Woman Pastors and Communion

[rockytopva]

If I fear a ritual it is communion. The Apostle Paul attributed evil results to its being administered improperly....

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. - 1 Corinthians 11:29-30

My favorite place for communion is the Lutheran church. The pastor there is an old kind hearted guy, and the bread and wine seem served in appropriate proportions and also have a good taste. There is also a sense of the appropriate discernment of the ritual.

But.... The church is getting a woman pastor. Which leaves me wondering if I should partake of communion there. I have never been served communion by a woman pastor. I am not saying it is wrong, but it is something I have never pondered on. So, what do you think? Are you alright with woman pastors serving communion?

While I am talking woman pastors.... The last pastor candidate did not take the position because of pay issues. A married man pastor has the issue of a wife, who likes the idea of the American dream with the nice house and all. A woman married to a pastor better enjoy the idea of work if she wants to have anything as many churches are struggling.

But this lady pastor candidate seems married to a good career man. She may be able to take the position not worried about the pay as her husband has a good job. And it all may work out for the good of the church.

 

[tampasteve]

Yes, I would take it, and yes, I have done so.

Paul is speaking there about taking it unworthily, not it being improperly consecrated. She sounds like a good fit for the church, if she is a Godly person and preaches the Gospel I would not have any qualms about it. But plenty of people are going to chime in about how women should not be over women and such, I personally believe they are wrong.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Yes, I've already done so considering my pastor is a woman.

 

[John P. Alexander]

Only men can be priests. 200~ years of inappropriate conduct doesn't change history.

 

[topher694]

Only men can be priests. 200~ years of inappropriate conduct doesn't change history.

You seem fun.

 

[John P. Alexander]

You seem fun.

You could address the historical, traditional, and biblical aspect of this rather than sarcastically addressing me directly with nonsense.

 

[Dave-W]

Yes

The Apostle Paul attributed evil results to its being administered improperly....

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. - 1 Corinthians 11:29-30

Bad exegesis. It was not the administration of the host that Paul had a problem with; it was the attitude in the hearts of the recipients. Note the phrase “..not discerning the Lord’s body.” In context, the body is explained in the next chapter:


1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

 

[Phil W]

If I fear a ritual it is communion. The Apostle Paul attributed evil results to its being administered improperly....

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. - 1 Corinthians 11:29-30

My favorite place for communion is the Lutheran church. The pastor there is an old kind hearted guy, and the bread and wine seem served in appropriate proportions and also have a good taste. There is also a sense of the appropriate discernment of the ritual.

But.... The church is getting a woman pastor. Which leaves me wondering if I should partake of communion there. I have never been served communion by a woman pastor. I am not saying it is wrong, but it is something I have never pondered on. So, what do you think? Are you alright with woman pastors serving communion?

While I am talking woman pastors.... The last pastor candidate did not take the position because of pay issues. A married man pastor has the issue of a wife, who likes the idea of the American dream with the nice house and all. A woman married to a pastor better enjoy the idea of work if she wants to have anything as many churches are struggling.

But this lady pastor candidate seems married to a good career man. She may be able to take the position not worried about the pay as her husband has a good job. And it all may work out for the good of the church.

It isn't the "giver" of the bread and wine that needs to worry, but the "receivers" who musn't partake with an unclean conscience.

 

[public hermit]

If you are able, don't be afraid to take the sacrament on account of the one administering it. Ex opera operato-"from the work worked." In other words, the efficaciousness (effectiveness) of the sacrament does not come from the one who administers it, but from the finished work of Jesus Christ. A similar issue came up during the Donatist controversy. People were afraid to take the sacrament from lapsed priests (i.e. priests who handed over the scriptures during persecution as evidence they rejected the Christian faith). Augustine argued they should feel free to take the sacrament from said priests because the sacrament's effectiveness was not based in the priest who administered it, but Jesus Christ who died for them. So, if you are able, don't be afraid. Take it in good faith.

Ex opere operato - Wikipedia
Donatism - Wikipedia

 

[Not David]

Well, it is your assembly so you can do whatever you want.

 

[Endeavourer]

Only men can be priests. 200~ years of inappropriate conduct doesn't change history.

Are you saying that history is more relevant than Scripture as to who can be a pastor?

 

[John P. Alexander]

Are you saying that history is more relevant than Scripture as to who can be a pastor?

The Bible doesn't support a female priesthood, and so neither is it seen in history before Christ (Judaism) or after Christ (the Church) until relatively recently as things have changed drastically in modern times.

 

[Endeavourer]

The Bible doesn't support a female priesthood, and so neither is it seen in history before Christ (Judaism) or after Christ (the Church) until relatively recently as things have changed drastically in modern times.

Thanks for the clarification.

How do you reconcile the female apostle (Junia), seminary teacher (Priscilla) and deacon (Phoebe) in Acts with this position? As well as the other females in Acts that were participating in evangelistic ministry?

Also, do you agree that the two verses used most commonly as prohibitions for females (1 Tim 2:12, 1 Cor 14:34-35) are taken out of context by proponents of such?

 

[topher694]

You could address the historical, traditional, and biblical aspect of this rather than sarcastically addressing me directly with nonsense.

Oh I could, I very much could, but what would the value be in that? Are you looking to reconsider your views or just criticize the views of others?

Plus nonsense is in the eye of the beholder. For example, I think most of what you've stated is nonsense, yet I think you are a very sincere person.

 

[Jonaitis]

If I fear a ritual it is communion. The Apostle Paul attributed evil results to its being administered improperly....

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. - 1 Corinthians 11:29-30

My favorite place for communion is the Lutheran church. The pastor there is an old kind hearted guy, and the bread and wine seem served in appropriate proportions and also have a good taste. There is also a sense of the appropriate discernment of the ritual.

But.... The church is getting a woman pastor. Which leaves me wondering if I should partake of communion there. I have never been served communion by a woman pastor. I am not saying it is wrong, but it is something I have never pondered on. So, what do you think? Are you alright with woman pastors serving communion?

While I am talking woman pastors.... The last pastor candidate did not take the position because of pay issues. A married man pastor has the issue of a wife, who likes the idea of the American dream with the nice house and all. A woman married to a pastor better enjoy the idea of work if she wants to have anything as many churches are struggling.

But this lady pastor candidate seems married to a good career man. She may be able to take the position not worried about the pay as her husband has a good job. And it all may work out for the good of the church.

There is no such thing as a "woman pastor," so if she were to conduct the service it would be wrong. I would go even further and say I would walk out of the service if I found out that the person they call a minister was a woman. It is obviously a symptom of a much bigger theological problem in that church.

 

[Jonaitis]

The Bible doesn't support a female priesthood, and so neither is it seen in history before Christ (Judaism) or after Christ (the Church) until relatively recently as things have changed drastically in modern times.

John, I have found that on this board that most Christians on here hold to unorthodox views about the most basic doctrinal truths. I've met quite a number of theistic-evolutionist, to give an example. I am afraid that Western Christendom will continue to decay, although I am sure in the Eastern Orthodox you don't see this much change happening as you see on the outside. I've been seeing within the Reformed community a wave a new people who want to revert back to conservative views, so there is still hope.

 

[Endeavourer]

I've been seeing within the Reformed community a wave a new people who want to revert back to conservative views, so there is still hope.

Wouldn't Biblical views be the goal, rather than "conservative" ones?

 

[topher694]

John, I have found that on this board that most Christians on here hold to unorthodox views about the most basic doctrinal truths. I've met quite a number of theistic-evolutionist, to give an example. I am afraid that Western Christendom will continue to decay, although I am sure in the Eastern Orthodox you don't see this much change happening as you see on the outside. I've been seeing within the Reformed community a wave a new people who want to revert back to conservative views, so there is still hope.

Good thing we've got you to set us all straight then.

 

[Leet]

Of course, my pastor is a woman.
If you feel uncertain though, just ask God to bless you as you eat and drink in faith.

 

[Jonaitis]

Wouldn't Biblical views be the goal, rather than "conservative" ones?

What do you think "biblical" and "conservative" means?