I was saddened to read the opinion from one student in Friday’s paper regarding the first women’s Chapel of the semester.

It did not sound like she and I attended the same experience. From where I sat, the women of ACU were blessed and challenged by an experienced mentor in the ways of integrity. The topic selected by the speaker was hardly “shallow,” nor was it about the family. It was certainly not “gender programming.”

The message, delivered to ACU graduates in the recent past and updated for this group of women in the fall of 2002, rang true regardless of gender.

There was no spirit of “feminine timidity” in this call, nor in the worship and reflection surrounding it. Perhaps the sound of women’s voices singing absent of male voices is “timid” to the ear of some, or perhaps the sound of a woman’s voice praying or reading scripture might sound “timid” to some?

The heart and spirit of our daily chapel experience is gender-less: to celebrate what God has done and will continue to do. The experience of women’s chapel offers an opportunity for female leadership in worship that is not available in our institution-wide chapel services, as well as providing for the perspective women brings to reflection, praise and prayer. Not better, not worse… just different.

Our experience has nothing to do with perceived “paternalism,” “50’s style gender roles,” or an “ACU brand of proper female behavior,” but rather with the shared experience of coming together before our God with one unique voice, as the women He created us to be. Perhaps for some that is an insult. To me, and I pray many others, it is a reason to celebrate.

Jan Meyer
Director of Student Leadership Development