Posted on 08/24/2006 10:02:06 AM PDT by presidio9
A U.S. Baptist preacher has publicly defended himself for firing a female Sunday School teacher after more than 50 years on the job because he believes the Bible bans women from teaching men.
Watertown First Baptist Church Pastor Tim LaBouf, also a city council member in Watertown, N.Y., said women could fulfill any role or responsibility they wanted to -- outside the church.
"My belief is that the qualifications for both men and women teaching spiritual matters in a church setting end at the church door, period," LaBouf said in a statement on the church Web site (http://www.nnyinfo.com/firstbaptist).
LaBouf and the church board fired Mary Lambert, 81, earlier this month in a letter that cited the scriptural qualifications for Sunday School teachers, Lambert said.
"They quote First Timothy Two, 11-14: A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, she must be silent," Lambert said, reading from the letter.
"I was astonished," she said. "I would not go back and teach as long as this is their thinking."
Watertown is 250 miles northwest of New York City.
William Carlsen, executive minister for American Baptist Churches of New York State, said U.S. Baptist Churches are autonomous and that there would not be many other Baptist Churches that share LaBouf's view.
"A considerable number if not a majority of American Baptist Churches have been quite aggressive in affirming the place of women's leadership roles within the church," Carlsen said.
The board of the Watertown First Baptist Church said in a statement on its Web site that the scripture rules concerning women teaching men in a church setting had only played a small part in Lambert's sacking.
"Christian courtesy motivates us to refrain from making any public accusations against her," the board said.
Here's your logic lesson for today. I drink water, the Taliban drink water. That makes us water-drinkers.
This preacher doesn't want women to teach, the Taliban do not want women to teach. That makes them _______________.
People who don't want women to teach.
Let's try this another way.
Hitler wore pants. You wear pants. That makes you _____________.
Or, Billy Graham wears pants. You wear pants. That makes you ____________.
Using the Taliban is inflammatory. It is intentionally inflammatory. To suggest that you did not mean it to be inflammatory is as credible as suggesting that using Hitler instead of billy Graham above was not meant to be inflammatory.
You can claim what you want. We will not believe you.
Shalom.
"Funny, but that isn't what I heard everyday for the first, oh, 20 so years of my life.
I mean, women have their place, and if it makes them miserable, or they don't fit in that pre-ordained 'spot', the damn them to hell for not being happy about it!"
Sorry to hear that. Jesus instructed that all should be treated with love and respect. What you describe doesn't seem to fit.
''Hey....Another psychic!!! Ask him for the lottery numbers."
Still waiting for you to.
besides I agree with him. I'm guessing the bible is his source and it has an excellent track record.
It sounds like you were exposed to some VERY bad teaching and teachers.
That is not G-d's fault.
But I understand how it would lead to a great deal of hurt frustration. I am sorry you had to have that experience.
Shalom.
Please read my #93. Again. So this guy isn't like the Taliban. Maybe he simply keeps his jackboots and riding-crop in the closet.
>>>They would have you believe that when the Federation starship USS Voyager was developed, star travel had become so far advanced that even a woman could be captain.
Just ruined it in terms of believability.>>>
What is that supposed to mean?
I'm claiming that this fact does not make him like the Taliban, any more than the fact that they both breathe air makes them alike.
Shalom.
I am growing weary. What "falsehood?" Are you claiming this preacher does not wish to prevent women from teaching?
No, I'm not psychic. But I know someone who knows the future.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) he does not give out lottery numbers.
Shalom.
While you are correct, even if he finds out that we really are stupid to worship Jesus Christ, he will still find out.
Shalom.
The article mentions a "church setting." Neither of us knows what that means.
If I may add one thing to what you've already said: it is important that the Bible is not taken as a Church "how to manual." The Bible can never be understood or properly interpreted outside of the Church to whom it was given. In other words, when one reads the Scriptures it should be in the context of what the Church catholic has always taught. In the words of St. Vincent of Lerins, we hold to what the Church has taught "everwhere, always, and by all."
Again, thanks for your thoughtful comments.
Maybe you still beat your wife. The Taliban do that too, you know.
Shalom.
Now that is simply juvenile. Did Reuters print a story that I have? I'm not even married. Stay focused.
The article mentions a "church setting." Neither of us knows what that means.
Well said. Its a difficult message to communicate to someone without any frame of reference.
Did Reuters print a story that he has jackboots?
I am staying focused.
Here's a thought for you. It is possible - possible mind you - that a man can think a woman should not teach in Church and still not have totalitarian tendencies. It is also possible - possible mind you - that he can be placed in a position of authority within a Church, exercise that authority within that Church, and still not have totalitarian tendencies.
It is also possible for you to read his statement, posted on this thread, but it seems you did not bother before judging him.
Shalom.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.