tokens

Token: a. a member of a group (as a minority) that is included within a larger group b. serving or intended to show absence of discrimination (Webster)

We've all seen tokens. The one odd person out in a group is probably there because they were invited to be the token for whatever group they would normally belong to. We don't want to discriminate, so we let people who are different into our group and whatever they say we assume is the opinion of everyone in the group they represent. I was introduced to this concept during my seminary life when I would be the only woman in a class. All of a sudden whatever I said was considered to be what every woman would say. I was the token woman. The problem with this concept is that I rarely speak for anyone but myself. My opinions should probably have one of those conditional statements below them at all times: "Thoughts expressed are solely that of the speaker. We are not responsible for the content of this opinion."

But having spent a little time as a pastor now, I'm beginning to think that perhaps its not such a bad thing that I speak for my gender. Granted, I'm sure there are many women who would disagree with some things that I say because we are all different and will come to different conclusions on all kinds of things. But at the same time I realize that they are not in my place. I am the only woman on my fellow team. I am the only woman writing small group questions for our congregation each week. I am the only woman in my worship planning meeting. If I don't speak from my perspective no one else will. So while I don't claim to speak for all women, I do try to speak as a woman, offering an individual woman's perspective in a place where it is scarce. I thought women were a minority in seminary, but it is nothing compared to being on a pastoral staff in an evangelical church.

It has been an interesting couple of weeks so far in my pastoral life. I sometimes wonder what it is that I am doing and how I got myself into this. But then I remember that the best place to be is where God leads and God has led me here. It is very interesting sometimes when I end up sitting in meetings all day and there aren't any other women. I'm not quite used to it yet. I don't always love feeling like the token woman, but I have come to accept it and I will gladly hold my token status until the day women no longer need a token to have a voice in the church.