Featured Is Al Mohler Right?

First off, I’m not Southern Baptist.

Is the Convention considered to be a church?
Is its leader considered to be a pastor?
Is Eldership required as a leader of this ecclesiastical organization?

Rob

 

I am.

No, the convention is not a church

No, the leader is not considered to be a pastor/elder in the convention.

No, eldership is not required.

Historically, all have been men and all (perhaps) have been former pastors.

Paul’s instructions in 1 Timothy are to the local church and nothing else.

So, to answer the OP, yes, Mohler is correct, though I don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.

peace to you

 

Are you married?

 

Due to the ambiguity of scripture, or perhaps the ambiguity of our understanding of scripture, the role of women in the ministry of Christ is hotly debated. One side frequently takes their view as a given, i.e. there is no chance their side could be mistaken. The other side, women could play a larger role in ministry than dutiful wife, knows that the more restricted view has apparent support in scripture.

Is the admonition against women in authority just a cultural construct, given the paternalistic culture of biblical times, or is the restriction a timeless principle?

Usually, the conversation devolves into talking past each other, complete is disparagement of those holding opposing views.

 

It is not a cultural construct since Paul lays a biblical foundation for this teaching.. in the creation of Adam and Eve. It only applies to leadership in the church.

It goes beyond the biblical record to claim the admonition applies outside of the church

Women owned their own businesses, bought and sold property etc..

Christianity has done more to reveal the equality of men and women before God and in the secular world than any other movement in human history.

peace to you

 

Folks, just as I said, here is a claim the admonition is not a cultural construct, but if there is no difference between men and women once they are born anew siblings of Christ, then the restriction seems a cultural construct.

 

Over the years I have been collecting what I call preacherisms these are remarks I have heard in stories or witnessed in person and event that had an impact within the church and me... This is one of them on Woman preachers... After hearing a sermon a Woman walked up to the preacher and said... I believe that the Lord has called me to preach!.. In his calm demeanor, he said it that so?... At the same time he was talking to her, young children were running around the church screaming and chasing each other... So the Woman was getting impatient waiting for an answer... The preacher looked toward the children and then at the Woman and said with authority, pointing at the unruly children... Well Woman there's your congregation!!!... The Woman in an exasperated huff, walked away... Brother Glen

 

Sigh. Please reread the article. It was not Mohler, but a pastor who was a SBC President decades ago in the Conservative Resurgence who's said that "a woman can be the President of the the Southern Baptist Convention".

What the article reports about Mohler "supporting women" was only that he wrote an article lamenting that the SBC "has been revealed to be morally compromised" covering up so many sexual misconduct crimes against them, "in churches, in denominational ministries, and even in our seminaries".

 

Requires a paid subscription.

 

Can't open link. Not subscribing to paper to read one article.

 

James Merritt became pretty liberal when his son Jonathan got exposed as being homosexual.

 

The piece by Mohler your article links to is him expressing support for the many women who have been abused in Southern Baptist circles. But he makes clear his continued devotion to male leadership:

Mohler: "the same Bible that reveals the complementarian pattern of male leadership in the home and the church also reveals God’s steadfast and unyielding concern for the abused...The church and any institution or ministry serving the church must be ready to assure safety and support to any woman or child or vulnerable one threatened by abuse."

There is nothing about him advocating for women being SBC officers.

 

More than a decade ago I asked here:

"What would you do if a woman were nominated to serve as an officer in your Baptist convention/association?"

Tom Butler [a Conservative who was once a candidate for President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention] wisely replied:

"If she's qualified, I vote for her in a heartbeat. Such offices are positions of service, not rule."