Women in the Pulpit

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Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Regarding the subject of women in the pulpit, much has already 
been posted.  I would like to comment on several points that 
have been made though I hope you will forgive me if I do not 
point to an exact posting.

As to 1 Timothy 2:12 "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to 
usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

This scripture uses the word 'usurp.'  According to Strongs this 
word (authenteo) "to act of oneself, i.e. (fig.) dominate:--usurp authority
over."  Could it be possibly stating that the woman/wife must not take action
of or on her own accord.  It does not say 
that she cannot *have* authority, simply that she must not *usurp* authority. 
IOW, she must not act without being under submission 
to her husband (or other authority).  I do believe that the 
context of this verse indicates that it is speaking of the 
disruption of the church service rather than the application of 
a principle for the whole Church.

If one wanted to take the direction not to teach (and by the way, 
I find no direct prohibition in the scriptures for a woman to 
preach, perhaps I missed something), than certainly no woman 
should be allowed to teach male children if at all, and likewise 
no woman should write books that perhaps a man would read and 
learn from and thereby have been taught by a woman; and likewise 
no woman should be allowed into this discussion forum for a man 
might accidentally be taught by a woman.

As many have said, one passage of scripture is only as good as 
it fits in with the whole of scripture.  If Paul here is asserting that no
women can speak at all in the church than that must 
conform with all the other scriptures.  I do believe, however, 
that the scriptures give evidence to the contrary at least as far 
as women teaching and prophesying and "working in the Lord."  
Several years ago I read an excellent exposition on the subject 
of those women mentioned in scripture who were fellow laborers 
with Paul such as are mentioned in the last chapter of Romans.  
It was an appendix to an essay by Sister Thetus Tenney on the 
subject of "The Ministry of Women in the Oneness Movement" in the 
book Symposium on Oneness Pentecostalism 1988 and 1990 (Word Aflame Press,
1990).  This appendix by David M. Scholer gives invaluable insight into the
designations of those women along with those mentioned in other books by Paul
and in Acts.  I would love to reproduce the whole thing here but as I do not
have permission 
from the author, I can only give a few excerpts.  I suggest to 
anyone seriously interested in the topic to read the book which 
is available from the Pentecostal Publishing House.

"Four of the women greeted by name can appropriately be grouped together: Mary
(16:6), Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis (16:12). 
All of these women are said to have worked very hard in the Lord 
(the words "in the Lord" do not appear in 16:6, but otherwise the designation
is parallel)

... However, the Greek verb translated "work very hard" (kopiao) 
is used regularly by Paul to refer to the special work of the 
gospel ministry.  Only twice does Paul use it in a common or 
secular sense, and in both of these instances it is used within 
a proverbial expression (Ephesians 4:8; II Timothy 2:6). Paul frequently uses
the term to describe his own apostolic ministry 
(l Corinthians 4:12; 15:10. Galatians 4:11; Philippians 2:16; Colossians 2:29;
I Timothy 4:10; see also Acts 20:35). Paul also 
uses the term to refer to the work of others in the ministry, 
leaders and persons of authority in each case (l Corinthians 
16:15-16; I Thessalonians 5:12; I Timothy 5:17. In each of these 
three cases in which Paul refers to the "very hard work" of 
others, his context also stresses the need to respect for and submission to
such workers

... In Romans 16:3 Paul greets Priscilla and Aquila, a wife and husband "team"
mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament (Acts 
18:2; 18:18: 18:26; I Corinthians 16:19; II Timothy 4:19).  Not 
only does their frequent mention indicate their importance in 
the Church, but it is said that believers met in their home, 
that they traveled with Paul and that they instructed Apollos, 
an important early teacher in the Church.

... Paul designated Priscilla and her husband Aquila as "...my 
fellow workers in Christ Jesus" (Romans 16:3, NIV). Paul uses 
the term "fellow worker" (synergos) regularly for other leaders 
in the gospel ministry, including Urbanus (Romans 16:9), Timothy (Romans
16:21), Titus (II Corinthians 8:23), Epaphroditus 
(Philippians 2:25), Clement (Philippians 4:3), Philemon 
(Philemon 1), Demas and Luke (Philemon 24) and several others (Colossians
4:11)... It is in this group of people who take 
leadership in the ministry of the gospel that Priscilla, without 
any distinction related to her sex, is included as well as her 
husband Aquila."

This gentleman shows a preponderance of evidence that several 
women labored in the Lord and very likely as ministers in the 
formal sense.

I would lastly like to draw particular attention to Priscilla. 

     "And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when 
     Aquila and Priscilla had heard, *they* took him unto (them),
     and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."  
     (Acts 18:26) (Parenthesis indicates italics text, emphasis 
     on 'they', mine.)

I seems clear from this passage that Priscilla was at least in 
some way instrumental in instructing Apollos since *they* 
expounded (ektithemi, to expose; fig. to declare:--cast out, 
expound) to him the way of God.  This sounds a bit more than 
simple witnessing (which in my opinion is always a form of 
preaching) from which women are surely not prohibited.

By the way, Reverend Janet Trout is an ordained minister in 
Dover, Delaware and she has co-founded and co-pastors two 
churches in Delaware and Maryland with her husband who is the 
NJ-Del District Superintendent.  She is also the President of Kent Christian
College which she also co-founded.  She is a minister 
who has not *usurped* authority, but rather was given authority 
by her husband and the man/men over her (the District Superintendant 
and the District Board).  I would sit under her 
teaching/preaching any time (but then, I am a woman so it would be 
okay anyway, right?)

Sorry to be so long winded, but these topics are just not simple.
If they were, we wouldn't be here, would we?

Kathy (the gifts and calling of God are without repentance) Dimick
Falkville, Alabama
kdimick@hotmail.com





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