Power Shift- Women in Focus

February 11, 2007, Harvard University announced Drew G. Faust as the 28th president-elect of the institution (http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/02.15/99-president.html). Professor Faust is a woman, the very first woman to head this 367-year old institution. That announcement got me thinking, "Are we witnessing an important power shift in our world; a power shift that may see more and more women taking leadership positions?

To put things in perspective, Dr. Faust is an eminent scholar who is qualified in every respect for the position. But seen in a historical context, I think her appointment is significant and an indication of a paradigm shift that seem to favor women in leadership. It is even more significant when one recalls that Harvard is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious institution of higher learning in the country today.

If we step out from the impressive, almost intimidating, academic hallways of Harvard, to the proud and ambitious political arena, represented by the Capitol and the White House, we also observe this gradual but consistent shift towards women power. For the first time in American history, a woman, Nancy Pelosi, is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Also, for the first time in American politics, there is a woman, Hillary Clinton, who actually stands a real chance of becoming the president of US, the most powerful nation on earth today, in 2008. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not endorsing Hillary; neither am I saying that she is even sure to win the election for that matter. But it is significant to me that here is a woman who is currently leading all the other democratic presidential contestants in opinion polls. It seems to me that the American people, like the rest of the world, are becoming more disenchanted with men's leadership, and are increasing more apt to consider women leadership for change.

What of the economic scene? In 2006, there were 10 women CEOs out of the Fortune 500 companies, 20 out of Fortune 1000 companies (http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/womenceos/).
This year's Forbes 400 richest individuals in America included 51 women (http://www.usatoday.com/money/2004-09-23-forbes-richest-list_x.htm).

Again, I do not see these marginal improvements as a surprise, as though women are somehow incapable of as much achievement as men. No, far from it. I am simply wondering out aloud here, "Is it possible that our society is finally waking up to the reality that men are not always capable of fixing the mess our world is in, and are therefore increasingly leaning on women to play more leading roles than they have done in the past?" Is this a trend we are likely to see increase as we advance through the 21st century? It does seem very probable to me.

It does appear, from Scriptures at least, that when men fail in taking leadership roles, God always found a woman to use. Take the case of Deborah in Judges 4. A whole nation was under siege for 20 years. The men cowered under political correctness, financial greed, and moral ineptitude. Finally, and thank God for that, a woman stood up, backed by God and strengthened by conviction, saved a whole nation from oppression. Remember when Jesus was crucified? His disciples locked themselves up in a room out of fear of being reprimanded by the Jews. That included the mighty and eloquent Peter, the 'favored' James and John. But it was a woman, and bless God for her, who was out at the grave, weeping and wanting to anoint the body of Jesus Christ. Her name was Mary Magdalene. Inspired by love and driven by gratitude, she was courageous enough to risk her life for Jesus. The Lord rewarded her love; she became the very first human to see Christ after he was risen from the dead, and the very first to share the good news: 'He is risen!' Read it up in John 20; it is a moving story.

Where are the women that are being called for this hour? Will they have the courage to serve, the fortitude to bear pain for the common good, secured enough in themselves not to 'prove' anything? I am thinking that the next wave of change the world will know, spiritually a well as politically, may well be led by women and people of minority.