The World Needs Women Priests

Love365

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Agreed.

However, what is the basis for saying "a woman’s brain can learn different languages,
4 times faster than a man of the same age."
Women have a better memory.
When a woman speaks both sides of her brain are used.

A man’s brain is better at hunting and fishing.
A man’s brain is better at self defense, blocking a punch or punching.
 
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bbbbbbb

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Women have a better memory.
When a woman speaks both sides of her brain are used.

A man’s brain is better at hunting and fishing.
A man’s brain is better at self defense, blocking a punch or punching.

Then I am not the man you may think I am. I am terrible at hunting and fishing (no interest in either, although my grandmother loved fishing). I am terrible at self-defense, blocking a punch or punching.

None of those things are at all related to the topic of the thread - the reason for women being ordained as Christian priests.
 
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pescador

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Women have a better memory.
When a woman speaks both sides of her brain are used.

A man’s brain is better at hunting and fishing.
A man’s brain is better at self defense, blocking a punch or punching.

Ridiculous, but funny in a funny sort of way. Also, way off topic.
 
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Strong in Him

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None of that, however, answers a question about eligibility for the priesthood. Women have indeed been witnesses, missionaries, disciples, teachers, and church leaders. The issue here is something else.
............................................................
Christ called 12 people to be his closest associates. All were men, although we know for a fact that he had woman friends whom he valued highly.

Christ chose 12 Jews to be his closest associates - though we know he spoke to Gentiles.
Christ chose 12 adults to be his closest associates - though we know he valued children.
 
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Albion

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Christ chose 12 Jews to be his closest associates - though we know he spoke to Gentiles.
Christ chose 12 adults to be his closest associates - though we know he valued children.
But he didn't choose any women. Therefore, that's one of a number of different reasons why opponents of women's ordination say that the evidence weighs heavily in that direction.

If there were much of anything leaning in the opposite direction, this could be a tough call.

This, by the way, is a continuation of the question asked in post 552 and replied to in 553.
 
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pescador

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But he didn't choose any women. Therefore, that's one of a number of different reasons why opponents of women's ordination say that the evidence weighs heavily in that direction.

If there were much of anything leaning in the opposite direction, this could be a tough call.

It's written somewhere that the first people notified of his resurrection and that Jesus spoke to after His resurrection were... women!

Matthew 28:5-10, "The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

So the women were at the crucifixion and were the first to meet the risen Lord. So it's not a tough call after all, is it?
 
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bbbbbbb

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It's written somewhere that the first people notified of his resurrection and that Jesus spoke to after His resurrection were... women!

Matthew 28:5-10, "The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

So the women were at the crucifixion and were the first to meet the risen Lord. So it's not a tough call after all, is it?

So?
 
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bbbbbbb

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He didn't choose any Gentiles either - but some conveniently overlook that fact.

I grew up in a denomination which has decided to have completely equal representation. As a result, they have at least on "leader" per congregation under the age of 10.
 
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Paidiske

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A male priest represents Jesus.

A woman priest could represent the Holy Spirit.

Or, we could recognise that if what we value in our priests is their representation of Jesus, it is his humanity which is the critical factor, not his sex.
 
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Albion

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He didn't choose any Gentiles either - but some conveniently overlook that fact.
Are you making a case for an all-Jewish clergy, then?
Of course not, and that's because he could hardly have recruited all Gentiles...and also have them be observant in the Hebrew religion as well as residents and neighbors of his in Judea and Galilee.

Think about it.
 
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pescador

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So it's not all about men. It's high time for sexism to leave the church. There is no reason that women shouldn't be able to fill every church position. Of course, bigotry and ignorance are hard concepts to change, but Jesus showed us how to deal with misguided church traditions.
 
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Strong in Him

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Are you making a case for an all-Jewish clergy, then?

No. I'm saying that sometimes people say "well we can't have female priests because Jesus didn't have female disciples" - by that logic, we can't have non Jewish clergy because Jesus didn't have Gentile disciples. Maybe we should say that managers etc can't be ordained because Jesus' disciples were fishermen, tax collectors and a zealot. Using that logic, Jesus' disciples were uneducated men - why send potential clergy to college or to get a degree/title?

Sorry, but I don't see any connection between the gender, beliefs, statuses, occupations of Jesus' disciples and those called to be ordained clergy in his church.

Of course not, and that's because he could hardly have recruited all Gentiles...and also have them be observant in the Hebrew religion as well as residents and neighbors of his in Judea and Galilee.

Think about it.

I have.
I'm not talking about ALL Gentiles. But he could easily have had one, or maybe two; people who knew the OT Scriptures and believed in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, but who had not converted.
There were some of them around - Cornelius was one, and the Roman centurion in Luke 7 was at least sympathetic to the faith, as he had built a synagogue. If you're saying that he couldn't have chosen a Gentile to be a disciple because people would be even less likely to listen to, and accept, his message; the same can be said for women.
 
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Albion

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So it's not all about men. It's high time for sexism to leave the church.
You cannot just say that when God's word says something that calls for a different policy. And that's the case, no matter if this is the subject of the disagreement or something else.
 
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Albion

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No. I'm saying that sometimes people say "well we can't have female priests because Jesus didn't have female disciples" - by that logic, we can't have non Jewish clergy because Jesus didn't have Gentile disciples.
No, the two are not comparable. If that were the case, you could also say that all clergy must also wear clothes exactly as were worn by the Apostles in the first century or must speak Aramaic or something else.
 
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bbbbbbb

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What we seem to have here is a classic clash between the Regulative Principle and the Normative Principle. If one uses the Regulative Principle, which, simply stated, holds scripture in a high view such that if anything is not commanded, it is forbidden, then female priests are forbidden. The Normative Principle, by contrast, holds that if something is not mentioned, it is permitted. Thus, female priests (not to mention priests of every sort of person regardless of age, mental ability, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) are perfectly allowable.
 
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Albion

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What we seem to have here is a classic clash between the Regulative Principle and the Normative Principle. If one uses the Regulative Principle, which, simply stated, holds scripture in a high view such that if anything is not commanded, it is forbidden, then female priests are forbidden.
The Normative Principle, by contrast, holds that if something is not mentioned, it is permitted.
Thus, female priests (not to mention priests of every sort of person regardless of age, mental ability, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) are perfectly allowable.
Oh my, is THAT wrong! Scripture does indeed indicate that the clerical offices/orders are for males.

You may be thinking of the several other reasons that have been already mentioned which lead to the same conclusion--that women are not to be ordained. But it is definitely NOT the case that the Bible is silent on the question.
 
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You cannot just say that when God's word says something that calls for a different policy. And that's the case, no matter if this is the subject of the disagreement or something else.

Where in Scripture does it say that women can't be priests (or priestesses)?

In case you're not aware, it says ...

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"

... in Paul's letter to the Galatians.

Also, Peter wrote, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." This doesn't say that this applies to men only, especially in the light of the above.

The prophet Joel and Luke (in Acts) both wrote, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy [no difference!), your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."

So, where is the Scripture that contradicts these writings and says that only men can be priests (of the New Covenant)?
 
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