This post is part of a series based on chapters from the new Church of God book by Jerry Hickson, Are You Sure You're Right? (For more information see my review).
In his book Jerry Hickson highlights numerous examples of how the culture of Evangelicalism has crept into the Church of God. To demonstrate this point he has focused on particular beliefs with which we have conflict, but now in chapter 4 he illustrates an area where our beliefs have not changed as much as our practice. "Might the Best Man for Your Church Be a Woman?" is all about the issue of women in pastoral ministry.
Dr. Hickson points out that, especially in our first fifty years, the Church of God openly accepted women in ministry. This has clearly distinguished ourselves from much of Evangelicalism, and is another example where we actually are more closely aligned with more "liberal" churches. But, "Since 1940, the Church of God has failed to live up to this heritage as the number of women called to serve as pastors has fallen dramatically" (p. 46) mainly because "Church of God people have been influenced by certain evangelical thinking to betray our heritage in this regard" (p. 47). Hickson goes on to provide a Scriptural outline affirming women in ministry.
It is my observation that this shift is not really the product of a clear change in doctrinal position. I think that most people within our movement still believe that women are eligible for ordained ministry, but in practice are very reluctant to call a woman to be their senior pastor. As Hickson points out, this incongruity is often "because long-standing church tradition so strongly argues for male dominance" (p. 52). This provides a perfect illustration of how holding a correct doctrinal position does not necessarily translate into the right actions and practice.
On the one hand, I am very proud of our position regarding women in ministry. But, on the other hand, I am frustrated that we have succumb to the social and religious (i.e. Evangelical) pressure around us, and have made it extremely difficult for women to exercise fully their spiritual gifts and calling within the church.
This must change.
2 comments:
Marlene, I'm so sad to hear that. I have noticed this gap between belief and pratice for quite some time. I have had many conversations with friends about this, they think I'm nuts. I've gotten some shocked looks at times that I didn't set out to use shock and awe. I don't think you can argue with fruit. When you see churches like Newton Falls, OH spaun close to 40 fultime pastors, plus missionaries, plus plus countless committed laity, under the leadership of a woman [Lilly
McCutheon] I think the question changes. No longer is it, "How can you?", "it's how can you not?" How can we not? How do we live out that belief in our ranks?
I once heard a female pastor here in Oklahoma state that "sometimes a church needs a father, but other times it just needs a mother." For those who try to argue that scripture does not support women in ministry they need to return to the words and actions of Jesus (you know "the way, the truth, and the life" guy). The first person who he officially commissioned to go and tell other about him was the woman at the well. The first "ordained" Christian missionary was a woman!
The church where I grew up voted to call a female pastor in the 1990s, but after prayer she felt that it was not the right place for her. I often wonder where that church would be now if they had had a mother in recent years.
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