Men allowed?

I shudder to think of all the accusations I lay myself open to when I say this, but ... are men allowed in church? Or to put it another (dangerous) way, has the Christian Church in the UK become a religious insitution run by women for women? Before you all rush to the "respond" or even the "report" button let me explain that I have been a member of "Priests for the Ordination of Women", have voted for women bishops and strongly support the equal ministry of women at every level in the church. I am also not so blind to have failed to notice that senior leadership of the church in the UK is still dispropotionately exercised by men. But still I have a question.

I was singing the final hymn in church last Sunday when it hit me. I was in a church I rarely attend but I was concious that it was not atypical of many I have been in recently. What struck me was this ... The person who welcomed me, the two lesson readers, the intercessor, the organist, the priest, the person who took my collection, the church warden, the people who made me coffee, all these wonderful people had one thing in common - they were all women. I was not alone in my gender - there were three of us males in church that morning - and we were made very welcome, but it was definely a women's place. When I got home I pulled the weekly bulletin out of my pocket (not my handbag!) and read the long list of activities in which I could participate that week - not a single 'man' thing to do!

I suppose this is troubling me more this week because next Sunday is "Back to church Sunday" and I feel guilty that I'm not rushing round inviting all my male friends to join me in church. Help me someone. Has religion always been a 'women's thing' or did we men just loose the plot along the way? Its great that we provide so many activities, and opportunities to serve for women in our churches, and I will rejoice when the first women becomes Archbishop of Canterbury - but let's not forget that men can be Christians as well! Can we. please?