Seems like I can't get dialogue without controversy - so here's one that will set the posters posting! Should women be in the ministry? What is your opinion and how would you support it? Here are some Scriptures used in the debate.
1 Corinthians 14:33-35 - 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
Galatians 3:26-29 - 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Matthew 28:1-10 - 1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
These are three Scriptures used for either side of the debate. Are there others? What do you think? Is there a difference between being on a pastoral staff and being a lead pastor? Should there be any restrictions?
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When Quoting Scripture Inflicts Harm
6 years ago
19 comments:
My answer is very simple...Absolutely YES. I think it would be hypocrytical for us to say women "don't belong" in the ministry. To be honest it sounds rather ridiculous when people say things like this.
In the time when the book of Corinthians was written, women were not biblically educated and for that reason were not allowed to speak in church but rather pose questions to their husbands. This was because men WERE biblically educated at that time, and were able to answer many of the questions of their spouses.
I believe that with the proper training, education, and call from God, that a woman CAN be in the ministry. I believe that a woman can be anything from an intern (yes I know... of course I would say that) all the way up to a Pastor of her own church.
This is my opinion...
What's the point Reverend? You have already made up your mind, why trifle with "dialogue"?
All that dialogue is .. is a way to talk people to death until they see it your way. Right?
Update! This has already been settled long ago.
Bob - sorry you feel the way you do - I don't believe I have given my opinion on this post yet - I simply presented the question. I will post some comments left on my FaceBook page today as well...
I am old fashioned. I never believed in women in ministry - officially. In reality we all are ministers. I just can't see it officially recognized in the church. Puddy Neall
As a supporting role absolutely ex.youth pastors, assistant pastors, christian education.....as for the lead role in a church.. Senior Pastors should be men. Lots of reasons for my opinion that I won't get into now . O.K I am ducking before someone throws something lol Lorraine Davis
Perhaps it all started when women were facing the lions just like the men, with just as much courage (if not more). Rick Andrews
Yes we do have a place in ministry as both elders and deacons. We are called according to the gifts God gave us. Just as God gave gifts and graces to men and calls them, so he calls the women. Today with the world hurting as it is, there is a need for the nurturing healing touch of women. I know for me personally, I am not called to be an elder, but a deacon, but I support women that are serving and being called to serve as elders. Marie Ebersole
Since I am an Elder and lead pastor I will go with a yes on both questions. Like many, many other women, I have simply gone where God has led. And sometimes that takes more courage than even facing the lions;) Laurie Gates Ward
3 Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behaviour, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, 4so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word ... Read More of God may not be discredited. <-- Titus Basically i believe they can and do play a support role and are crucial for nurturing the faith of other women, but as for the lead role I believe it is man's responsibility to lead and direct. Women multitask, listen well, and have a lot to offer. To me there just a different part of the Body of Christ. Justin Weisbrod
Seems like you are ducking the issue Ray. The fact that you posted the question makes it appear that the issue remains open for you. However the UM Church as been ordaining women for over 50 years. Unless I badly misunderestimate your age, that means you vowed at your ordination that you had studied and supported UM polity. Have you had a recent change of heart? Or, perhaps, as your orignial post stated, are you just trying to be "controversial"?
I meant to attribute that last post -- Rick Andrews
Hey Rick - thanks for your post. The question was not what I believed or even what our denomination believed.
The questions were: Should women be in the ministry? What is your opinion and how would you support it?
I then listed three Scriptures that people have used in this discussion over the years.
One poster assumed my belief. I merely said I hadn't given my opinion in this post yet. I will, I simply wanted to hear others first.
By the way, I haven't heard a good argument or debate either way yet!
I would like to bring up Deborah, one of the Judges in the old testament [Judges 4-5]. She was a wife, a singer of songs, and a prophetess who led Israel, settled disputes among them, and even delivered God's commands to a MALE.
When the guy was too scared to go into battle alone she told him, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman."
We can look at this statement and Deborah's leadership in one of two ways: Perhaps women in leadership is God telling males that we have utterly failed Him or this is a statement that qualifies the social inequality status and taboo of women in leadership at the time.
In today's world, Deborah would've been a worship leader, a pastor, a prophetess, an elder, or a deacon.
The verse in 1Cor 14 speaks about women speaking to inquire about something. What WOULD it look like if every 5 seconds an uneducated person (not just a woman) stopped a sermon because they were without understanding? As a child, I can recall whispering to my parents as I sat in church "What does THAT mean? Who does THAT? Where did He get THIS?" What if I, as a 10 year old (before I was a man at 12 by jewish tradition lol) called out to the pastor? Disorder would erupt.
Women's homes were used as churches in the new testament, it was a woman named Esther who changed the heart of a king. Jesus appeared to women first and told them to testify to what they had seen after his resurrection.
I know an argument against women in leadership is that it can put a strain into the other roles a woman holds in her life either as mother or wife. Yet the same goes for men in leadership as provider, father, and husband.
A judge or church leader should be able to give wise/sound counsel. It is obvious that women were not able to give knowledgeable, wise counsel at the time Paul wrote his letters.
Unless God all of a sudden changed his mind between testaments (even though He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow so I highly doubt that) he's been using women in leadership roles and pastoral roles very long before this debate was even conceived.
We probably wouldn't even be having this debate if women were not as educated (and now the stats are showing) more educated then men in general these days.
Josef,
Please tell me you are going into ministry. It's obvious that you know your Bible very well and you are a teacher.
I think God created us equally, gave each of us different gifts, and uses us differently. The question is not really whether women should be in ministry. The question is who should women minister to. The answer, I believe is up to the individual, and the individual bodies of Christ (the churches).
Some churches can accept the leadership of woman, may need more of a healing touch, someone better able to multitask, someone given to education. That might be a church that is more comfortable with a woman. Yet, we are all different. Not every woman has these gifts, and some men have then in great abundance.
Ministry is about leadership. In order to lead, you must have followers. As a church is willing to follow a woman's lead in ministry, so shall she lead.
A woman is just as able to teach the word of god as a man is. So why not have them serve in ministry.
Some may even be better at it.
Tom H
I enjoy reading opinions, but other than Josef, there are not many supported opinions. Is it just something you believe or not or is there Biblical reasons for or against? How can we know the truth if we only go on what we think or what society says?
Yes, If God calls, He will equip.
A woman is just as able to teach the word of god as a man is. So why not have them serve in ministry.
As long as they teach the word of God to other women or children. Not to men.
I haven't forgotten my promise to write on this subject - just trying to get my thoughts together...
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