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Women and the Church (Part 1): Introduction and review of relevant Biblical teaching

Information: This article reviews some of the issues surrounding the role of women in the Church. The article explores some of the biblical teaching regarding the role of women in church, as well as explaining why some denominations have allowed women to become priests and bishops in recent years, and why others have not (and will not). A version of this article was originally published on the website www.faithnet.org.uk.

Introduction

In Christianity women have often been denied the more prominent spiritual roles in the Church (E.g. Vicar, Priest, Bishop, Pope etc.), and have been largely assigned 'jobs' said to be an extension of what has often been their home life (E.g. Putting out flowers, cleaning, teaching children in Sunday School). Critics of the way women have been treated by the Church over the years point towards its patriarchal structure, and argue that it is institution which has been set up and led my men, and primarily for men. As such, many women believe it is time for the Church to revise its structures, and in doing so change the way it treats women. However, there are others who argue that the Church should not bow to the 'whims' of society, and that women are only being treated as the Scripture (Bible) specifically says they should be. They also argue that the Bible teaches that men and women are spiritually equal, but that they are assigned different roles in the Christian community.

The idea that men and women are equal but different, is based on the notion that men and women have complementary roles in the life of a Christian community.

A third group could be said to represent the middle ground between these two positions. These would argue that the Bible only appears to be denying women full equality in Church matters. They would argue that certain key passages (such as 1 Timothy 2:11-15) which appear to prohibit women from being church leaders, need to be looked at in the social and cultural contexts they were first written in. It is when we re-think them in the light of why they were written (and who for), that we can understand their true meaning for us today.

Key Scriptures

In the first creation account (Genesis 1) in the Old Testament, we read that when God created men and women that they were equal, in all matters:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27)

Although Genesis 2 introduces the notion that man was created before women, (and so could suggest the idea of a natural and intended hierarchy in human relationships), the question is whether Genesis 1 needs to be understood in light of Genesis 2, or vice versa.

In Genesis 3, the Fall of humanity from their initial state of perfection ('in the image of God'), is described. As a result of their 'fall', the Bible says that all relationships were cursed. In particular those between men and women:

To the woman [God] said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you" (Genesis 3:16)

Jesus said nothing about the role of men and women in spiritual matters.

The most controversial and developed teaching about what the role of women in the Church should be, is found in the New Testament in some of the letters written by the Apostle Paul:

For God is not a God of disorder but peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak but must remain in submission, as the Law says. If they want to enquire of something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:33-35)

A women should learn in quietness and in full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing - if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety. (1 Timothy 2:11-15)

At first glance these latter teachings attributed to Paul seem to present a view of women that is 'out of touch' with the modern mindset. However, we should bear in mind that Paul was writing to specific churches, at a specific time, and in response to some specific questions they were asking.

Finally, we should note that Paul wrote elsewhere that all men and women are equal, especially in spiritual matters:

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

Something to think about: Does Paul contradict himself in what he teaches about the role of men and women in the Church?

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Background material for evaluating Paul's teaching on the role of women in the Church

Paul's letters (Epistles) to the young churches in Asia Minor, have been the source of much debate with regard to what exactly the role of women in the Church should be. One problem for working out exactly what he is meant is that Jesus seemed to have an entirely different attitude towards women, than Paul did. So the question begs - was Paul expanding on Jesus'; beliefs and practice with regard to women, was he introducing ideas of his own, or was he doing something else?

Jesus and women

At the time Jesus lived, society had a generally negative attitude towards women. Both Jews and Greeks believed the 'work' of women should be limited to the domestic roles of wife and mother, with the former holding that the female species were responsible for most (if not all) sin - especially sexual temptation!

The Jewish prayer Aleinu-Adoration, actually includes the words, 'Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who did not make me a woman.'

Jesus talking to a woman

However, despite this we need only take a quick glance in the Gospels to see that Jesus had a very positive attitude towards women. He accepted and affirmed women who were neglected by society, and declared them person's of value. Jesus healed women who were considered ritually unclean, and forgave those guilty of even sexual sin. Jesus also taught women, and counted them amongst his closest followers/disciples, and in his teachings they are often used as examples of people living a true life of faith. Although women were not generally educated at the time Jesus lived, he allowed them to sit at his feet (the traditional posture of a disciple - Luke 10:38-42), and taught them. We should also note that it was women (including a reformed prostitute Mary Magdalene), who first witnessed and told the twelve male disciples about the resurrection of Jesus.

Paul and the early church

Paul's comments often lead him to be branded a misogynist (hated women) and sexist, and at first reading we can understand why it is easy to do this. However, Paul would never have taught anything he thought went against Jesus' teaching. Paul was also trying to work-out how the new Church should be organised, without drawing adverse attention to it such that Christians might suffer persecution.

We need to keep in mind that 'Christianity' in the 1st Century CE, was not the major world religion it is today. Rather, it was initially held to be a sect (or cult) of mainstream Judaism, and as such was eyed suspiciously by not only Jewish, but also Roman authorities. The one thing 'Christians' did not want to do, was to give the impression that their new religious movement was a political or religious threat to the establishment, for that would almost certainly invite a whole heap of trouble.

Paul's letters to the young churches in Asia Minor were written in response to real issues they were facing, and questions they were asking. When Paul writes about women in his letters, he is first and foremost responding to questions being asked by church leaders, about their role and place in the new movement. Remember, up until this time society had held largely negative attitudes towards women. Roman law gave man complete authority over his wife, and a woman's quiet submission was considered her greatest virtue. Most men married when they were in their thirties, and usually to girls in their teens. As such their wives would be less intellectually challenging for them, and this mainly because women were largely uneducated. The new Christian faith liberated both men and women, and 'in Christ' they were now equal with men! These were exciting times for women who became Christians, and Paul needed to work out how to include them as member's of the church , in a way that benefited everyone.

Women and the Church (Part 2): Analysis of biblical teaching, and the role of women in the Church today

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