| The idea came to me after hearing about the New | | | | She asked if he wanted some kind of security, or if he |
| Baptist Covenant at the Georgia World Congress | | | | wanted to come along to give the money to her, and |
| Center this February, 2008. I met a woman who was | | | | he said no. His wife believed that cash would not be |
| ordained, so I asked Cindy to experiment with putting | | | | accepted. Maria was a volunteer, a check would be |
| Rev. in front of her name. A successful female pastor | | | | found. So he gave Rev. Cindy 40 bucks and his card, |
| I met wouldn't use the Rev. title. I wondered why? | | | | and he told Rev. Cindy not to return the change. |
| As a volunteer, the Cindy gave only a few people their | | | | Rev. Cindy went to her, placed the money on her |
| packets, and even fewer her card. The volunteers | | | | American Gulag book, and waited until she had finished |
| were church members mostly, but there was one | | | | talking to people who were asking questions. |
| female pastor. When this woman gave her card to | | | | "You are going to lunch!" Rev. Cindy said. |
| one woman who was a church organizer, she found | | | | "But I already told people I would volunteer!" she |
| that there was a need to help this organizer, we will | | | | protested! |
| call her Maria, go to the Al Gore luncheon. | | | | "My reputation is on the line, and you have to go! I |
| Leaving the welcome center 15 minutes early, Rev. | | | | cannot return the money! How will I find him in a crowd |
| Cindy decided to ask people what they thought about | | | | that big!?" Rev. Cindy stated. There was no argument. |
| breaking line. The first person looked a little like Red | | | | Then she opened her arms and hugged Rev. Cindy, |
| Skelton, and was jovial, but he said he could not let | | | | and said that she would text message him. Rev. Cindy |
| anyone break line because the people behind him | | | | left her and went to the already moving line that was |
| would not enjoy or think it was fair. Rev. Cindy told him | | | | near the end. As Rev. Cindy walked in, because she |
| that if he had let her stand with him, then she would | | | | was wearing a beret that a Lutheran woman had |
| only have him to talk to, and it would not be as | | | | given her, the man with the donation easily found her, |
| interesting as talking to people in the line perhaps, so | | | | and asked if Maria had come. The only response was |
| thanked him for his honesty. | | | | faith. He must have wondered how she could text |
| The next person Rev. Cindy talked to gave the same | | | | message if she did not have enough money to attend. |
| excuse. She was a young black woman with a white | | | | She met a head honcho with Jimmy Carter's |
| suit and rhinestones and studs ornamentation on her | | | | denomination, and told him how she was excluded |
| beautiful suit. | | | | from being a chaplain at Grady Hospital because they |
| Many people later, perhaps 20, an elderly man said he | | | | required two years of pastoring a church. |
| could not because he was not in line. The President of | | | | So Rev. Cindy found a chair in the far corner with |
| Mercer University approached him and shook his hand, | | | | seminary students and a teacher of theirs, who had |
| so he turned away from me and greeted this | | | | the same last name as Maria, and lived in Abilene, |
| University President. All of these people were very | | | | Texas. Rev. Cindy introduced them later online. Maria is |
| ethical with line keeping and importance. | | | | an activist with immigration. Her main job is organizing |
| Several people were on their cell phones, so Rev. | | | | ministries. |
| Cindy walked past them. More than 60 people were | | | | The next place Rev. Cindy went to was an |
| not open to talking or line breaking, not light hearted, | | | | exploitation class for children and adults, and the |
| and not at ease with bending the rules to help an | | | | ministers who would go to Thailand and help women |
| unimportant person. The University President did not go | | | | figure out another way to survive other than |
| to the end of the line. | | | | prostitution. She met a reporter and talked to him |
| There was a woman wearing royal purple. She had | | | | about Indonesia on her way. His son is a teacher on |
| blond hair and turquoise eyes. Rev. Cindy told her how | | | | Bali. With the tsunamis and earthquakes, political unrest, |
| beautiful she was and the story about line breaking. It | | | | mud volcanoes, and real volcanoes, so there is enough |
| was not about getting there early or first. The food | | | | to allow worry. Rev. Cindy connected spiritually with |
| was not important. What was important was finding | | | | him on this cause. |
| out if the people were light hearted and if they were | | | | There were no people clamoring to give Rev. Cindy |
| willing to help someone who wasn't that important. | | | | pulpit time, nor ministry time, but she did speak with a |
| Rev. Cindy had found that there were people who | | | | Cooperative Baptist head honcho, and told him where |
| were not that happy, and not very helpful. A man | | | | what church in the CBF she attends. Women do not |
| started talking to us. He was amazed that people | | | | preach there. He told her he would not go to that |
| were not more playful, and less than helpful. They both | | | | church for that reason. There are no churches closer. |
| said they would let me break line. | | | | The nursing homes, hospitals, funeral homes will use |
| So then Rev. Cindy told them about Maria, and how | | | | most men who are ordained, and pay them. Women |
| she could not afford to go to the luncheon with Al | | | | have a harder time. Where are the networks? Where |
| Gore. She gave her card to the man when he said he | | | | is the good 'ol boys or good 'ol girls network to get |
| wanted to help Maria, and that next year there would | | | | women into the pulpit? There was a woman speaker |
| be a fund to help people in need for things like the Al | | | | to the Baptist New Covenant who was ordained. |
| Gore Power Point presentation. | | | | Where does that leave Rev. Cindy? |