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The Daily OrangeFemale priest's views differ from mainstream Christian values
By Miyoko Ohtake
Posted: 1/15/07, 9:50 PM EST Section: Feature
"I probably wouldn't want to have an abortion if I got pregnant, but I believe that everybody should be able to make that choice for themselves," she said.
It is her approachability that appeals to the Grace Church congregation, which has doubled since Baskerville-Burrows became the head priest in July 2004.
"She has this way of preaching that makes you feel connected to her," said Reks. "We're all in the same struggle. We're all working to have a deeper relationship with God and to make ourselves better people and better Christians. She's right there with us."
In a recent sermon, Baskerville-Burrows didn't preach to the congregation; she spoke to them about her childhood affection for Greek mythology, the reasons she always wears skirts (she has scrapes on her knees) and about her attempts at yoga headstand positions.
"I just have this mental block," she said, looking into the eyes of the congregation members one-by-one as she spoke. "I don't want to fall. We need to trust that we will not land on concrete but the hand of God."
For some members of the congregation, the fact that Baskerville-Burrows is a female priest gives special significance to Sunday services.
"As a woman, it's especially meaningful to have the liturgy conducted by a woman," said Reks. "I think of God as having both a female and male persona, but in most churches, the dominating persona is male."
The Episcopal Church began welcoming women into the priesthood in the 1970s. Making a speedy four-year theological journey from start to ordination, Baskerville-Burrows became a priest in 1997.
"At first, my mom was kind of nervous, because she thought I'd be a nun," Baskerville-Burrows said, laughing. "Once she figured it out, she was really cool with it."
More unusual in the Episcopal Church than her gender is Baskerville-Burrows' race.
"She brings all of who she is to the priesthood, and her being black is part of who she is. That is something that is more unique than the fact that she is a woman or pro-choice," said Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, a friend and colleague and the priest of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Liverpool, N.Y.
It is her approachability that appeals to the Grace Church congregation, which has doubled since Baskerville-Burrows became the head priest in July 2004.
"She has this way of preaching that makes you feel connected to her," said Reks. "We're all in the same struggle. We're all working to have a deeper relationship with God and to make ourselves better people and better Christians. She's right there with us."
In a recent sermon, Baskerville-Burrows didn't preach to the congregation; she spoke to them about her childhood affection for Greek mythology, the reasons she always wears skirts (she has scrapes on her knees) and about her attempts at yoga headstand positions.
"I just have this mental block," she said, looking into the eyes of the congregation members one-by-one as she spoke. "I don't want to fall. We need to trust that we will not land on concrete but the hand of God."
For some members of the congregation, the fact that Baskerville-Burrows is a female priest gives special significance to Sunday services.
"As a woman, it's especially meaningful to have the liturgy conducted by a woman," said Reks. "I think of God as having both a female and male persona, but in most churches, the dominating persona is male."
The Episcopal Church began welcoming women into the priesthood in the 1970s. Making a speedy four-year theological journey from start to ordination, Baskerville-Burrows became a priest in 1997.
"At first, my mom was kind of nervous, because she thought I'd be a nun," Baskerville-Burrows said, laughing. "Once she figured it out, she was really cool with it."
More unusual in the Episcopal Church than her gender is Baskerville-Burrows' race.
"She brings all of who she is to the priesthood, and her being black is part of who she is. That is something that is more unique than the fact that she is a woman or pro-choice," said Carrie Schofield-Broadbent, a friend and colleague and the priest of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Liverpool, N.Y.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
The Rev. L. Weber
The Rev. L. WEber
posted 1/16/07 @ 3:34 PM EST
As an Episcopal priest and a female, I find The Rev. Baskerville-Burrows' comments on the Bible, abortion, and the Episcopal Church rather disingenuous -- if they are being reported accurately. (Continued…)
jinhenkim
Jin Hen Kim
posted 1/16/07 @ 8:35 PM EST
This is an excerpt from the Bible, King James version:
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. (Continued…)
L. Weber+
posted 1/16/07 @ 9:42 PM EST
FYI:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is opposed to abortion; he uses an interesting and subtle argument that has to do with a critique of consumer choice and rights claims, issues related to abortion in our Western culture. (Continued…)
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