Clergy Parking?

This morning I was on hospital duty visiting with a church member. Seems like a simple tasks for the morning, right?

Little did I know that my pastoral identity would be in question with just my choice of parking space.

I was overjoyed to learn the hospital I was visiting today had clergy parking. I'd never noticed it before, yet it was very close to the entrance of the main building. For this gift, I was grateful, because I am clergy person. (And just learned the headache of doing one's taxes as a clergy recently. . . don't be jealous: it is complicated!). Before locking my car, I placed my business card on the dashboard in case anyone questioned why I parked there.

But, as I walked away from my parking space toward the hospital I was quickly met by a police officer.

"Miss, which one of your cars did you just park?"

"The tan one, right there" I quickly replied.

"You know that is clergy parking, right?"

"Yes, I do. I am clergy." I replied.

And with a fatherly sort of tone of voice he subjected: "Now, Miss, are you sure you are telling the truth about this?"

"Of course I'm telling the truth. I am clergy, although I know I don't look like what you would expect."

(Mind you, I feel I'm wearing an outfit today that I feel my urban young business friends would be proud to have on. Interesting earrings, trendy shoes, etc. I look professional and not old.)

I went on to ask him if he would like to see my business card which he did. After starring at it for a few minutes (I was afraid at this point he would then want all my other identification-- driver's licence, etc), he said, "Ok, I guess I believe you. You can go ahead."

"My life is so weird," I thought to myself as I walked away.

Yet, again, another reason why it is easier to make your way in the professional world as a man. I can imagine that if my young male colleague if he had been in the same place at the same time would not have occurred.

While I had heard the stories from my female clergy friends about being denied access to parishioners because the hospital staff didn't believe they were actually ministers, I didn't think this would happen to me.

Today I joined the club of young female clergy who have been interrogated while trying to make simple hospital calls.

And, I'm happy to report that I did what I needed and made it out without any additional questioning from my police officer friend. I had a good visit with my congregation member which was worth all the trouble to get inside.

Oh the joys of being a young woman in ministry! Yet, I'm very proud to be changing the stereotypes that all pastors are men or they are women dressed in boring clothes!