One day I was listening to a minister on a local television program speaking out against the growing number of women preachers. Basing his arguments primarily on the account of creation in the second chapter of Genesis in the Bible, he stated that God created man before woman and then made woman from man's rib. To him this meant that women occupied an inferior or subordinate position compared to men in God's scheme of things. He concluded by saying that for women to have authority over men, in church or in any area of life, was morally wrong, as it went against God's order.

As I considered his words, I inwardly rejoiced that there is a more enlightened and inclusive interpretation of the Holy Scriptures—one that blesses both men and women. It is based on the account of creation given in the first chapter of Genesis, where God made man—male and female—in His image and likeness.

What good news for women! The real woman of God's creating did not originate from the rib of a man, but instead has the same divine source, God. She is not less than man, or man's subordinate. And what good news this chapter has for men, too! God's man never originated from dust. All of us, in truth, are created spiritually to express both male and female qualities: intelligence and meekness, strength and tenderness, creativity and love. Each of us belongs equally to the one and only creator—God, the divine Mind.

Science and Health promises, "Another change will come as to the nature and origin of man, and this revelation will destroy the dream of existence, reinstate reality, usher in Science and the glorious fact of creation, that both man and woman proceed from God and are His eternal children, belonging to no lesser parent" (p. 529).

In God's eyes, the male and female are equal aspects of His divine creation, man. No idea of His creating is inferior or destined to live a life hedged round with limits and restrictions. All of us are free to express our God-given talents to the fullest, to follow in the way that God leads, even if this involves choosing a different career or direction than conventional thinking would expect.

These insights were helpful as I prayed for more equality in my church. My adopted country is staunchly patriarchal. This greatly influenced the voting at church elections. The male members of my church were always chosen for the prominent or leading position. Female members were elected to the quieter, supporting roles. Refusing to accept this situation as normal, I upheld in my prayers the true sense of creation. These words from Proverbs greatly supported me: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (3:5, 6).

The result was twofold. At the next election in church, I was unanimously voted to be the one who conducts church services on Sundays and the Wednesday evening testimony meetings. And from that moment on, the ratio of women to men in leading positions at church equalized. Today, the female members continue to play active roles, with one of them in the full-time practice of Christian Science. This helped to change the status of our place of worship from that of a Christian Science Society to that of a branch Church of Christ, Scientist. This change also attracted more members of our community, of all age groups, to our doors.

We have nothing to lose but much to gain as a result of accepting the true sense of creation—where the sons and daughters of God are equal.