Sexist preacher alert

Want to send a point to sexist preachers who fire 81-year old women from teaching Sunday School, because they say the Bible doesn't permit women to teach men? Send an email to Tim LaBouf.

LaBouf (pictured second from the left), the pastor at Watertown (NY) First Baptist Church, just fired Mary Lambert, an 81-year-old woman who taught Sunday School for more than 50 years, not because of anything related to her performance -- he fired her because of 1 Timothy 2:11-14.

According to LaBouf, First Timothy suggests that "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. God does not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, she must be silent."

This is so ridiculous, I almost don't know where to begin. First, my condolences to Tim LaBouf's wife, if he's married. You must have a great deal of patience, Mrs. LaBouf.

Second, my condolences to the people of Watertown, who have to deal with someone bedrocked in a theology from the 17th century. Not only is LaBouf a pastor in the community, he also sits on the Watertown City Council. (His email is published on this page, so I figure it's fair game to send him a note! Ironically, I don't see any women on the council...)

If LaBouf has children, does this mean that he'll never let them learn from a female teacher? Does he make women enter his Church through a separate entrance? Are they even allowed to show up during certain periods of the month, if they're menstruating?

I know that LaBouf is just over-reacting....and he's doing so because he's already lost this battle. Women are becoming a bigger influence in faith communities (though there are still miles upon miles to cross), and human rights issues pertaining to women have made their way onto the world agenda like never before. We might even have a woman president in 2008, in which case I imagine LaBouf will probably stop saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" before city council meetings.

But just when you think we've crossed a threshold, the head of oppression pops its head up again. It's kind of like "whack-a-mole," as John McCain might say, and it may just take a community of people to cry out and put LaBouf back in his place.

Anyway, send LaBouf a note if you want. Or take his email and sign him up for updates from Future Church, Call to Action, or The Religious Institute for Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing (or others sites that you might know!).