JESUS, THE CHURCH, THE MINISTRY AND WOMEN !
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The age limit for the enrolment of "Presbyterial Widows" was reduced from 60 to 40 years at the Council of Chalcedon. In the 6th. century, the Roman church abolished the order of female widow elders but it was not until the 12th. century that the Greek church followed suit. In the 11th. Canon of the Council of Laodicea, the office of female presbyter was abolished - quote - "The women who preside in the church, who are called by the Greeks, "Presbyters" and by us, "Senior widows", "Once-Wives" and "Church Mothers", ought not to have a position as an ordained body in the church". And so, more and more, as the church became entangled in the "world" the chauvinistic element within the church leadership gained power and dominance over females. In typical manner, the males at the top had to find an "explanation" for their misdeeds so the excuse given for terminating this female pastoral office, which had enriched the life of the Church for many centuries, was that there were "Abuses in the Order". Anyone who has made a detailed and impartial study of Church History, may be provoked to ask, "Why then wasn't the male office also abolished?". Not a few profligate Popes and Bishops, through their licentious behaviour, even against each other on the field of battle, abused their office in a far more terrible and brutal way than their female colleagues. But, in every case, it was the male who triumphed. Similarly, in our day, those celibate clergy being charged and jailed for child abuse, paedophilia and rape, are predominantly males.
What is the role of women in the Church today? Even simply to ask that question is discriminatory, unless a similar query is also made of the brethren. In terms of qualification for Leadership -- for Ministry -- any criteria pertaining to race, culture, social status and sex/gender, should have no place whatsoever in our thinking as Christians. With women surgeons now able to perform brain surgery on men, and females serving as captains of Boeing 747 jumbo-jets, it is farcical and arrogant for the Church to continue to subscribe to Paul's injunctions In Tim. 2:11-14, In fact, if Paul were to visit our society today, he would be the first to accuse us of bringing the Church into derision by maintaining his out-dated sexual precepts.
Eventually, women WILL be liberated, to find an equal place with men in our chauvinistic society. Wouldn't it be just wonderful if the Church could be the real pioneer of the Movement. After all, JESUS was the Author.
By - Keith Skillicorn :- Email - keithskilli@ozemail.com.au
MORE OF OUR WEB-SITES PERTAINING TO THE CHURCH - THE BODY OF CHRIST.
# NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY - WITH JESUS AS THE SECRET OF LIFE
# JESUS AND THE WAY HE BEHAVED WITH WOMEN
# THE RESTORATION MOVEMENT AND IT's PLEA FOR UNITY WITHIN THE CHURCH.
# DISCIPLES OF CHRIST AND THEIR CONCEPT OF A UNIFYING CHURCH STRUCTURE
# THE CHALLENGE FOR CHRISTIANS TO WRITE OFF THE DEBT OF "THIRD-WORLD COUNTRIES"
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