Vicar Who Can't Forgive Steps Down From Pulpit

A very sad story - in the Times too. She has at least acted with integrity. Let's pray for her that she may be given the grace she needs to forgive.

 

I hope she can get over it. She did the right thing stepping down. She has no authority from the scripture to be there to begin with.

 

Of course you knew someone was going toss that swipe out there. A pastor lost her daughter in a tragic set of circumstances, is struggling to respond like Jesus would expect and then here comes the whole she is women, doesn't belong there nonsense.

Is it God's judgement for her preaching that her daughter was murdered? Really, what a childish statement.

In fact I find her honest struggle refreshing. Quite the contrast to the "bomb, guns, kill'em all" mentality we are used to hearing from conservative pulpits in this country.

 

This is a great post. It does extend sympathy, it must be hard to lose a kid, but God's word comes first, our own understanding is way down the list.

 

This is a great post. It does extend sympathy, it must be hard to lose a kid, but God's word comes first, our own understanding is way down the list. </font>[/QUOTE]Uh oh! He just put Scripture above human need. She needs compassion, not criticism.

This reminds me of an incident several years ago, in which a United Methodist woman pastor's church was struck by a tornado, collapsing the roof, crushing her six-or nine-year-old daughter. People told her that God sent the tornado to kill her kid because the church had a woman pastor.

A few years ago, a daycare in the area below my office was invaded by a man dressed in military fatigues. He had a metal device strapped to his waist. He announced he had a bomb and threatened to blow up the daycare because the pastor is a woman. Thank God he left without blowing up anyone.

 

It's sad indeed. We should pray she is given grace.

 

David, the answer to your last question is 'yes, we should forgive'. The oft-ignored - but vital - adjunct to the Lord's Prayer is "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; Jesus follows this up in Matt 6:14-15 with a dire warning if we fail to do this. No mention of that forgiveness being conditional on the repentance of the offender; indeed how can it be, since we never can now this side of Heaven whether a perpetrator has truly repented and the guy who actually did this particular act is dead and therefore presumably cannot repent.

Of course most if not all of us would find it difficult if not impossible in our own strength in such circumstances, but that is where the beauty that is God's grace steps in...

 

I meant no offence. I said nothing of God's judgement on her. If we all were judged according to our works we would burn in the flames of Hell this instant. I do hope she finds peace and solace in the grace of Christ. However, she should do the right thing and renounce here apostacy against the Word of God and resign for good.

 

When God can't find the men, He provides pastoral services by a woman. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

Who says the word doesn't allow for female pastors? We send them out to the dangerous mission fields, and some even established local churches.

We don't live in a patriarchal society anymore. History moves along. Why women even gained status as a person just after the First Great War, and we men are just catching on now.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I respectfully disagree with you my friend based upon the qualifications for a pastor has set forth by the apostle Paul.

 

I don't personally have a problem with "Vicars in Knickers" (as the Sun newspaper so charmingly put it in 1992 when the CofE Synod voted to ordain women; I don't think objection to the ordination of women can be adduced from either Scripture or Tradition.

[ETA...but I think the OOW is an inappropriate card to play on this thread anyway - perhaps someone would like to start a thread on it in the Other Religions forum...]

 

That's a good idea Matt. I think I'll start a thread in the theology section.

 

Since nobody here has voiced an opinion on her child's death being God's retribution, your post is rediculous.

 

Since nobody here has voiced an opinion on her child's death being God's retribution, your post is rediculous. </font>[/QUOTE]Did I say that someone here stated that the child's death was divine retribution? No, I didn't. I pointed out just how vehemently some people are opposed to women pastors, even to the point of wishing divine retribution on them or their families. Someone even entered a daycare and made a bomb threat! That shows just how fanatical some people can be. People need to cool their jets and calm down.

I am far more concerned about male preachers of various denominations molesting children than I am about a woman being a pastor.

 

This woman did the right thing. We should respect her for that.

Next we are to love one another that is how people will know we are Christians.We need to love and pray for this lady that her pain would subside,that she would be able to forgive, and also that she would know the joy of a loving Father.

 

AMEN!!!