Can women be pastors?

(There is a discussion of this blog entry here.) Bill Keller in his daily devotional addresses a major issue of today:

Is it OK for women to be pastors, deacons, and elders? With the recent election of Katharine Jefferts Schori to lead the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church, the U.S.branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, the issue of women being pastors and in positions of church leadership is once again being debated. I am always amazed when issues like this come up and the one and only authority we have is rarely mentioned. God gave us His inspired, inerrant Word which represents Absolute Truth and is our FINAL AUTHORITY IN ALL MATTERS! So in answering the question, is it OK for women to be pastors, deacons, and elders, let’s see what God says.

The answer is without question NO. A woman is NOT supposed to be a pastor, a deacon, or an elder in the church. I have heard all of the tortured arguments to justify those who are, but the Word of God not only speaks directly to this issue, it is crystal clear on this issue. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, Chapter 2 Verse 12 states that a woman is not to hold a position of authority in the church, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”

Audio versions of the complete daily devotionals for the last five days are available at Keller’s website.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at June 21, 2006 11:00 PM | Send