The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum prayer

neicy,

The Bible's teaching on this issue is crystal clear, despite some/many today who want to make it otherwise. NO WOMAN is allowed to hold ANY ordained office in the Church, which includes Elder/Pastor or Deacon. Until recently, this has been the historic position held by the Church throughout history.

For a couple of informative articles see here:

- "Women as Office Bearers" - Dr. Wayne Grudem

- "Hermeneutics of Women in Ordained Office" - OPC General Assembly

One need only to read the qualifications the apostle Paul wrote to see that only men are to hold the office of Elder/Pastor.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ASV) "Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money; one that ruleth well his own house, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity; (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Titus 1:5-9 (ASV) "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge; if any man[b] is blameless, the [b]husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. For the bishop must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled; holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers."

In His grace,