SHOULD WOMEN BE IN CLERGY?
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Should Women be Priest, Pastors, Ministers, and Rabbis?
Each of the above mentioned titles carries with them different ranks and responsibilities in the Ministry. I believe if we would examine some of the meanings it may unveil to the skeptics that God has indeed called and anointed women to serve in these areas of Ministry. Whereas the titles of Priests, Pastors and Rabbis are very similar in responsibility, Ministers normally serve under them. Examples are: Minister of Music, Minister of Education, and Minister of Outreach are guided by the leadership of a Pastor. Although there are some women to do Pastor, most serve in one of these capacities.
The Holy Bible should be the final authority
in every believer life and make reference concerning this subject the answer is
found in the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, and Verse 8a which reads: “And it
shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” the same very same Scripture is reiterated in
the Book of Acts, Chapter 2, and Verse 17a which also reads: “And it
shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon
all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy,…” Prophesy
used here means preach. An Article entitled Women Clergy: Steps Forward and Back was published by
Christian Century, 10/31/06,
“There’s an increasing realization that
there’s a connection between ordination of women and more liberal views of the authority of scripture." God has given all believers the Ministry of Reconciliation. Let us use it.
Biases toward
women in ministry are formed many times because of where we view women’s place
in society. We still view women from an
unrealistic manner. For example, as
homemakers, house keepers and raising children while the husband is out making
a living. This indeed may be ideal but
it is not realistic. Women have always
been active in ministry, even in ancient times. We also need to be reminded that God is Spirit and when we are born
again it is of the spirit. There is on
identifying characteristics of spirit ranks but what we are judged by is the
contents of our hearts. The Greek term
for man is anthropos which is defined
as of “a human being male or female,
without reference to sex or
nationality . The inward man, the regenerated person’s spiritual nature personified
the inner self of the believer.” Vine
Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, 1940. In the Book of Galatians, Chapter 3 Verse 28,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus.” The focus on women in
clergy should not be a debate as to whether or not we believe that women should
be in clergy. What we should be paying
more attention to is if what they are doing is making a difference in someone’s
life. If women are furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ then we should embrace their commitment and withdraw from biases.
In conclusion, every believer in Jesus Christ has responsibility to be active in fulfilling the call that upon each believer’s life. These brave women who have stepped out of the box and decided that they are going to fulfill their calling are very special people for enduring all the harsh criticism one day will be greatly rewarded because their labor is not in vain in the Lord.
women in ministry
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Hi Lady Guinevere:
I appreciate you follow me so very much. I will definitely review your hubs.
The only position I see that a woman I do not believe should fill is that of "Priest" and only because I have not read about it in The Holy Bible. If the Bible permits or calls a woman to become a priest, then I am for it.
Brother Dave.
Hi Bro. Dave: I agree with you. As far as I have been able to research, the ministry areas that God has called women to serve in are normally under a Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, etc. Personally, I have problems with women pastoring a Church. However, I do know of some that do and are very successful. So although I have problems with it, I leave that window open just in case I am wrong. My main argument is that the Church is considered a female (Christ Bride), therefore I do struggle with women being Pastors, Priest, Rabbis, etc. But I do believe that God uses women in ministry gifts. Examples, Ministry of Music, Youth Department, Outreach, etc. Of course, these are ministries of helps. What are so very needed in the Body of Christ. Thank you for your comments. You are such a great blessing to us.
Perhaps you fild the answers about women being called to priesthood on my hub about women in the Bible who were: http://hubpages.com/hub/Women-In-The-Bible-That-He
The Bible from front to back is filled with female, powerful ministers. Mariam did a lot in the world as did Moses and Aaron. The New Testament, is full of spirit filled and anointed women. Prophets and ministers.
It is a shame that prejudice garnered by a few self-motivated men, who were considered visionary and holy, still, they could not give up their deep seated hatred for the divine feminine.
The stone rolled away, because of the women who never ceased praying. Many great healings, and people being raised from the dead miracles, performed by Jesus were attended by women, ministers.
The New Testament was hijacked by those attempting to destroy the Mother/Woman part of God. Like they destroy the Beauty of this world (Mother Earth) that God created. God is All in all.
It isn't women out there wrecking our only habitat.
John Milton (Paradise Lost) was not inspired of God, but of a woman-hating man, imprisoned for not nice things. In the last few centuries, many seminaries considered this an inspired or viable interpretation of the character of the fall of man, and the core evil of women.
I have seen it in several pastors' studies, Paradise Lost ...the Fall of Man, speaks for itself.
Keeping women from leadership and pastoring is not from the New Testament, it is not scriptural. It is an interpretation that does not follow how God moves.
It cannot be true, because when the Holy Ghost was being poured out on N. America, from Azusa Street on, it was women who sold out for Jesus and started Churches. Is God stupid or a liar? NO
They were fine, The churches were growing, families were coming together, people were being delivered from alcohol and meanness.
But,
oh Hallelujah, we have this Man Clause...so some drunk, philandering, women chasing, tithe stealing men, could be put in charge.
I watched a beautiful minister of the Gospel, slowly die, as her gifts and calling were shunned and pooh, poohed.
She was regulated to the good sister who was always there for the pastor and church family, but she spent every evening and weekend alone. Miss her.
She would have saved their souls, but they are all lost right now. They have a form, but the Real Thing left long ago.
So, my answer is yes. If women are called. God is not stupid. He calls women into leadership. It is the never ending drive, of the male, to keep women under his dominion.
A woman can be under the direct Dominion of God, it is not required of her to have a man-shield, or man-speaker.
God is very, very, very smart, God will not be mocked.
At the breaking of the old testament covenant, all the things like "male and female" were no more. Duh! There were specific instructions. Under a male dominated system horrible atrocities have been visited on our world, I would opine that is not what Jesus intended.
According to Laurence Gardner, in his book The Bloodline of the Holy Grail The Hidden Lineage of Jesus, he states: "
The first criterion was that the New Testament Gospels must be written in the names of Jesus' own apostles. Matthew was, of course, an apostle, as was John - but Mark was not an apostle of Jesus as far as we know, neither was Luke; they were both colleagues of the later St. Paul. Thomas and Philip, on the other hand, were among the original twelve, and yet the Gospels in their names were excluded. Not only that but, along with various other texts, they was sentenced to be destroyed. And so, throughout the Mediterranean world, numerous unapproved books were buried and hidden in the 5th century.
Although many of these books were not rediscovered until the 20th century, they were used openly by the early Christians. Certain of them, including the Gospels mentioned, along with the Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of the Egyptians and others, were actually mentioned in the 2nd-century writings of early churchmen such as Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus of Lyon and Origen of Alexandria.
So, why were these and other apostolic Gospels not selected? Because there was a second, far more important criterion to consider - the criterion by which, in truth, the Gospel selection was really made. It was, in fact, a wholly sexist regulation which precluded anything that upheld the status of women in Church or community society. Indeed, the Church's own Apostolic Constitutions were formulated on this basis. They state: "We do not permit our women to teach in the Church, only to pray and to hear those who teach. Our master, when he sent us the twelve, did nowhere send out a woman - for the head of the woman is the man, and it is not reasonable that the body should govern the head".
This was an outrageous statement with no apparent foundation, but it was for this very reason that dozens of Gospels were not selected, because they made it quite clear that there were many active women in the ministry of Jesus - women such as Mary Magdalene, Martha, Helena-Salome, Mary-Jacob Cleopas and Joanna. These were not only ministering disciples, but priestesses in their own right, running exemplary schools of worship in the Nazarene tradition.
The Church was so frightened of women that it implemented a rule of celibacy for its priests - a rule that became a law in 1138; a rule that persists today. But this rule has never been quite what it appears on the surface, for it was never sexual activity as such that bothered the Church. The more specific problem was priestly intimacy with women. Why? Because women become mothers, and the very nature of motherhood is a perpetuation of bloodlines. It was this that caused such concern - a taboo subject which, at all costs, had to be separated from the necessary image of Jesus.
We have all learned to go along with what we are taught about the Gospels "
Also in the Bible women were exalted and praised for their contribution to their families and society of that time. You can read that in Proverbs 31.
Wow - Interesting hub to have sparked such great comments. I have had the joy of being a member of several congregations led by ordained women who were both spiritually gifted and wonderful leaders. I also have a woman doctor. Hallelujah!
The church, and society (particularly in business and the arts) have historically gone through periods of intense growth, during which, women's gifts of leadership in many fields was welcomed, and their calling to lead in the church was actively sought - periods of growth full of new ideas brought forward, and a new and rich spiritual flowering.
Unfortunately, each of these "growth spurts" was followed by a period of "regularization", where the ideas were examined, tested, accepted and codified, and the women who had been in the forefront were gradually set aside, and relegated to "helping" positions by the men who rose to power.
Often their gifts were denigrated, set aside as "lesser" value, or simply glossed over and forgotten by history.
Thanks to Lady Guinevere, LillyGrillzit, and RedElf:
To say the least all of you have definitely made some very interesting comments and have given us all something to think about. I am a licensed ordained Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who has served in many capacities in the Church over the years.
What I have learned most about my calling is to be true to God in whatever position He places me in. Whether it is Prison Ministry, Director of Education, Hopeless Ministry, Board of Education, Teacher, Preacher or Lecturer. My first and far most calling is to glorify Him. No I am not perfect but what I am is committed, faithful, and honest.
The point I wanted to convey is "acceptance" of who God choose to use in any area. Once when my former Pastor was suddenly taken ill, I had to take his place until he was able to return to Church. Although we had a number of male and female ordained ministers that were members of our congregation, the torch was past to me.
Whether we are male or female, God only sees the heart and the commitment of our hearts to Him. After all, what is ministry of any kind without Jesus Christ.
Beautiful reply. Peace and the Best to you.
Thank you LillyGrillzit! You are very knowledgeable in the Scriptures. I truly enjoyed your comments!
GREAT HUB!!! I am a woman clergy and I feel that if your called, your called! AMEN!!!!!
Hey drpastorcarlotta: Appreciate your comments! One day we as humans may stop trying to tell God what to do and just listen.
Be Blessed...
The nature of God is androgyne,male is giving at female is receiving or in electro magnetism is positive+male and negative is female. God created Adam in His image androgyne and later were separated as Adam and Eve. So as humans the female receives and the male gives.But male and female are equal in stature but not in labor. Female cannot be priest to perform religious services but they can teach or minister. Why? Because women have natural weakness inherited from Eve. For Eve succumbed to the evil works of the evil couples Lilith and Samael.
Lilith is the negative entity opposite Adam Kadmon and Samael is the original or the number one in the hierchy of the demons.Women can preach or minister just like Mary Magdalene who actually is one of the disciples of Christ Jesus. Almost 80% of the Gospel of John are from Mary Magdalene. And Magdelene started her ministry after Christ resurrection together with the other apostles when the Romans started persecuting Christians.Remember performing Holy communion is giving out which against the nature of women.
Lady Guinevere Level 6 Commenter 17 months ago
Yes and I have a hub on the Women In High Offices in the Bible..or something like that wehre there are a few that I brought out like Deborah. I also have what each of the top religions think and how they are taugh to treat women. If you like I can post the link here. I aks first.