EMHCs - why more women than men

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Um…I don’t do it because I’m particularly fond of doing it. It feels like something I would much rather a priest or deacon be doing. I do it because they don’t have enough volunteers. That isn’t true of everyone, but by the same token at holidays there isn’t anyone pushing others out of the way to get a spot.

Having said that, I suppose it is a role that would be attractive to someone who did have “clergy envy.” I just don’t know anyone really like that. (Ok, maybe one who is really chafed that women cannot be priests, but that is only the one.)
 
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FWIW, I’d note in my parish lectors are about 75% male. Different topic, I know, but just an observation.

Alter Servers are about 50/50.
 
PetraG said:
Having said that, I suppose it is a role that would be attractive to someone who did have “clergy envy.” I just don’t know anyone really like that. (Ok, maybe one who is really chafed that women cannot be priests, but that is only the one.)
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I don’t think that’s fair or charitable. I love being an EMHC, but have no interest in being a priest.
 
Augustinian said:
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phil19034:
However, I do know a priest today who prefers female lectors when all things are equal.
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Nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

A lot of men prefer to work with women, and if the priest you know is one of them, he’s not that rare of a bird.
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Not really saying there is anything wrong with it.

Just providing reasons why SOME parishes have developed a culture of primarily female lectors & EMHCs.

God Bless
 
In my opinion there is something wrong with a priest preferring one gender over the other. It’s not any less wrong than preferring one race over another. Lumping people into categories rather than as individuals is never good.
 
I think I said I only know one person who might feel that way based on pointed comments. Other than that, I would say we don’t have any EMsHC who seem to think they have a vocation to the priesthood, male or female. It is a very small sample size of parishioners and more than not are long in the tooth.
 
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Perhaps I misunderstood your meaning. It sounded like you were countering the point that women like this ministry by suggesting that suggesting that the women who do enjoy this ministry are those with “clergy envy.”

People volunteer for a broad range of reasons. I like to think that if anyone is in a ministry, it’s because they felt that’s how God was calling them to serve.
 
Zach said:
Is there anyone else here who goes to churches where there are an equal amount of male and female EMHCs, readers, cantor’s, servers? That’s how it is in the several Churches I attend. By reading this thread I’m beginning to think every church besides the ones I attend it is females who overwhelmingly volunteer.
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I think when most Parishes truly has a balanced amount, it’s due to a conscious effort by the pastor or ministry lead to recruit people to maintain a balance.

If you leave it just to volunteers, men will volunteer less. In my experience, men only volunteer when they really want to do something or when specifically asked to help with something.

(though I believe men in the younger generations: Gen X and younger are more apt to volunteer than previous generations)

God Bless
 
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Zach said:
In my opinion there is something wrong with a priest preferring one gender over the other.
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Here we disagree. Some men just prefer the company of women, and its just a factor in the personality and not something wrong.
 
One area that is overwhelming male in every church I’ve attended is collectors. Do others also experience this?
 
Zach said:
One area that is overwhelming male in every church I’ve attended is collectors. Do others also experience this?
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Historically, yes. But I am starting to see more female collectors and ushers
 
casslean said:
Perhaps I misunderstood your meaning. It sounded like you were countering the point that women like this ministry by suggesting that suggesting that the women who do enjoy this ministry are those with “clergy envy.”

People volunteer for a broad range of reasons. I like to think that if anyone is in a ministry, it’s because they felt that’s how God was calling them to serve.
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No, I mean I can’t think of a reason women would volunteer for this particular thing instead of just generally being more likely to volunteer at church based on a general call rather than a person-to-person request.

Few parishes have more than a relative few volunteers for this, so of course in some places it will be more women than men or vice versa, just based on chance.
 
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PetraG said:
No, I mean I can’t think of a reason women would volunteer for this particular thing instead of just generally being more likely to volunteer at church based on a general call rather than a person-to-person request.
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I understand. My apologies.
 
Augustinian said:
Here we disagree. Some men just prefer the company of women, and its just a factor in the personality and not something wrong.
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I understand. There are women who say they prefer working with men. Personally I prefer company based on individuals not on categories of people.
 
The meal is indeed complete and that’s all you are permitted in your parish. But if you had the EMsHC whom you say you don’t need, you would then be able to offer the more complete sign; CCC1390 "…but “the sign of communion is more complete when given under both kinds…”
 
There is NO SUCH THING as “more complete” when it comes to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is in and of itself COMPLETE. The Consecrated Hosts are FULLY 100% Jesus Body Blood Soul Divinity. The Precious Blood is FULLY 100% Jesus Body Blood Soul Divinity. EACH IS COMPLETE/JESUS!!!
[/quote]

^^^^^ This is quite correct.
 
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