Several of you lovely pigeons have sent me links to this article from the NY Times about a body-building Episcopal priest, the Rev. Dr. Amy Richter of Annapolis, MD.
Of course the Times called the article, “The Ripped, Bikini-Clad Reverend,” because it would have been a lot less exciting to call it “Healthy, Strong Female Religious Leader Competes in Body-Building Contest,” but it was such a terrific article I won’t roll my eyes too dramatically. Just a little.
There. Now, having finished rolling my eyes at the headline (which brought back memories of having appeared on the front page of the Sunday Boston Globe sitting on my church steps and holding out a pair of boots to the camera, which the photographer had assured me was just a “test shot”), I have to say that I LOVED this article. This is how we change the conversation, kids. And quite frankly, this is how to handle the media. I wrote to Rev. Richter to ask her if it was her idea to write the article and am waiting to hear back from her. But take a pointer here: if the media contacts you wanting a story about any aspect of embodied ministry or ministerial sexuality, take as much editorial control of the content as you can. If the reporter or producer isn’t willing to work with you, decline the invitation to participate.
One of you wrote that you hoped that this article would inspire the young women in Rev. Richter’s congregation to take up bodybuilding and to see her as a positive role model. I responded that I hoped that Amy’s story would encourage clergy to make our own physical strength and well-being a priority.
It’s Sunday morning so I don’t have time to write more, but may add on to this post later. Thanks to all my alert pigeons who sent me the link.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I am happy to say that this morning after church, I picked up an email from a parishioner which included a link to this article and the sentence, “I loved this article, keep being yourself!” What a gift.
I saw the headline flash across my screen and thought it referred to a ripped bikini. I couldn’t figure out why she would wear a ripped bikini. Glad I slowed down enough to read the article and figure out what actually happened.
You blogged on a Sunday morning? GIRL!
GIRL, I didn’t. I only published it on Sunday morning — I canna tell a lie.
Great inspirational NYT article, but the comments are sort of disturbing? I hope this isn’t typical……cecilia
NYT comments aren’t typical — they are generally more liberal and civil than comments at other papers.
I have mixed feelings about the publicity aspect. Going public about a personal interest that titillates-and even more so by writing an essay for the Times-doesn’t seem to broadcast humility, but instead privileges individualism and fosters the attitude of “I am not cut from the same mold as those other fuddy-duddy religious leaders.” Is that the attitude that we as women leaders want to broadcast? Really? I lift weights myself, and am a priest, but it’s part of my private life, not my public life. Signing on as an ordained person means sacrifice of the self to some degree, at least publicly, not “I can have it all.” [I think you might be making some inaccurate assumptions about “going public” being a choice that Amy Richter made. I can tell you from personal experience that the media is always on the look-out for stories about clergy who don’t fit the old school mold and that if you don’t agree to give them a story, they may just decide to make you into a story! So it’s wise to take editorial control when approached and say, “I’d love to give you a story: why don’t I write it?” As for the rest of your criticism, I think it’s an interesting point of view but it’s not one that I share. I don’t think that the subsuming of individual identity to serve the church or the ministry is theologically warranted or even really healthy. We’ve already had centuries of self-negating, invisible women serving the church and I don’t think it serves anyone — including God — to perpetuate the notion that women are generic beings who should be seen but not heard. This blog is devoted to encouraging embodied and emboldened ministry, which includes helping the public let go of mind-body dualism that leads to discomfort around talking about our physical realities. Particularly in this era where politicians feel perfectly entitled to control and legislate female bodies, it seems more important than ever for female religious leaders to be visible and vocal about our physical lives and integrity. – PB]
In my copy of the NY Times Magazine the title of the same article is: “Heavenly Body”. [That is SO interesting! – PB]
You go girl ! And I am man. It great to know you are human. You “feel”much more approachable. Someone who walk down here wih us rather than on a higher plan and not easily approachable. I wish your church was closer.