by Dr. Kristina Campbell
The year was 1971, and there were four women at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities: one in the graduating class, one in the class ahead of us, and two in our class. Gloria Steinem was talking about outrageous acts and everyday rebellions, and the religious community was about to experience both.
Church ladies had a long history in the worship community, and were designated to roles of potluck cooking, rummage sales, maybe singing in the choir, and above all, supporting their husbands—especially if their husbands were pastors.
Then along came a voice like Gloria Steinem. She was no slouch having graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College, and educated about nonviolent protest and grassroots activism while living in India. Many of us were both astounded and delighted to read about the emergence of second wave feminism presented in Ms. Magazine, and we were ready to put some of Gloria’s ideas into action.
I decided to start a Consciousness Raising Group at United. Because there were so few women students, the group was open to seminary employees, wives of students and wives of faculty. There was representation of all aspects of the seminary community. We met weekly and shared our hopes and dreams, our wounds, and our life stories. We wanted the seminary community to make some changes. We requested time to speak at a faculty meeting. Words cannot express the shock and surprise on the faculty faces when they were confronted not only with students and employees, but with their own wives! We wanted a women’s bathroom (there was none) with a Tampax machine (how outrageous!). Student wives wanted to make it clear that they were not to be viewed as free church labor. Faculty wives wanted to drop the role of “Mrs.” and be viewed as full human beings…not simply as appendages. We wanted female professors (there were none), and we wanted to read and study female theologians. Most of all, we wanted to be heard.
It is said that Gloria Steinem’s greatest skill was making people feel seen and heard. This is a critical pastoral skill. She also wanted people to feel free to be their truest selves, and this is essential to a calling to ministry. Gloria’s final book is entitled The Truth Will Set You Free But First It Will Piss You Off, and that is an apt description of the Gospel.
I continue to be inspired by Gloria Steinem, and now adhere to her philosophy of aging: “My role as an older person is to remind us how far we have come, and with age comes the responsibility to keep learning.” And learn we will.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you Gloria Steinem. Well done, good and faithful servant, well done.