Should women be priests/preachers? Let's hear the contradictory theories?

Answer 1

No, that's impossible. They'd have to be priestesses ;P

Answer 2

No, they should not be priests (presbyter in Greek). There are a couple of reasons, the largest of which is that it wasn't done in the first century.

The Church is driven by the Tradition of the Apostles. This includes scriptures, teachings, art, song, services and stories from the early Church. Whatever was allowed then can be allowed now, at least in theory. The earliest ordination ceremony we have that includes women is for the deaconess. However, it is clear from the text of the service that the intended ordination for women is not of the same character as the ordination to the deaconate for men. For women, the ordination permitted them to baptize women and care for their needs. It permitted women in a divided world to maintain modesty. The problem is the Greek word itself. It is now a title, but was an ordinary word then. The same is true for apostle. You can see quite a number of people on the Greek calendar with the title apostle after their name, who were born hundreds of years after Christ. If Jesus was intending to ordain a woman to the Twelve he could have. He overturned much of that period's belief system. His mother is deeply revered. Mary of Magdala is deeply revered and clearly served an apostolic role. Likewise, many women have lead the Church throughout history regardless of who was in episcopal roles. The clearest examples to a modern person are Claire of Assissi and Mother Theresa.

There is also a distinction between preachers and presbyters. At not all times in history has preaching been a presbyteral role in the sense that modern Protestants hold it. Preachers were often separately ordained only for that role and not for the presbyteral role. Likewise, until the 11th century, the "preaching" was done by the laity in many parts of the church by their singing of the Kondaks. Kondaks are song reflections on the scripture readings of the day. In effect, the laity gave the sermon by singing the meaning of the days scriptures.

Women, as spiritual leaders, often lead the Church through their example, words and directives.

Why didn't Jesus include women among the Twelve? No one knows. It is through the Twelve that the apostolic succession is maintained though beginning with Mathias in Acts 1:46. All Catholic bishops are ordained in direct descent by ordination from the Twelve. Protestant ministers are simply people who decided to be ministers. There is no connection by ordination with the first Christians.

The biggest counter argument is that women were viewed differently. This is a problem. If you reject every culture since the first century as Catholicism and Orthodoxy have done in favor of the Levantine and Greek first century Church, you cannot change to fit ideas of a minority of modern Christians. Otherwise you should also have changed to fit the Franks, or the Vandals, or the English, or the Germans or whatever culture was currently dominant.

It isn't a question of intelligence or capacity, it is a question of the first century.

Answer 3

The Bible teaches that it is unlawful to have women ministers who speak or preach in the Churches.

"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak..." ---I Cor. 14, 34:

"But I do not allow a woman to teach (i.e.preach) or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression. But women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint." --- 1 Tim. 2:12-15

This is straight out of the Bible.
There were Deaconeses in the early Church, for the soul purpose of keeping modesty when baptising the women, but were still considered laity and not part of the clergy:

Council of Nicaea I
"Similarly, in regard to the deaconesses, as with all who are enrolled in the register, the same procedure is to be observed. We have made mention of the deaconesses, who have been enrolled in this position, although, not having been in any way ordained, they are certainly to be numbered among the laity" (canon 19 [A.D. 325]).

"Neither doeth any MAN ( NOT WOMAN ) take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron [Priest of the Old Testament] was." ---Heb. 5:4

COMMENT: In view of this, it is difficult to see how any one can take it upon himself to nullify the word of God, by having women preachers, ministers or evangelists

Answer 4

no because the priest is supposed to represent God and God is a male and women aren't. If God was neither more of a man or woman, then I don't see why not because I know of a few women who might want to be priests.

Answer 5

I have served as a Priestess of the Goddess for over 25 years. I do not feel ones gender makes them more or less qualified to serve.

Answer 6

Nobody should be a priest.

However, seeing as priests exist, absolutely women should, gays should, married people should, anybody should.

My great-uncle died recently. His funeral was ordained by a female priest. Apparently it was lovely (I couldn't go). He was a member of the United Church of Canada.

Answer 7

No. The end.