Sunday School Teacher Fired

Let's here it from the Pastor himself:

In other words, the old bitty was a trouble maker and she got canned... about time a Pastor stood his ground! :applause: :thumbs: :thumbsup:

-WTD

 

The not-so-nice word is "biddy" (which has an interesting etymology - I had thought it only meant "chicken").

The text you quoted does not say that she instigated any of this or that she went to the newspaper. That is your own interpretation.

 

Daisy, wif chuch folk, all that matters is personal interpretation...

 

There isn't evidence for, or against, your suggestion that the Sunday School teacher was a troublemaker. Before you compliment the Pastor, take note that he didn't have the guts to fire her in person, but took the coward's way out and fired her by letter.

While you are correct, Daisy, about the text cited, the SS teacher did go to the media once she received the letter that fired her. But, again, there is no evidence to support the contention that she was a troublemaker. It does seem to me that the Pastor was afraid of her, though.

 

One of your better ramblings . . .

 

Scarlett, you can ramble on anyday as far as I am concerned...
I was raised in churches that taught that women had to be silent... no vote in business meetings... the only thing they could do was testify when given permission....I was taught that the church would fail if a woman had any authority.

I've came a long way... The church I just came out of had American Baptist Woman's day each October and we *aghast* had a woman minister preach last year!!!

It didn't fall down, the roof didn't fall in, and God is still blessing the church. I still struggle with the concept of a woman preacher, and pastor, but as for teachers, If God gifts them to teach, why fight God..

And I dare someone to say, "well God doesn't gift a woman to teach."
I've met many that have taught me a lot.

If you are a guy, set under a woman teaching about "quiet time" You will get a very unique perspective. One that I learned from.

 

Like some of you, I went to the First Baptist Church of Watertown website and read both the statements involved. It does appear that there is a lot more than meets the eye here, but that it was very poorly handled. This is an American Baptist Church, and, as such seems to follow general ABCUSA practice in having women on the diaconate and in other places of leadership. It would seem that Ms. Lambert has become disruptive and disloyal and probably is fomenting rebellion in her class. But sending a letter instead of a heart-to-heart, face-to-face discussion is heartless, and using a questionable interpretation/application of an isolated Scripture when the real issues are elsewhere is less than honest.

On the church website there is a blog, and when I saw it there were more than 80 comments from (largely) outsiders, many of them vitriolic, obscene, and very hostile. On the one hand, it shows you how sinful the world is; but on the other hand, I could not help but be saddened by the fact that this event has confirmed some very unfavorable and unfair stereotypes the public holds about Baptists.

One key item that cannot be overlooked is that the church had grown under this pastor's leadership, and that the changes he made and/or which the new people made were unpalatable to some of the older members. Is this jealousy, insecurity, and the like? Or is it, as the press seems to be saying, cruel sexism? I do not think we have the full story.

 

Women teaching men!!!! There will be a whole lot of female professors sacked instantly, yes, in biblical theological seminaries.

The whole of scripture does not support rejected females from leadership roles. They were there in the Old Testament and they were there in the New Testament....female deacons, no less....Apply what is read in Timothy to a local condition and not the whole church, and you might find the truth.

Where would half the churches be to-day if it wasn't for the female attendees? I know quite a few churches that would be empty!

Step up to the modern times. I don't wear either sandals or gowns to-day, I read from a modern printed Bible and not from manuscripts oh skins.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Women can serve without teaching (Bible teaching) men or mixed adult classes.

I think there is strong biblical support for this view.

 

3-page warning: This thread will be closed no sooner than 4:30 a.m. ET by one of the moderators.

Lady Eagle,
Moderator

 

I just got through reading the church's blog.... you know what I noticed....

That the KJVO argument even showed up in the comment section!!!
You cant go anywhere without finding that discussed.

I just thought that was hilarious...

 

Best as I read it, Jesus said it here, not some other individual.

And Paul be be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Peter said the elders among you I exhort, who am a co-elder.

I do sometimes wonder how so many seem to so easily overlook the references to multiple elders, but I digress.

Not one of the Scriptures cited, refers to following one who is not following Christ or the Bible, as I read it. :smilewinkgrin:

And unfortunately, at least once, I've had the displeasure of being there, as a member in business meeting (and with no knowledge that this was going to transpire) when the deacons (about six or seven active at the time, with another half-dozen or so inactive, if I recall) at a church of which I was a member, unanimously called for the pastor's dismissal. Subsequently, over time, the wisdom of this call became known. I'll not give any details, but there are some. In the ensuing 20 years, our (this Sunday we will celebrate with our Homecoming of 224 years, as the third oldest extant Baptist church west of the Alleghenies and Appalachians) rural church has virtually quadrupled, and currently we are in the largest growth mode ever in our history.

PTL

Ed

 

Guess you won't be studying at Central Baptist Seminary any time soon, huynh??, since Dr. Molly Marshall is now President and a professor, as well. Let's see- it's OK to be Pres., but not to teach??? Or maybe it's okay for a woman to 'teach' "Church History", and "Homiletics", but not "Matthew" or "Theology"?

C'mon. Read all the Scripture. BTW, the phrase about teaching doesn't have the qualifier (Bible teaching) either in the scripture cited, nor in the admonition to 'teach the younger women', found in another place. Both places merely say "teach".

Ed

 

Correct, depending on the constitution the collective body can vote to dismiss the Pastor with a Quaram (?sp) which is 2/3 vote of the members present. I truly feel if a Pastor has 2/3 of the members voting against him he was no longer effective in the Church. He probably should have stepped down before it came to this.

Congrats! Those are difficult Churches to Pastor as they usually have a lot of old families deeply rooted in the foundation of the Church. Lots of "clicks" and power struggles and very few really interested in the lost or the real work of the Church. This doesn't sound like your Church though.

 

As to the constitution, I was actually the chairman of the comittee that proposed the last revisions to the Constitution and By-Laws that were adopted, but do not remember the exact numbers for this, but seem to think it is 3/4 vote for this or about anything else in the purveyance of "super-majority" votes. All others are simple majority.

As to the pastor in question, he did actually 'resign' and was not fired, as the vote was scheduled to take place at a Sunday AM service, in two weeks, in accordance with the constitution. So he left, although after occupying the 'parsonage' for some three or four months additional, even though the bylaws? specified a thirty day period, and the Deacons and Trustees, recommended some more time, which the church allowed. He left, and some church property did as well, at that time, unfortuantely. Some more missing property mysteriously re-appeared in the parsonage, as well. Amazing? but sad!

Actually, I guess I'm the last male (at 58), at least, and certainly one of the last descendants of those "old families", that date back some two centuries, who is an active member there, although a close friend of mine, now in his eighties, is not able to attend much due to his health. And I have never been particularly into "power struggles" so that has basically never been an issue with me. Our growth spurt really started with a mission trip of four members, and a construction worker and the County Attorney, and their wives becoming our youth leaders. I have little doubt that three of the four have the gift of evangelist, as more converts have come directly from their work in any given year, than from every 'revival', visitation, and regular preaching services in any two. G'nite, all.

Ed

 

Closed per previous warning. LE