Let's Get a BA in Homemaking

I am so angry right now that it's probably not a good idea for me to be writing something. It seems as though this blog is turning into a torrent of anger against the SBC, but maybe that's the theme of my spiritual formation this semester. Maybe God is leading me to define myself in terms of what theologically bothers me.

So Southwestern Theological Seminary (a mere 1.5 hours from Baylor) issued a statement today that basically says that only men are fit for pastorships. Okay, not a big surprise. Southwestern is SBC and since that's in the Faith and Message, that's not that unexpected. But holy firestorm Batman, I continued to read the article and suddenly it went from being marginally annoying to downright discriminatory. Southwestern (as of last year) is offering a BA in Homemaking. Yes, that relic from the 1950s. Public high schools don't even offer "homemaking" as a class anymore because it's discriminatory.

Now please don't misunderstand me. I have a lot of respect for people who can cook and clean and sew clothing. For men and women that decide to stay at home. Stay at home parents do way more work than anyone else I know and let's face it, I fail at all aspects of doing housework. But, to institutionalize the idea that women are only fit to be homemakers disgusts me. It would be the equivalent of saying that all women could do is be [insert activity]. It's not homemaking, but the lack of options being presented here. I do think that more colleges should offer courses in homemaking, because it's useful to anyone to know how to sew on a button or cook without burning the house down. But I think anyone should be able to take those courses.

What also bothers me is that by explicitly saying that women are only good for working in the home and being subservient to their husbands, the administration is laughing in the face of all the women that did profound works in the Bible. Ruth wasn't subservient- she took on a man's role in securing her livelihood. Deborah led Israel. Mary and Mary Magdalene and woman #3 were the ones that took the initiative to go to Jesus' tomb. The Bible is full of strong women that weren't subservient to anyone, and Southwestern is making a mockery of their contributions.