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Most roles in the Christian Churches are male dominated due to varied interpretations of the Bible. In some denominations within the Christian faith, such as Roman Catholicism, women are not allowed to have important religious roles within the Church. In some Christian Reformed Churches women are allowed to be elders and ministers, but in others, they are forbidden to do so. Some other denominations, such as United or Presbyterian, allow women to have religious roles within the Church and are viewed as equal to men.
Each group uses the Bible to support their policy on womens involvement in the Church activities. Women in the first century Church were very active. They preached, were elders and deacons, and were viewed as equal to men. This is shown best in Acts 2: 17 - 18, In the last days your sons and daughters shall prophecy even my bond slaves, both men and women.
This passage says that men and women will be leaders in the Churches and spread Gods word around the world. In 441 AD womens roles in the Catholic Church were totally eliminated and women were to be silent in the Church. Women were told to serve but to never have authority over men. Since the mid 1900 s womens roles in the Church have been looked at in the Bible, and many Churches have re-evaluated womens roles in church activities. The Roman Catholic Church is against having women in clergy. The Catholics believe that women can never be priests due to the Bible and that Jesus excluded women from priesthood and the church has always followed his example by never ordaining women.
There were never any priestesses, and some Catholics believe that female priests are contrary to the Lords plan. There are very many arguments that try to show that women should not be in clergy. The first is the icon argument, which is based on the opinion that the priest is an icon of Jesus, and those who preach about him must be males that represent him. Another argument is the Sovereign will of Christ. This argument is established on that Jesus was not culturally conditioned, that he was not obliged by his surrounding culture and societal norms to choose only males to be his apostles. Jesus was not worried about being politically correct and was bound by nothing; therefore he was not worried about what people thought.
He chose male disciples out of his own free will but also had many male and female followers. The new Code of Canon Law, published in 1983, still didnt allow women to have ordained roles but allowed them to be auditors, defenders of the marriage bond, and members of diocesan synods. The Roman Catholic Church feels very strongly about women being priests based on their interpretation of the Bible. 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. (1 Corinthians 14: 34) This passage interpretation from the Bible is one that some of the Christian Reformed churches use as their argument to not allow women to be in the Church offices. Some churches believe that women should not be allowed in offices in the Church, as the Bible clearly forbids it, but other Christian Reformed Churches have women ministers and elders. Some believe that the Old Testament reveals Gods will that leadership roles in the Church be done by men.
In the Old Testament all of the significant events were either preformed by man, or given to man by God. Noah was told by God to build the ark and lead the people into the New World after the flood, and it was through Moses that God gave the 10 Commandments. The passage, 1 Timothy 3, clearly states clearly the qualifications of men as elders and deacons in the church. In the New Testament Jesus appointed 12 male disciples, to teach the word of God, but chose no women disciples. Jesus had many women followers, and messengers, but they never were apostles or disciples.
Women and men fill different roles in the church. The Church is the body of Christ and all parts of the body perform different functions, but all parts are equal and important to the whole. Just as the foot (woman) performs a different function from the eyes (man), both are required for the body to be complete. Women in the Christian Reformed Denomination can be Sunday school Teachers, leaders, in the choir, are not allowed to be elders, deacons, or ministers in some churches. The Christian Reformed Churches that dont want women in office believe, Whatever the cost, whatever sacrifice is required, that we must stand up for the Scriptural position, not compromise and not allow women to have religious roles within the church.
There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male or female, for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3: 28) This quote from the Bible is why the Presbyterian Church allows women to have important religious roles in the church. Genesis 1 states that man and women are equal and are both made in Gods image. Jesus had women evangelists tell about his resurrection to the disciples and he also had many women worshippers. In both the Old and New Testament women, such as Mary and Miriam, were used by God in spreading the gospel. Jesus did not disrespect women or ignore them, but treated them with respect.
Women were first ordained as elders in the Presbyterian Church in 1930, but it was not until 1956 that presbyteries were allowed to install women in to the clergy. Presbyterians believe that not ordaining women in the Church will waste their God given gifts. Women should be allowed to have religious roles in the church. Churches that dont allow women in the Church have good reasons why, such as following tradition or what the Bible says, but their arguments arent convincing.
The Bible was written a long time ago, a time when women didnt have any rights. Women were viewed as possessions of the husband and were to stay home with the children, and the time period in which the Bible was written has a great deal to do with how it viewed women in office. Before the 1900 s women were not allowed to vote, but through fighting and persistence they earned their right to vote. We live in a time of womens rights movements and women are doing jobs that were previously done by men. Women are seen in senate and government, and its excellent that more Churches are re-evaluating the roles of women in the Church.
It is a mistake to let the issue of women in office create a problem where to the point it becomes all the Church deals with, rather than focusing on what we are called to do as a Church through the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Ive always been taught that I should follow my dreams, whether that is to be a female minister or a teacher.
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