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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Isn’t it time we allowed woman to teach and preach in local churches?
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a female professor who claimed officials at a prominent Southern Baptist seminary told her to leave because women are biblically forbidden from teaching men. Sheri Klouda was the only female professor teaching at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s School of Theology when officials decided not to renew her contract in 2006. Seminary officials said her contract wasn’t renewed based on ecclesiastical decisions protected under the First Amendment’s religion clauses. A judge agreed, ruling in their favor Wednesday. {Associated Press}
While I agree with the judge that a religious organization should be allowed to determine their doctrine, and that privledge is something protected under the first amendment’s religion clause, I’m not so sure I agree with the stand that women should not teach or pastor in a local church? Many use the Apostle Paul’s comment about women being silent in services and if they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home. But upon close study, one can find that during that time, there was a big conversion of prostitutes who were used to being rebellious and Paul made this rule to keep order in the local church. Others use the fact that only men were called to be disciples, but another close study of the New Testament gospels reveals several names of women who Paul called “helpers” which should be interpreted “disciple” in the original context. But the really nasty people say that a woman is suppose to submit to the man, so how is it that a women has any business teaching and preaching to men? But do Woman anointed to teach and lead by God’s precious Holy Spirit really go against this principle? Who can deny that there are many instances in the bible where woman did greater and more courageous things than any man in the bible? Was it not mainly women at the foot of the cross when Jesus was dying for our sins?
So let’s have some dialogue- should woman be allowed to teach, preach and pastor in a local church? Anybody attend a church that has a woman teacher or Pastor? Is it really much different ministry than a when a man hold’s those positions? What are your theological thoughts and what scriptures do you base your beliefs on?
