I write this post from my newly borrowed 17″ PowerBook. I can honestly say, even on the days I feel fat and bloated (like today), this laptop makes me feel skinny again, as it hangs over a couple of inches on both sides while resting upon my lap.
Lately, it seems as if a frequented discussion in our circle of friends here has been the woman’s role in the church…should they be “over” things, or leading things, or teaching men or insert any vague & biblically unanswerable question to your liking here.
My personal and current belief (as my I am young enough to not have established many solid beliefs, but old enough to know the ones I have established could possibly change) is that if God has gifted you in leadership, you’re going to lead, whether you hold the vocational or volunteer role of leader or not. Jesus speaks incredibly highly of women and it’s obvious women were used all throughout history to play roles men couldn’t have played.
In today’s American church culture, we place such an emphasis on titles, that if a woman doesn’t hold a leadership title, sometimes people get upset because a man who is in a lateral role does get that title, and the American benefits that come with it (pay, notarity, and an office with a window).
Honestly, why should we even care? God is the one gifting you. God is the one directing where you serve. Pastor/Shepherd is by far the strongest “gift” in my gift mix, so does that mean God screwed up by making me a woman? Hardly. I will probably never serve as a pastor of some church (and really, that’s okay with me, I don’t think I should), but he will place people in my life that I can care for by using the gifts He’s given me.
All this to say, I think when people get upset about a woman not being able to go “as far” as a man can go in the church (on staff, or in leadership), it’s terribly ironic. We think the church is limiting what a woman can do; when in fact, we are limiting what women can do by placing it in the context of titles and not the global church.
Your thoughts?
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15 responses to “Women and the Church”
OK, I know this is in response to an old post. The topic is fairly dear to my heart, so…
With God’s creation intent (early Genesis) as my starting point, I wholeheartedly believe that Spirit-equipped women are fully capable of serving in every capacity within the Church.
My wife serves as a campus pastor and has just recently begun the process of ordination.
Don’t abandon the possibility of serving as a pastor too soon, Anne…:)
Oh, yeah…Joy and I are egalitarian in our approach to marriage. Again, see early Genesis (that is, pre-fall) and the correct intent of ezer kenegdo…