Should a woman be a pastor?

Philippians 4:2: Paul refers to two women, Euodia and Syntyche, as his coworkers who were active evangelists, spreading the gospel.

Philemon 2: Paul writes his letter to "Apphia, our sister" and two men as the three leaders of a house church.

Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:4-7: This discusses gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to all believers, both men and women. The New International Version obscures this message; in Verse 6 is translated "all men", whereas other translations use the terms "all", "all persons", "in everyone", and "in all."

Romans 16:1: Paul refers to Phoebe as a minister (diakonos) of the church at Cenchrea. Some translations say deaconess; others try to downgrade her position by mistranslating it as "servant" or "helper".

Romans 16:3: Paul refers to Priscilla as another of his "fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (NIV) Other translations refer to her as a "co-worker". But other translations attempt to downgrade her status by calling her a "helper". The original Greek word is "synergoi", which literally means "fellow worker" or "colleague."

Acts 18:24-26 describes how a married couple, Priscilla and Aquila, both acted in the role of pastor to a man from Alexandria, called Apollos. Various translations of the Bible imply that they taught him in the synagogue (Amplified Bible, King James Version, Rheims, New American Standard, New American, New Revised Standard)

Well, this is a hot subject- especially among those who do not study the Bible. There are several passages each may use to make their point.

I believe the passage that sets this straight is 1 Tim. 2:9-15, specially v. 12, 13, and 14.

The 3 main points are-

1) I do not allow a woman to exercise authority over a man (pastor)

2) Adam was first in the order of things

3) It was woman (Eve) who was deceived (not Adam)

and fell into transgression . Even though Eve did lead Adam astray.

The 1st point can be debated as to whether or not it is a cultural problem in Asia that Paul is addressing here. There were similar problems in Corinth.

But points 2 and 3 are theological in nature, not cultural. It is clear that women must not assume "the" teacher (pastor, overseer) position in the church. This does not by any means mean that a woman can not teach in the church. We would be lost without women teachers. It means she can not be the authority.

Can a woman then teach- yes.

Can a women then preach- yes.

Leadership is reserved for men.

Absolutely! Why not? Who, of the sexes, knows more about bringing life into the world, and nurturing that life, and understanding the foibles and slip, trips, and falls we have on our journeys than a Mom.

In fact, most cultures were historically Matriarchal in their beginning, meaning that the woman ruled. Men hunted, gathered, and donated sperm while the women processed what the men brought home, made clothes, kept the fire (!), and made use of the sperm.

Why wouldn't God want a woman in a role of Pastor, Priest, or even Pope? I don't think He cares as long as the job gets done by the right person. I don't like quoting scripture because we may be speaking from different bibles and much could get lost in the translation, so that is why I didn't use scripture here. (I will only really reiterate what Jesus is known to have said.) And He did say this: "Wherever two or more of you gather in My name, there shall be the Church."

He did not say "...two or more Men gather...", did He?

Hope that helped, even a little.

Good luck, Good Life,

Blessed Be!

T.

lainiebsky. Galatians 3:28 is referring to salvation. Many people use it to back up female pastors but by doing so it is being taken out of context. Nowhere in that passage does it address female pastors. Paul is very clear in his instructions regardless of today's view on the subject. Society changes, the Word of God doesn't.

No rudness just to set the record straight.

Jesus created man AND women equal.

Read this Galatians 3:28 and Joel 2:28

Paul ALSO exhorted the church to honor these women in ministry as well

Romans 16

Some people use 1 Corinthians 14:34 35 to keep women subjected thus abusing the Word of God

But God created men and women to do His will and who is any mortal man to

say woman (cannot) preach?

God gave women His Holy Spirit too! And whom He appoints He appoints.

Women where and are STILL used of God historically

Ammie Sempel Mcperson, Cindy Jacobs, Jill Austin,Katherine Booth,

to name a few

Women mightely used in the bible

Deborah,Esther, Miriam,Rahab,

When Jesus rose from the dead He (himself) told the women to (go and tell) the men He had risen.

Timothy was written in an era where women were still considered a lower class of citizen.

The world has evolved for the better and I think anyone who is truly trained in theology should qualify to be a pastor, man or woman.

No that never was intended to be their talent that they would dedicate to the Church. Everyone has special gifts from God preaching was never one of them. There is more women can do than preach the 'word' they can give their time and talents to help spread the word of God in other ways. Most men don't have the gift to preach, its a very small percentage that actually know what they are doing.

I always say if Mary, His own Mother, was given the Holy Spirit on Pentacost but she, nor any of the other women went out and preached that day. They had plenty of other things to do that helped the Apostles get the word out and I don't see just because we are so 'modern' now that things need to be changed.

The author of the epistle to Timothy was not God, but probably Paul the apostle. Paul wrote the letter in a time when women did not have the authority under the law to lead men. Women in our society have that authority, therefore they can and do become fine priests and pastors - bishops, even.

God isn't caught up in the social mores of 2000 years ago, why should we be?

No! A woman doesn't have to be a pastor. A man doesn't have to be a pastor.

To be a pastor is a gift that only some people have.

1Ti 3:2 That's why officials must have a good reputation and be faithful in marriage. They must be self-controlled, sensible, well-behaved, friendly to strangers, and able to teach.