clinton, you go girl. You have my vote.