I think in the case of the youth ministry, what their trying to achieve is necessary. Today's youth want to dismantle the exclusionism of religious patriarchy. The still prevalent imposition that God can only be male and that women can only be second class members of any body of believers – that those born straight-males come first in human value – remains the source of spiritual abuse. Patriarchy continues to run deep in the religious structure, to extremes in a lot of congregations.

The Church is bleeding membership. Patriarchy and exclusionism are the reasons for spiritual abuse and for the diminishing memberships in congregations. Maybe it's time pastors and believers alike started "perceiving exclusivity" where it patently does exist. It's simply not possible to be inclusive when everything in the church structure and language serves the religious patriarchal hierachy. Since at least the time of the Nicene Council, the church has been an exclusive men first club.

Change is uncomfortable. And, it's hard. But, maybe it's past time for a change.