a letter to lifetouch

Below is the letter that I wrote to Lifetouch. Lifetouch is the company employed to take the photographs of clergy at North Georgia's Annual Conference this year. I found their advertisement to be sexist and offensive :) I accidentally gave my copy of the flyer to my lay delegate... but I will post it once I get a copy of it. They touched my life in a negative way.

Dear Lifetouch,

My name is Tara Paul and I am an ordained elder in the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and serve as my conference representative for COSROW (Committee on the Status and Role of Women). While I serve on COSROW, I am not writing this in my official capacity on the Conference Advocacy Team, but as a concerned clergy woman.

Last Sunday night, delegates from my district gathered to review the information for Annual Conference. One of the pieces shared with us was an advertisement for clergy pictures to be taken during Annual Conference. This advertisement is the reason for my letter to you today.

We are presented with images on a daily basis that reflect values, viewpoints, theology and ideology. These images are intentional, though the person who encounters these images often is not aware of all of that is behind each image. Almost always these images are manipulated in order to elicit some sort of response. I imagine that none of this comes as a surprise to you.

As I looked through my packet of information and came across the flyer for pictures by LifeTouch, I was taken aback by the two images of clergy that were presented. The closer, more prominent image was of a confident, warm smiling man. His face is prominent and it is inviting. The image positioned behind the male was of a small woman, body away from the camera, arms folded, glasses hiding her eyes and no warmth radiating. She was not only physically in the background but you could feel her distance. These two images juxtaposed revealed a strong man and a weak woman.

As a female clergy, this image startled and saddened me. More and more women are saying yes to the call of God on their lives and yet the struggle to be seen as equal continues. Images where the female clergy are shown as reserved and submissive influence the theology in our churches and impacts how effective women can be. Positive images of women are so hard to find these days. The church is one place where all that women bring can and should be celebrated and not relegated to the back.

My hope is that in the future as you reach out to share your ministry with churches and conferences that you will be mindful of how the images that you show impact the work of God in communities.

May God’s grace prove you stronger,

Rev. Tara Paul