Praying in the face of gender bias

A university student asked to interview me for a class assignment about women in the ministry. While the Church of Christ, Scientist, does not have ministers as such, I practice Christian Science healing, which is a religious and spiritual ministry. I was impressed with the quality and depth of the student’s questions, but several minutes into the interview I said, “Your questions start with the underlying assumption that I approach my life first from the standpoint of being female. I don’t.” Surprised, he asked me to explain.

Christ Jesus didn’t divide his teachings by gender.

My answer indicated that I might start from that standpoint when doing things such as selecting clothes, but that overall, I approach my life from a God-based foundation. Given that God is All-in-all—that is, Father-Mother, Truth and Love—the child of God is not defined by physical characteristics such as gender. Our identity is spiritual because we reflect God, Spirit, and therefore include spiritual attributes. So, in making decisions, I ask myself what is right rather than what I should do as a woman.