A christian lady's views about a male dominated church?

Question

why wont the church allow women to be priests, ministers or lead prayers or conduct bible classes? the first person to see and talk to our lord after he rose from the dead was a woman named mary magdalene.
the person who wiped the blood off our lord's face during his execution was a woman named veronica
most of those who followed our lord during his ministry on earth were women
most of his closest friends were women
those who had more faith in our lord and loved him when he lived were women
he appeared to lots of women since he rose from the dead

when women played such an important role in the life of jesus how could men have hijacked his ministry and relegate women to second class status in the churches of today?
( i am a deeply commited christian lady)

Answer 1

Started a conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well. She was shocked.
1. Men did not speak to women in public.
2. Jews did not speak to Samaritans.

Interesting he openly admitted he was the Messiah to her. Never had done that beofre rather allowing others to draw their own conclusions.

At death it was Mary that came to the tomb and 1st realized the body was gone and Jesus in angelic form spoke to her. Even asked where are the men? Then told her to tell them to meet him in Jerusalem.

She went and told the men and they sent men to inspect the tomb. LOL Jesus wasn't there. Didn't he say tell them to meet me in Jerusalem?

When they made it to Jerusalem (120) that is where the Holy Spirit was poured out. Both men and women.

Issues of dominiation do not exisit with God. But all must carry their own load. Part of that load is mistreatment in the form of bias. It won't end until everyone is perfect. This does not mean you are to allow yourself to be abused. Just explains that it will continue in various forms. Choose the battles worth fighting.

Answer 2

Because it is a male dominated church thinking. I too, think the same way. When we have the first woman president, which might be soon, then maybe they will change this type of thinking. I am sick of the male dominated churches, but what can one do? If more women would speak up, maybe this would not be the case. Most women are more creative than men, and also can communicate to people better. The pastors don't always talk to the people that much, and get on a pedestal about being a pastor, assistant pastor, or such. I would like to see more women pastors in the church. The ones that are in the church are the ones that don't express themselves, so I think it should change.

Answer 3

I don't know if your Catholic but I think you are not, so I'll just try and explain why women cannot be priests.
The priest is a representative a sign and a living image of Jesus to the Church and for that sign to be true priests have to be men since Jesus was a man, in the sacraments they act in the person of Christ and lend their voice and hands to Jesus, when they say "This is my body" it's Jesus who speaks through them and accomplishes the miracle of transubstantiation.

Women cannot become priestesses in the catholic Church and have never been either, there are lots of opportunities for women to serve the Lord in other capacities
Jesus was male for a reason (God accomplished the incarnation using both sexes, to be human you need a human mother) and Jesus also chose his 12 apostles all male even though he was surrounded by women and held them in high regard, this he also did for a reason. And remember all the surrounding cultures were filled with priestesses so that would not have a been a very shocking thing to have done.
But I think priestesses have quite a pagan flair to it makes one think of fertility cults and blood sacrifices and so on.

Women are not able to become priests and no pope can ever change that because it's part og Jesus' will for His Church, even those women who attempt ordination do not become priestesses or priests because the ordination does not "take on" on women.

Answer 4

like you i am a committed christian lady and am also sick and tired of the mysognism that seems to prevail over many churches that i find today

i find it helpful to realise that the true church of Jesus isn't necessarily that confined by the walls and denominations of man but through people like yourself who do dearly love the lord for themselves

and there are far more women like that than men

i tend to search out a particular congregations attitudes to women when i first attend. usually churches have a leadership structure of some kind - if this is devoid of women (i don't mean that just having men and 'couples' i mean women being recognized for their own work and abilities) then i tend to sense warning bells and don't go back.

i have found a church lately that has a great attitude towards women and has women and men preachers and everything plus they ar very friendly towards us too.

i just wish you lived nearer to me so that we could share that church with you

but am sure that there are other groups nearer to your place of abode that could accommodate you better - they just need more time and trouble in finding them

all the best in your search

Answer 5

i do not favor to assert they have "particular authority" more desirable than they have more desirable proper expertise. in various of my sermons, messages, conferences, debates, etc. I have used charges from the early fathers. (highly in conferences coping with gnosticism and the gnostic writings). Origen, Justin Martyr, Clement, Augustine, Francis of Assisi are those I oftentimes use the most, in spite of the reality that Francis replaced right into a lot later. For me, it truly is straightforward - resembling American heritage - can we take the words of someone who lived 250 years after Washington and Jefferson, or can we seem at their journals and get their good words. i do not trust the conflict is with the different church homes, it truly is with devil. once all the Christian church homes keep in mind that, and supplies up bickering interior of ourselves, more desirable for the dominion of God might want to be executed. Peter and Paul disagreed, Paul and Barnabas disagreed, does that propose that one is ideal and the different incorrect. No, it means that they had a diverse objective of their calling. that's a sturdy question. thanks for asking.

Answer 6

My denomination (no ceremonial liturgy or robes or other unnecessary trappings) allows women to lead prayers, be worship leader, give sermons, conduct Bible studies, be church leader, etc.
If you would like to have details, please e-mail me on the link.
The complaints you raise have been due to a common held misundertanding of the scriptures, including Paul's letters. I can direct you to some discussion papers on the web, if you wish

Answer 7

Here are two perspectives on this issue:

All through the Bible you will find stories of faithful women who had favor in God's sight and the sight of others. Throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, you will find women serving (ministering) in a variety of roles. Women were among Jesus' most faithful disciples. History records women holding prominent ministerial positions in the early Christian Church. The only function that the Bible prohibits women from serving in is that of elder or pastor. When end-times prophecies are examined, we find God's promise that both men and women will prophesy (Acts 2:17-18, quoting from the Old Testament). When Paul wrote to the Church in Rome, he wanted some women who served in the church greeted, "Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord" (Romans 16:12). Again in Philippians 4:13 Paul said, "Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." Obviously, Paul looked equally at his female colleagues as he did to his male colleagues. The Bible tells men to treat their wives with love and respect (1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:25,28; Colossians 3:19).


Can Women be Pastors or Deacons?

Question: Can a woman be a pastor or a deacon?

Answer: This is a controversial topic. Our guidelines must come from what God has revealed in Scripture. 1 Timothy 2:12 says, "I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man." From this Scripture, women can teach and oversee other women and children. This scripture restricts a woman from being senior pastor of a church, but not necessarily from other staff positions.

What confuses the issue is our present-day terminology. Today's church usually has a pastoral staff, and may have also have offices for elders and/or deacons. Pastoral staff, elders, and deacons are not the same, although in some cases they may overlap. For example, we have a woman on our pastoral staff who is our children's minister, but she is not an elder or deacon.

The Bible speaks of 2 offices. "Elders" (overseers) in Scripture "rule" the church. They are the decision-makers. 1 Timothy 5:17 says, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching." (Also see Acts 15:2-6, 22) The qualifications for this position are found in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, and apply to men only (Titus 1:6, 1 Tim. 3:2). A senior pastor would obviously be an elder, but not all elders are pastors.

"Deacons" in Scripture "serve" in the church. The word literally means "servant." Nowhere in Scripture do we find deacons making decisions or voting. Elders are in a ruling position in the church, and deacons are in a serving position. In many Baptist churches (because there is no office named "elder"), deacons are functioning as elders, even though they are called "deacons." The qualifications for deacons are found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Women are mentioned in v.11, which has been the source of confusion in many churches. Some people interpret it as "women deacons", while others say it should be interpreted as "deacon's wives."

The argument in Baptist churches is primarily over a title. In Baptist churches (where deacons function as elders), it is our opinion that women should not fulfill the office of deacon. Can women still be servants in the church without having a title? Of course, and God sees a person's heart anyway. He will reward anyone who serves Him with a sincere heart and without the need for recognition. The peace and unity of a church is more important to God than the title of a position.

"Pastors" and pastoral staff are not the same positions as elders and deacons. For example, a youth minister can be gifted to be a pastor over youth, but may not be mature enough to be an elder. However, a senior pastor would be considered an elder.

Getting back to the original question, women can have ministries, such as Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, and Kay Arthur. Women can serve on pastoral staff over women, children, and possibly youth. The restriction applies to being senior pastor, elder, or being in authority over men. Some churches that have separate offices of elder and deacon have allowed women to serve as deaconesses, but not as elders. Baptist churches that only have one office (deacons who function as elders), should only have men serve in this position, OR decide to create 2 separate offices that function according to the above scriptural guidelines.

All pastors, elders, and deacons must not be argumentative, have a humble attitude, and seek to preserve the unity of the church (Eph. 4:3).

Answer 8

the church, at least most church are organise like a business corporation. there are more men in power than women in any field for that matter. system of society for thousand of years i guess. btw u know there is society in africa? or in asia that's has a matriarch society. hmm, interesting.

Answer 9

they are scared of success my friend, they live in the dark ages and still feel its gods will that men control the word of god, in their opinion thats why there was no females at the last supper, and no wise females.
they have to wake up before the church dies at their feet, less and less people are going to church,, why do they think this is..??

Answer 10

because the church knows little of god, institutions are just that, simple faith requires no other medium with which to exist. institutions require subserviance and obedience. that means creating hierarchy..