My experience of being ousted changed me, as I’m sure this experience is changing you. Being cast out can help us see more clearly the wounded people of this world who know daily abuse and ostracism. We can see vividly that any religious, political or social power that oppresses, denigrates or enslaves people is not of God.

There will always be daring churches like First Baptist of Jefferson City who will not be afraid to live into God’s vision of the full partnership of women and men in ministry. Yet I still fear the perpetuation of the belief in women’s second-class status.