When I am Ordained, I shall wear Purple

by Mia Smith (in Fulcrum website Nov 24th)

With acknowledgement to Jenny Joseph's original poem

When I am ordained, I shall wear purple

with killer heels and bright red lipstick

And I shall go round preaching from the Bible

...The liberating truth that Jesus calls women

and tell those who say otherwise that it is they,

not I, who are bad theologians.



I shall sit down with fellow clergy

when we are tired of fighting for equality

and going the extra mile with grace when we are put down,

And we will make up for it:

by encouraging one another as Scripture says,

and praying for those who abuse us,

and rejoicing that we are suffering

(but just a little bit) for Jesus,

And we might even eat some chocolate.



I will adopt the ordination name “Junia”,

and remind those who object,

that there may be a boy named Sue somewhere in the world,

but there probably isn’t.



But now we must face the world,

Who think we are traitors to our sex

For working for the Church

And face our brothers and sisters who think

We are being unbiblical

And face those in our Churches

who have failed to notice the pain this week has brought.

And we will go in the strength of Christ.

We will not turn our backs on our calling

Because God is not finished with the Church,

And He is faithful.



But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am ordained, and start to wear purple.