YOUR leading article (April 19) headed, "Women and bishops can work together," states that, "assumptions are made, views are guessed at. Women are stereotyped and marginalised. Their talents are overlooked and ignored."
Because of this statement I would like to ask a question relevant to this Eastertide. Why does every clergyman, preaching about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, presume they were both male? One could as easily, or perhaps in view of the fact that Jesus was invited into their home, more easily, presume that they were man and wife!
Your conclusion that, "the church has great gifts to gain, and enormous treasures to store up if the process should begin to blossom and eventually bear fruit, takes me back to Genesis 1: 26, where God says; "And now we will make human beings, they will be like us and resemble us. He created them male and female, blessed them and said, 'have many children so that your descendants will live over alt the earth and bring it under their control.' " He also said Genesis 2: 18; "Is not good for the man to live alone, I will make him a suitable companion to help him." Jesus is the new Adam.
Every church member is concerned at the dearth of young people. Every church member is concerned at the decline in vocations — but who can be surprised at this situation when the church, for years and years, has ignored the new Eve?
How can there be new life?
Pauline Beckford Carnforth Lanes
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