GROWING TOGETHER

Below are simple questions and practical exercises to help you work on the issue of sexism in our day. They are categorized under the RENOVARÉ streams of devotion.

Contemplative: The Prayer-Filled Life
• Meditate on Paul's revolutionary declaration, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28).
— What racial and social and gender prejudices do I find in myself?
— What does this meditation teach me about my church and denomination?
— Is God calling me to any specific action steps?

• Prayerfully consider the various people you interact with in the course of a given week to see if there are ways you value them superficially.
— Do I devalue people who are less physically attractive?
— How does the age of a person affect my valuation of them?
— Is God calling me to any specific action steps?

Holiness: The Virtuous Life
• Be aware of actions or attitudes at office or home that reveal sexism.
— In business meetings do I interrupt women speakers more readily than men?
— Do I defer more quickly to men than to women?
— Is God calling me to any specific action steps?

• Watch for ways you project an attitude of superiority or inferiority around others.
— Does the way I dress express hidden fears about my worth?
— Do I regularly come into meetings late?
— Is God calling me to any specific action steps?

Charismatic: The Spirit-Empowered Life
• Study the amazing events in Acts 2, giving special attention to the all-inclusive nature of the Spirit's action, e.g. "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, . . . Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit," etc.
— What does this passage teach me about the Holy Spirit's lack of partiality and my tendency for partiality?
— When have I seen the Spirit freely ministering through "sons and daughters, men and women"?
— Is God calling me to any specific action steps?
• Watch in the next month for opportunities to engage in the ministry of reconciliation. Look to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and power to step into difficult situations.
— Where have I seen the deepest divisions among peoples?
— How have I been used as an agent of reconciliation? Are there things I would do differently next time?
— Is God calling me to any specific action steps?

Social Justice: The Compassionate Life
• In relationships, community life, and media be sensitive to any violation of basic justice—especially as it relates to blatant sexism. Consider actions in which you can be the voice for the voiceless, e.g. writing letters, informed confrontation with injustice, etc.
— How is this experience sensitizing me to issues of sexism in speech and action?
— Am I a safe person for those of the opposite sex to be around?
— Is God calling me to any specific action steps?

Evangelical: The Word-Centered Life
• No one knows the human authorship of our New Testament book of Hebrews. Some scholars have suggested that Priscilla (see Acts 18) may have written the book which could account for its anonymity as well as its frequent use of feminine perspectives. This question can never be answered with any assurance, but it can be a good exercise to read through Hebrews