Friday, May 05, 2006

Enough of this crap

Okay. I'm really a pretty reasonable person. I'm the type of feminist who does NOT insist that every slight or inconvenience is about my suffering at the hands of the evil patriarchy. HOWEVER, after 17 years of ordained ministry and in a time and place where clergywomen are not all that rare, should I have to put up with being chased by the security guard in the hospital parking lot?

"Excuse me--ma'am? Ma'am? MA'AM?????

"Yes?"

"That spot you just parked in is reserved for clergy."

"Yes, I know."

"So why'd you park there?"

"Because I'm clergy."

Eyes narrow, arms cross. "What church"

"________ Presbyterian"

Shrug. "Okay--just checking."

Now I ask you all--would a well dressed, forty-something male have had this same experience?

18 comments:

will smama said...

seriously!

Jody Harrington said...

No.

Jules said...

Two thoughts: 1)I hate that shit.
2) Holy crap! Clergy reserved spots? Cool!

Anonymous said...

It's' kind of nice that they don't make you go inside and get a dumb old pass which makes the convenience of clergy parking rather inconvenient, but then you have to deal with the stupid people. Grr.

Unknown said...

Sheesh.

Sue said...

Aaarrrrggghhhh!!

Anonymous said...

I liked cheesehead's thoughts ... they mirrored mine grin

Unknown said...

I thought you said you were in California, not the south. But seriously, no a male would not, even if he wasn't in a suit.

Teri said...

ARGH!
I have totally had that experience at the hospital. When I was KNOWN as a chaplain in the hospital, I was harassed for parking in the chaplain spots.
oy.
I'm sorry.
I've never met you, but I think you look like a pastor.
:-)

Revem said...

Oh My goodness

Hugs!

This sucks!
There is alot to be said for denom's that use dog collars.

Blessings Em

Anonymous said...

I'm thnking that this would be great as the opening lines of a book ...

actually I've been thinking books all day :)

Jane Ellen+ said...

*sigh*

Collars help, but still don't solve the issue; I've been questioned even when I'm in clericals.

The last time I had to stop after work at the local pharmacy/convenience store, someone assumed I was one of the employees ("hair products are in Aisle 2, ma'am.").

Pastor Katherine said...

Wow.

I would have either burst into tears or hauled off with a very unpleasant speech.

The things we go through to respond to our vocation...

kwpershey said...

Whoops, I was signed into my church blog account. That's just me... :-)

kwpershey said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

A similar experience I had was during a phone call from our church's insurance agency.

Secretary: May I speak to the pastor?

Me: Yes. You are speaking to her.

Sec: The PASTOR please.

Me: Right. You are speaking to her. I am the pastor.

Sec. I need to speak to the PASTOR.

Me: You are.

Sec. Are you the pastor's wife? I need to speak to your husband.

Me: I said I am the pastor. I mean I am the pastor, not the pastor's wife.

Sec. A woman?

Me: There are some of us out here, you know.

Sec. Total silence.....then

I need to speak to the pastor.

Me: No. Have your boss call me.

He did and I told him he should really really really have a serious talk with his secretary. Then I spent the day seething--a foolish waste of time, I gues. Anyhow, you have my sympathy. I often wished I was a "dog collar" wearing pastor (strictly not done in my denom.) and now here Jane Ellen says even that did not work.

:-(

LutheranChik said...

It would have been fun to just mess with this guy's head a little, somehow...do a sign of the cross and give him a Dominus vobiscum, etc.

Anonymous said...

singing owl. ouch ouch ouch :(