I was 12 at the time and Dale was soft-spoken and funny and parted his full head of thick

sandy blonde hair so far over to the side that it looked like an unnecessary comb over.

It took just three weeks for him to have a special meeting with my parents at which he informed

them they would have to do something about me because I was answering the Bible trivia

questions too quickly.

It was keeping the boys in the class from having a chance.

There was a reason by the way that we all suddenly had a male Sunday school teacher the

year we turned 12 when before we'd always had women because in the church of Christ

of my childhood, women were not supposed to have any authority over men.

We could not preach or pray out loud or even be ushered at church which means grown women

could no longer teach Sunday school class once the boys were of a certain age.

As a smart and smart-ass girl, I eventually rejected this idea of female inferiority.

I left the church and my parents behind because I will raise my hand when I know the fucking

answer.

Thank you very much.

I even, at the age of 27, finally heard a woman pray out loud in a different denominations

church service.

I even got a degree in religion.

I even got a master's in theology.

I even became an ordained Lutheran pastor.

I even wear clergy collar investments as my professional garb.

I even write books about life and theology and while I may not be allowed to preach in

...