Holy Husbandry

by Nancy W. Smith

Advent 1995 found us at a place in our journey which caused two trains of thought to collide for me and produce sparks. Quite suddenly and clearly I saw the similarity between Joseph of Nazareth and my own husband, also a Joseph, for in that year it came to pass that we were in the midst of a struggle. Our denominational homeland was not a safe place for women called to ministry. There were "Herods" in the land of Southern Baptists. Joe journeyed with me then to a new land, an "Egypt," so to speak, a salvific place in another denomination where the newborn pastoral identity in me could grow and become strong enough for us to return to our homeland. In July of 1998 I was ordained at our Baptist church to Christian ministry. Thanks be to God.

My prayer is that we as Church might risk offering that same kind of holy husbandry- Joseph's kind- to one another. May we be part of the nurture and safe passage for birthing and bringing forth the Godseed within each person.

Joseph

by Nancy W. Smith

Joseph, Husband, called of God,
    held her Holy Burden near;
Sacred Seed he produced not, nor planted,
    yet purposed to keep, to carry as his own.

Blessed Husband, led of God,
    knowing just that Love required it,
toiled to lift the Hope in her
    over death traps laid by doubt and fear.

Faithful Joseph, Man of God,
    protecting the Promise placed in a woman,
gave them safe passage, so dearly delivered;
    and brought, thus, his Father all honor and praise.

Gracious Joseph, Man of God,
    bearing great likeness to Him in his love,
husbands a devotion that's deeper than deep-
    for Joseph, indeed, and for Jesus, his Lord.

Nancy Smith was the first woman ordained in the Memorial Drive Baptist Church, Houston.