Sunday, September 07, 2008
By Terri Jo Ryan
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 is explicit in its prohibitions against women in leadership roles, specifically as heads of the household and pastors of churches.
Yet, since the Aug. 29 announcement by GOP presidential nominee John McCain that he had selected Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, Baptist officials such as Richard Land and other evangelical Christian leaders have been giddy about the addition of a wife and mother to the Republican ticket.
What gives? How is it permissible — according to these standards — for a woman to run a corporation or a country but not a church or her own family?
Land, president for 20 years of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, was unavailable for comment for this article. But in an interview with Christianity Today last Monday, he said having a woman as commander in chief is not incompatible with his reading of the Bible.
“The only restrictions we find in Scripture are that, for whatever reason, women are not to be in charge of a marriage and women are not to be in charge of a church,” he said. “That has nothing to do with governor or senator or the House of Representatives, or president, or vice president.”
The Rev. Dorisanne Cooper — wife, mother and senior pastor of Lake Shore Baptist Church — says she appreciates the national spotlight lingering on strong women political leaders, be they Palin or former Democratic presidential contender Sen. Hillary Clinton.
“I am grateful for every opportunity women have to realize their potential, whether that be in politics or the ministry, even while asking that they be judged on their policy views, experience, character and competence — rather than their gender — as any political aspirant should be,” she said.
However, she wondered aloud whether the enthusiastic response to Palin’s pick demonstrates “a little opening up in the thinking of some of my more conservative Christian brothers.”
Cooper, whose church is affiliated with the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship rather than the conservative SBC, continues to face disapproval in some Baptist circles for her pastorate of more than six years.
“Only a few years after signing a document (the Baptist Faith and Mission of 2000) that said a husband is the head of the household and a woman should ‘submit graciously’ to his servant leadership, it’s wonderful to see Richard Land and others defend a woman’s right to run this country,” she said.
“I’ll be interested to see if the next step for them will be supporting a woman’s right to pastor a church,” Cooper added.
Palin’s nod is getting kudos from otherwise conservative churchmen in Waco. The Rev. Joe Carbajal, senior pastor of the Mighty Wind Worship Center, for example, says that Scripture should not be twisted to attack female leadership in society.
“Tell me that she is not qualified, tell me you believe that the nation is not ready for a woman VP,” he said, “but don’t tell me she shouldn’t lead because the Bible forbids women leaders. The Bible is filled with wonderful examples of women leaders, so this should not be an issue.”
The Rev. Ronnie Holmes, senior pastor of Church of the Open Door in Bellmead, says he had no trouble accepting Palin as a potential president, should the need arise. The Bible offers several examples of female executive prowess, he said, citing the Old Testament story of Deborah.
In the fourth chapter of Judges, Deborah, a prophetess and judge — in other words, a spiritual and civic leader — takes charge of the Israeli militia under General Barak in a march against the Canaanite captain Sisera.
“Often, in the Bible, women rise to the fore when men don’t take their assigned role,” Holmes said.
The Rev. John Collier, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Waco, another local social conservative, said he sees nothing doctrinally wrong with a woman running for vice president.
The passages cited most often from I Corinthians 14:34-38 and I Timothy 2:11-12 “are applicable today to the church, not in business or government,” he said.
Roman Catholicism, the oldest Christian tradition, also denies women its pastorates and pulpits. But that’s not to say Catholic women don’t hold other positions of power and influence in the church, says the Rev. Timothy Vaverek, pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bellmead.
Citing the financial holdings of Catholic health systems, charities and educational institutions, many run by nuns, Vaverek noted: “They are crackerjack at it.”
Catholics have no problems with female executives in the worlds of business and politics, he adds, noting that Catholic queens in history have been in positions of civil authority for centuries.
Vaverek says that any candidates who live out their values instead of merely preaching them will be of more interest to Catholic voters than the alternatives.
“Catholic voters will be on the lookout, however, for candidates who live out their values in practical ways,” from protecting the right to life of the unborn and condemned prisoners, as well as helping the handicapped and needy, he said.
“Catholic voters will be looking for candidates who, in practical ways, promote the human dignity of every citizen.”
The selection of Palin — an anti-abortion rights, pro-gun rights, social conservative hockey mom — as McCain’s running mate has seemingly electrified the base of the Republican Party, according to post-convention polling and GOP coffers.
Holmes says he was “blown away” by Palin’s acceptance speech Wednesday. He called her “a fresh light” for the party: “I feel very energized by what I saw.”
And, as reported by Christianity Today on Thursday, the Palin pick has even transformed McCain foe James Dobson of Focus on the Family fame into a fan of the GOP ticket.
Seven months after vowing not to vote rather than cast a ballot for McCain, Dobson called Palin “a genuine reformer . . . a deeply committed Christian.” He told his radio audience, “If I went into the polling booth today, I would pull the lever for John McCain.”
Evangelical leaders Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, Kelly Shackelford and Tom Minnery have also expressed their support for McCain and Palin.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
tjryan@wacotrib.com
757-5746
Comments
By Rod Kennedy
Sep 9, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Someone actually thinks that Senator Obama stammers and stutters? Now, that is cognitive dissonance.
By WE WILL WIN
Sep 9, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
McCain and Palin will win. Obama was only able to stammer and studder his way through vague ideas for so long.
By Waco. We do-do.
Sep 9, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
Extremely well written article.
Congratulation, Terri Jo Ryan.
By wanda
Sep 8, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
null, take yer guns, grab palin by the bun and yawl go off and shoot with dick at bushie's cow pie ranch. real men & women have work to tend to.
By P. Flowers
Sep 8, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Null, at least you are consistent in your ignorance. You continue to sound like some gun-totting-back-water hick. It is obvious that Gov. Palin is a selfish and self-centered person. Look how flawless she is, after a five-month delivery of "her last child". She is not just a person that takes care of herself, health-wise. She is a person that is self-centered, anyone else being satisfied is just a by-product. More power to the "power driven woman". However, let's call a spade a spade. You can't be a "pitbull" and a "hockey-mom" and "June Cleaverish" at the same time.
This goes back to what Jesus said, "You can't serve two masters at the same time. You will love the one and hate the other." You can't be the tyrant in business and the cookie-baking mom at the same time and do both well. It is no different for a successful woman than it is for a successful man. Both sacrifice their relationships with their families for the success they crave. So let's be truthful here.
Last week Null, you attacked Mr. Gibson for the actions of his grown son. Yet Gov. Palin is the "new white hope" with her unmarried-knocked-up teen daughter and stay-at-home-husband.
One of the main problems with American society and homes is that so many women are out of their place. God left man in charge, not woman. Either God has changed His mind, which I doubt, or He got it wrong with Adam and Eve.
Some say it's a "new day". My Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and will be the same tomorrow. His judgements will also be the same. So we can try to use scripture to further our own ignorance or we can pray for guidance in our decision as to the best person for the office of president of these United States.
And for you "Mr. Cut-myself-waya-from-the-church, you apparently was looking to the wrong man for an example of God's desire for man to live. Jesus Christ is the only yardstick that man has to measure our satifaction with God. He is our plumbline. The phrase, "What would Jesus do?"; may seem triate, but it is on target. i teach my grandchild to ask themselves this question, whenever they are concerned or confused in making choices in this life. I tell them that is Jesus would not do it; then you don't need to either.
We who are called by His name must be in our proper place, doing our proper thing in order for God to bless our actions, regardless of race, creed or color. If we are out-of-order, God will not be in the outcome of our endeavors.
So we need not look at the man or woman to be perfect in character or deed. For as long as they are on this side of the grave, they will have imperfections. We need to ask God to help us make our choice fore the best persons that fear Him in all aspects of their lives to help lead this country.
By P. Flowers
Sep 8, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Null, at least you are consistent in your ignorance. You continue to sound like some gun-totting-back-water hick. It is obvious that Gov. Palin is a selfish and self-centered person. Look how flawless she is, after a five-month delivery of "her last child". She is not just a person that takes care of herself, health-wise. She is a person that is self-centered, anyone else being satisfied is just a by-product. More power to the "power driven woman". However, let's call a spade a spade. You can't be a "pitbull" and a "hockey-mom" and "June Cleaverish" at the same time.
This goes back to what Jesus said, "You can't serve two masters at the same time. You will love the one and hate the other." You can't be the tyrant in business and the cookie-baking mom at the same time and do both well. It is no different for a successful woman than it is for a successful man. Both sacrifice their relationships with their families for the success they crave. So let's be truthful here.
Last week Null, you attacked Mr. Gibson for the actions of his grown son. Yet Gov. Palin is the "new white hope" with her unmarried-knocked-up teen daughter and stay-at-home-husband.
One of the main problems with American society and homes is that so many women are out of their place. God left man in charge, not woman. Either God has changed His mind, which I doubt, or He got it wrong with Adam and Eve.
Some say it's a "new day". My Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and will be the same tomorrow. His judgements will also be the same. So we can try to use scripture to further our own ignorance or we can pray for guidance in our decision as to the best person for the office of president of these United States.
And for you "Mr. Cut-myself-waya-from-the-church, you apparently was looking to the wrong man for an example of God's desire for man to live. Jesus Christ is the only yardstick that man has to measure our satifaction with God. He is our plumbline. The phrase, "What would Jesus do?"; may seem triate, but it is on target. i teach my grandchild to ask themselves this question, whenever they are concerned or confused in making choices in this life. I tell them that is Jesus would not do it; then you don't need to either.
We who are called by His name must be in our proper place, doing our proper thing in order for God to bless our actions, regardless of race, creed or color. If we are out-of-order, God will not be in the outcome of our endeavors.
So we need not look at the man or woman to be perfect in character or deed. For as long as they are on this side of the grave, they will have imperfections. We need to ask God to help us make our choice fore the best persons that fear Him in all aspects of their lives to help lead this country.
By P. Flowers
Sep 8, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Null, at least you are consistent in your ignorance. You continue to sound like some gun-totting-back-water hick. It is obvious that Gov. Palin is a selfish and self-centered person. Look how flawless she is, after a five-month delivery of "her last child". She is not just a person that takes care of herself, health-wise. She is a person that is self-centered, anyone else being satisfied is just a by-product. More power to the "power driven woman". However, let's call a spade a spade. You can't be a "pitbull" and a "hockey-mom" and "June Cleaverish" at the same time.
This goes back to what Jesus said, "You can't serve two masters at the same time. You will love the one and hate the other." You can't be the tyrant in business and the cookie-baking mom at the same time and do both well. It is no different for a successful woman than it is for a successful man. Both sacrifice their relationships with their families for the success they crave. So let's be truthful here.
Last week Null, you attacked Mr. Gibson for the actions of his grown son. Yet Gov. Palin is the "new white hope" with her unmarried-knocked-up teen daughter and stay-at-home-husband.
One of the main problems with American society and homes is that so many women are out of their place. God left man in charge, not woman. Either God has changed His mind, which I doubt, or He got it wrong with Adam and Eve.
Some say it's a "new day". My Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and will be the same tomorrow. His judgements will also be the same. So we can try to use scripture to further our own ignorance or we can pray for guidance in our decision as to the best person for the office of president of these United States.
And for you "Mr. Cut-myself-waya-from-the-church, you apparently was looking to the wrong man for an example of God's desire for man to live. Jesus Christ is the only yardstick that man has to measure our satifaction with God. He is our plumbline. The phrase, "What would Jesus do?"; may seem triate, but it is on target. i teach my grandchild to ask themselves this question, whenever they are concerned or confused in making choices in this life. I tell them that is Jesus would not do it; then you don't need to either.
We who are called by His name must be in our proper place, doing our proper thing in order for God to bless our actions, regardless of race, creed or color. If we are out-of-order, God will not be in the outcome of our endeavors.
So we need not look at the man or woman to be perfect in character or deed. For as long as they are on this side of the grave, they will have imperfections. We need to ask God to help us make our choice fore the best persons that fear Him in all aspects of their lives to help lead this country.
By null
Sep 8, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
Palin and McCain have my vote all the way. NRA supporters!
By PagansVote
Sep 7, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this
Ahhh, the hypocrisy. I do love to see the Evangelicals having to split hairs now that their political ambitions are being spotlighted. So which is it SBC??? Suddenly it's ok for women to lead your country but not your congregations? This is why I seperated from the church so many years ago, between the hypocrisy and speaking from both sides of your 'mouth', I've had enough. Religion and politics DO NOT MIX! God/Goddess does not take sides in the political aims and ambitions of mortals.
And a big 'thank-you' to Pastor Joe Carbajal for asking people to not twist the scriptures to attack female leadership in our society. I believe Pastor Joe that you lead by example, and I miss our discussions on the religion blog! Hopefully more narrow minded Evangelicals/Fundies will follow your lead!
By Arce
Sep 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
Palin described herself as a "pit bull with lipstick". I find it objectionable that you put a fantastic preacher and pastor in contrast to a woman who, we are discovering, is as mean and vicious in her political life as the worst of the animals she described herself as being like. I think it demeans the pastor to put her next to Palin.
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