THE EVENING I WAS SHUNNED

The year was 1966. I had been brought up in the Brethren church {or maybe 'sect' is a more appropriate term). One memory I have is missing the 1966 World Cup match because we were rebuilding the church hall. The original had been a 'tin tabernacle'. The incident describe here came at a time when I had put myself out to be helpful. I would soon start a university course in Biblical Studies so I was taking an A level course in preparation. I had an inquiring mind and not everyone appreciated my line of questions.

The Brethren were fundamentalist Christians for whom the Bible is the the 'word of God' which could not be questioned. University study took a different, academic, stance after learning the original languages.

This tale happened on a Saturday evening. There was a talk and discussion on freedom and I asked the question about why women were excluded from active involvement, One 'brother' had been a member of the more extreme Exclusive Brethren who refused to socialise with non-members. He stood to his full height (he was a tiny man) and screamed at me theological obscenities). Did I not know the the Bible demanded that women be obedient to men and silent in church. Yes I did know their belief system and prejudice. He finished by declaring me a heretic; demanding thar I be shunned, that is never to have contact or relationship with anyone in the church, including parents, relatives and siblings. Although the man was clearly out of order, the elders phoned and visited me to condemn me. I was 16 or just 17. They criticized my father for not bring me up right. and blamed me for leading him astray.

In fact I shunned them, and freed myself from their church. I told this to a university friend who edited the Anglican journal Crucible. From that came my first published article on the position of women in the church (1973). By the end of the 1970s female vicars were being trained. However I no longer identify as a Christian.

At university the Anglican church behaved similarly.