The Unknown Holy Sister

Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became baptized believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” – Acts 19:1-3 (NRSV)

How about you?

Have you received her, the Divine Feminine, a.k.a. the Holy Spirit?

What? You mean you haven’t even heard there is a Divine Feminine, a.k.a. the Holy Spirit, despite the fact that Scripture indicates the Spirit is feminine?

Because patriarchy!?!

At baptism, patriarchy ensures we hear “Father” and “Son” but not “Sister Holy Spirit” or “Really Cool Auntie Holy Ghost.” Patriarchy denies a proper introduction to the Holy Feminine, thereby restricting access to God’s gender fluidity and expansiveness.

I understand. The same thing happened at my baptism and at countless others.

Don’t worry. The fullness of God in our baptism is not constrained by 2,000 years of mis-gendering or un-gendering the Holy Sister.

The good news? It’s not too late to expand how we imagine, envision and encounter God. We can start with these words:

Prayer
Come Holy Sister, Gorgeous Holy Ghost Goddess, Divine Daughter, Awesome Auntie Advocate! Come and fill us with your power. While you’re at it, light up the whole church. You have been missed.

About the Author
Matt Laney is the Senior Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.