Should women be allowed to serve at the altar?

Question

Should women be able to serve at the altar? "Oh boy" was my reaction. Should I be liberal or follow what my grandfather had taught me -- how should I base my opinion? I turned to Scripture and tradition to come to a decision.
Tradition of the Church and Scripture are very important in the Orthodox faith. For Orthodox Christians, there are two important parts of the Church, the clergy and the laity. As in the living body, the mind cannot survive without the heart and other internal organs; the living Church cannot survive without the synergy between the clergy and the laity.
Jesus chose men as His disciples and gave to them leadership roles in teaching and spreading the faith. As they went from region to region, they began churches and ordained "espiscopoi" or bishops to remain in the region and teach The Word to the people. Priests and deacons were then ordained and taught the liturgical service so that cities and villages could hear The Word.

Priests and deacons were then ordained and taught the liturgical service so that cities and villages could hear The Word. Throughout the Divine Liturgy, the priests and deacons needed helpers, and so the natural development of altar servers began. It was the hope that these altar servers would learn and desire to become deacons or priests as they matured in faith and became older. The clergy lead the Divine Liturgy, prepare the Sacraments, and deliver the teachings of Scripture. It is important to remember that the liturgical services have chanters and the choir who help in the celebration. Women are invited to participate and in fact frequently lead these activities.
I believe that more people need to understand that there are two different and equally important parts of the Church, the clergy and the laity. The laity involves all the other people of the Christian community. The function and importance of the laity have greatly increased over the years.

The choir and chanting of the service is an integral part of the liturgy. The church board and various committees keep the church alive with important decisions on the direction and financial support of the church. The Sunday School system is important for teaching children about the life of the Church. Women play an active and increasingly expanding role in all of these activities.
I can definitely see why women would like to be altar servers, because beyond tradition, there is no reason that women should not be able to serve. After all, the two people who came to care for Jesus' body in the tomb were women. I personally do not think that it is important for women to be behind the altar. There are many other equally important ways for women to serve the Church. One example of the laity is the choir. Just imagine your typical Sunday service and how it sounds with the choir singing songs of praise. Now recall how great all the songs sounded and the message of what they sing.

Now recall how great all the songs sounded and the message of what they sing. Now take away all the women ... not really pretty is it? I think that women who want to be altar servers need to consider this: while the service depends on help from altar boys, think of church without a good sounding choir, a women's society, or Sunday School teachers. Actually, when you step back, you will probably realize that all the jobs are equally important in their own ways. Serving the Church and Christ does not happen just behind the altar.
You will always have some women who want to be able to serve at the altar, and there will always be the traditionalists saying that only men should be able to. We all need to realize that there are many different ways to help run the church service and that not one is any more important than any other. While sometimes tradition is hard to break, I think that we all should be open to other ideas.

For me, I see the mind and the heart as needing each other for the purpose of the body to survive. And I see the clergy and laity needing each other to survive for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Answer 1

NO, The bible says that women are to be quiet in church and if they have questions they are to ask their husbands at home

Answer 2

The Orthodox church here has an altar girl and an altar boy(they are brother and sister). As far as I am aware, this role is not specified anywhere in scripture.

Our bishop has also appointed women as readers. One of the important considerations was our need for readers who know the several languages which we use.

At what point does economy, itself become tradition?

Answer 3

Serving AT the altar? Sure.
Leading at the altar? No.
Women in roles of leadership over men is unscriptural.
Man's ideas change with the wind.
God does not.
"Jesus Christ, then same yesterday, to day, and for ever. "

Answer 4

I think the Catholics should allow priest to marry again then fight over women's roll in the church.

http://marriage.about.com/od/historyofmarriage/ss/marriedpopes.htm

I was raised Southern Baptist so I even have a problem listening to a female preacher. They just can't scare me enough to keep me awake!

Answer 5

Not an issue for us Pagans. Men and women alike can act as priest/priestess. I have my own altar in my home as do most Pagans, and have acted as priestess in rituals.

Answer 6

Why not ? They will probably do a better job than the males do !!

Answer 7

if you join the club you go by it's rules

Answer 8

you said it well. i really don't know what else to add.

Answer 9

So, what was your answer?