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Women's Ministry

Against Male Ordination?

By October 22, 20095 Comments

Bishop The following was presented by Dr. David Scholer at the Fuller Follies (Fuller’s annual spoof/talent show) in 1998. I came upon it this week after one of his current students posted it on her blog.

Now to be VERY clear, I am not posting this to be belligerent, to in any way suggest men should not be ordained, or to offer an overly simplistic response to a truly complex issue. I do, however, appreciate the way in which this satirical nod to the debate of women in ministry challenges our imaginations. There are some good arguments against women’s ordination, but there are also some bad ones. This list addresses some of the arguments that are more cultural than Scriptural.

Let me know what you think.

Dave’s Top Ten Reasons That Men Should Not Be Ordained:

10. A man’s place is in the army.

9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.

8. Their physical build indicates that men are most suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.

7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowing achievement of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football games shows this.

5. Some men are handsome; thus they will distract women worshipers.

4. To be ordained as a pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes otherwise than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to the traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.

1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

5 Comments

  • sherri says:

    LOL. Thanks for that, that’s hilarious. Am making a copy.

  • Drew Henderson says:

    Perfect. Pointed, but not bashing. Will circulate!

  • Tara says:

    Funny, and it would be nice, if only the Bible didnt tell us otherwise. Women have a place in the Church, just not at the head of it. We have distinctly different roles from men, which is also biblical. Men have the role to guide and to provide. We are here to nurture and to support, making it best for us to work with children and to help lead other women.

  • Very funny but some of it is very true. In the bible the women did preached the holy word plus the women took care of Jesus. ALL WOMEN DO HAVE A PLACE IN ALL CHURCHES WE CAN BE THE HEAD OF A CHURCH TOO.

  • thebill_X7 says:

    Let’s allow Saint Paul the Apostle speak:

    “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
    [1 Corinthians 14, 34-35]

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