Read this story and tell me what you think?

Question

http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/sunday_school_teacher_fired_because_shes_a_woman/

Answer 1

Posted by JHPW
Monday, August 21, 2006 at 8:58 AM
Mary’s quote says it all- “I was astonished, absolutely astonished to pick up and read that kind of a letter without being talked to ahead of time about the possibility,” . Regardless of whether the policy is right or wrong, they should have talked to those affected personally. This was very poorly handled

Answer 2

It is a sad state of affairs when man(kind) takes a passage from scripture and interprets it for his own benefit. There is no scripture to support what this church is doing, not if you read Pauls words in the context in which they are written.

Answer 3

Typical

Answer 4

I don't think its right at all. And as far as being deceived,yes eve was deceived by the greatest deceiver of all. But Adam did only because a woman,another human being told him it was alright. Now whos the foolish of the 2? Looks to me as we've got 2 sinners here!

Answer 5

This is difficult to answer. I grew up in a church that would applaud that decision. Yet, I know there are churches that have ordained female ministers/pastors.

Answer 6

True Christianity should honor and Respect ALL women

http://www.fnsa.org/fall98/terwilliger.html

Answer 7

Only read the header, lol. 2 Points.

Answer 8

Well, being a Christian I can tell you that I have not experienced inequality in the churches I attend. There are many examples of women who were leaders in the Church and in the bible.

Old Testament Women Leaders
Miriam: Exodus 15, Micah 6:4 comments on her significance, placing her next to Moses and Aaron.

Deborah: Judges 4 describes her military and spiritual authority
Huldah: 2 Kings 22:14-22 describes her status as prophet, instructing all of Israel

While women leaders are clearly more rare than male leaders, the Old Testament never disqualifies a woman for leadership or conditions her leadership in any way.


Jesus and Women
In general, Jesus' interaction with women sharply differed from the standard practice of rabbis of the day, which was to avoid women as sources of temptation and regard them as unfit for instruction (much less leadership). Examples of Jesus instructing women are numerous (Luke 10:39, Matthew 15:21-28, etc.). Women clearly had status as followers of Jesus (Matt. 27: 55-59, Mark 15:40-41, etc.)

More importantly, Jesus regarded women as fit for delivering news about himself to other men.

For instance, John 4 describes the Samaritan women as evangelist to an entire community. The most glaring example is, of course, the resurrection. Jesus entrusts this most important news to women before any man (in contrast to Jewish law that denied validity to a women's testimony).

Early Church
Historically, the Gospel's explosive growth is attriubted to its quick and widespread acceptance among women. Its message of the unity and equality of believers was taken up by women and the Biblical accounts of the early church seem to place great emphasis on the role of women (i.e. Acts 5:14, 8:12, 16:13-15, etc.). In Acts 1:14, women are present at Pentecost to receive the full gifts of the Holy Spirit (which include apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, etc.). Peter explains this phenomenon by referring to Joel's prophecy that the Spirit would be poured out regardless of any distinction (Acts 2:16-17). Women are important enough in the church to be targets of persecution along with men (Acts 8:3, 9:12).

Women also served as "patrons" of the early church. "Patrons" in 1st century society were more than just hosts or givers of money; they had social authority and respect that could be significant. Women patrons include Lydia (Acts 16: 40), Chloe (1 Cor. 1:11), Nympha (Col. 4:15). 1 Pet. 5:13 and 2 John 1 describes "elect" women.

More specifically, women are listed as prophets in Acts 1:8-9 and 1 Cor. 11:5. Prophets clearly had authority to teach and preach (Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Cor. 12:28). In Acts 18: 24-28, Priscilla, elsewhere listed as a "coworker" of Paul in Rom 16:3, has enough of Paul-like authority to explicitly rebuke and correct the teaching of Apollos (who elsewhere is described as an "apostle" in 1 Cor. 3-4). The "coworker" label clearly includes oversight and teaching authority (1 Cor. 16:16-18 and 1 Thess. 5:12). Other women bearing this role are Eudia and Synthiche (Phil. 4:2-3).

Romans 16 lists 27 leaders, 7 of them women. The list seems to make no distinction between women and men leaders, listing both men and women for the same role. Key ones include Phoebe as "deacon" (see 1 Tim. 3 for the authority of a deacon) and Junia as an "apostle." The response that those were married women who derived authority from their husband seems ill founded since the listings give greater prominence to the wife over the husband and also because Paul elsewhere encourages women to remain single to better serve (1Cor. 7:34). Nowhere does Paul require a woman to marry a man in authority to be a leader herself.

Writings of Paul
Galatians 3:28 serves as the cornerstone of teaching on social relationships. Direct contrast to popular Jewish prayer, "Thank God, I was not born a..." Baptismal creed central to induction into the church. Using the Jew-Gentile and Slave-Master relationships as a model for how Paul intended for the Man-Woman relationship, it is clear that Paul meant for a relationship where differences were respected, but not used as a means for inequality.

Problematic Passages:
1 Cor. 11:3-16, 14:34-36 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. See Jody's sheet, page 4.

Key issues: what is "head" kephale in 11:3. How does this fit with the clear assumption the text makes that women ARE prophesying and preaching and that in and of itself is not the problem. See also 1 Cor. 12:7 and 13 for how the Spirit is poured out regardless of gender.

Answer 9

It is the right of that church to make such rules. Anyone disagreeing should find a different church.

Answer 10

that is soooo sad!!!! women were the first evangelists. they were the first to see the risen Christ and told everyone about it!!!