Women in position of authority !

Some say yes.

Christians for Biblical Equality

Some say no to women having authority over men.

Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

These two groups probably best represent both sides of the issue.

 

The way the question is worded it sounds like there is some Baptist Pope out there who decides for Baptists whether women are to be used as leaders or not.

The simple answer to this question is that every local church has to decide how women are to be used.

For me, women may lead other women and minister to children, but there a clear biblical prohibitions against women teaching or having authority over men. That is where my church and I both stand on the Word of God.

 

What constitutes authority?

 

Circuitrider has said it well.

 

Well now bruren, calling and asking for things to be done voluntarily, is a whole lot different than calling and saying it must be done.

One is a question the other an order. Only a person of authority is allowed to give orders. In the church that should be a man. Even then, orders should be given carefully if the man is wise.

 

Ephesians 5:21-24, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."

 

Ephesians 5:21-24, "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." </font>[/QUOTE]Since this passage is about husbands and wives I don't see how it applies to this thread. I believe the verses you are looking for regarding the role of women in church are:

1 Timothy 2:11-15
1 Corinthians 14:34-36
1 Corinthians 11:2-16

 

Thanks Gold Dragon. You are right; the Ephesians reference is of no help here. That was an off day for me.

 

Our current Discipleship/Sunday School co-ordinator is a woman. When I was co-ordinator and she was a teacher, she submitted to me while I gave audience to her suggestions.

Now that our roles are reversed, I submit to her while she give audience to my suggestions. We have a great working relationship and serve together in many capacities.

Honestly, she does a better job at it than I did.

 

As I look at those verses, none of them really speaks to the subject of women in authority. One tells women that when they preach (prophesy) that they need to keep thier head covered - I suppose in or out of church, the other tells women to keep silent in church. As I understand it, the history behind that verse is that women sat on one side of the chruch and men on the other. the problem the church had was that too many people were talking at once, and asking questions - Paul in trying to restore order commanded the women to ask thier husbands for an explanation when they got home. The purpose of the verse was to restore order to the fellowship.

Of course on this board I hold a very minority view.

 

I know there are alot of men who resent being under the authority of a woman for reasons other than a scriptural basis. They resent it on the in their work environments and so it stands to reason that they would resent it in all situations.

I look at it differently, probably because I was reared mainly by my mother who was thrown into the role of primary bread winner as my dad was disabled for the majority of my life with Parkinson's Disease. He was unable to work and mom took the reins of the household and worked at several jobs for low pay, but kept our family of eight afloat. We never had want for food on our table and I owe a great deal to my blessed mother.

Our household was all female except my older brother who was married when I was about 9, my father who was passive and dependent, and me. My maternal grandmother lived with us too along with my mother and my 2 sisters.

Mother was the wage earner, the cook, and the nurturer of us kids and we helped in the household as best we could.

So, I have never held any animosity toward women being in charge in any position in the church and out in other areas even in the supervisory position over me on the job.

Now I know that this is likely to be off topic somewhat, and I know some of you will admonish me for this post as you are not talking about in the home or any place but in the church, but I just wanted to throw my two cents in here as my view is not a popluar one and not held by many men.

Maybe too that is why I listen to some of the women on this board when they try to instruct or teach or be an authority. And.... btw, I do not NOT listen to men either.

 

Definition of authority by the Roman officer who's servant was healed by Jesus (Mat 8:9) "I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this or that,' they do it."

Any pastor that thinks he can do that in a local church is about one good Baptist business meeting away from being unemployed

 

We ordain women because we baptize girls - Chuck Poole

Love this quote!

 

That doesn't logically follow at all. Baptizing and ordaining are not the same thing.

Also, this implies that anyone baptized can be ordained just because they've been baptized, and ignores the requirements set forth in scripture. I think it's a terrible quote, sorry.

As a former strong feminist, pro-abortion and all, I would never belong to a church with a woman pastor.