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.
Oh, you're very welcome. You want a prostitute, you have one. :)
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho when the Israelites were getting ready to invade the land. She had heard the stories of how the Israelites' God had delivered them out of Egypt, and of the things that happened to the people who opposed Israel. Rahab thought of her survival, and when the Israelite spies came to her door she hid them from her own king. She made a deal with them. She would hide them and help them escape Jericho in exchange for her life and the lives of her family. The deal was made and so was history. The Israelites did invade Jericho and Rahab and her family were spared.
Paul takes care to always mention Priscilla, wife of Aquila, who risked her life for his (Romans 16:9). Another one in the NT that comes to mind is Tabitha.
Tabitha was an extremely kind woman who knew no limits with her acts of kindness and charity (Acts 9:36). When she died, those who loved her heard Jesus' disciple Peter was near and sent for him. Peter sent everyone out of the room and took Tabitha's hand and raised her from the dead. What is so impressive about Tabitha? The brief mention of her exemplary life. She was a woman sorely missed by all which is why Peter was sent for in the first place, and it was her being raised from the dead that led many people to Christianity.
It has been a joy to chat with you and actually you have helped me remember alot of things about great women in scripture.
And, while she is unnamed, take the woman to whom Solomon wrote the Song of Songs.
Double wow.
Shalom.
"Assuming the pastor was preaching something that was in fact idiotic & ungodly & not just according to someones opinion."
I've seen pastors do silly stuff. After all they are people too. Most are not usually that dense though.
True, but her premise was that it was something she KNEW about. I am giving her the benefit of the doubt. Many times we hear things we don't like, but many times we hear things that we KNOW are not correct! You know what I mean there, right? LOL! In those cases, people are better off to go where they can hear truth.
This pastor better be glad I'm not a member of that church. I can't believe his congregation is letting him get away with it.
Do not forget that Rahab is in the lineage of Jesus Christ, as was Bathsheba the adulteress.
Shalom.
The Israelites did invade Jericho and Rahab and her family were spared.
Do not forget that Rahab is in the lineage of Jesus Christ, as was Bathsheba the adulteress.
Shalom.
Absolutely it's better to go where they can hear the truth. Of course one has to study the Bible to know that. But there are a lot of people who base their beliefs on their opinions or what they want the Bible to say, not on what the Bible actually says. If the pastor is preaching sound doctrine, then he is right. A member of the congregation who has a different "viewpoint" or concern should be free to bring it up to him in private if they so choose. If they are not satisfied with the outcome, then they should possibly seek another church home.
You are very kind. I am what Churchmates have called a "logical evangelist." I only minister in a non-professional manner when the opportunity presents itself.
I was raised Episcopalian, educated Roman Catholic, and have worshipped with Lutherans, Assemblies of God, Independent Charismatic, Independent non-Charismatic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Messianic Jewish, and probably some other flavors of Christian that I can't remember. Each was very proud of its "distinctives" which caused me to study them. I have decided two things:
1) the things which divide us are much smaller than the things which unite us and
2) our pride makes it seem like the reverse.
Shalom.
>>>I think you have me mixed up with someone else as I didn't make a comment about luck.>>
My apologies.
One day we will all drown in a tsunami of idiocy.
Sounds like Cho is trying to play fast and loose, while trying to be "modern" and "all inclusive".
Unfortunately for Cho, the Bible trumps his personal views.
The idiot you refer to. Would that be the Apostle Paul who wrote 1 Timothy 2:11-14? Or would it be God, who inspired Paul, and gave him authority?
I have heard of women being limited to teaching children (boys and girls) and other women. I haven't specifically heard of women not being able to teach girls and women only, or not teach at all. But it wouldn't surprise me if that would happen.
How would you interpret "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,"
Right on all accounts
Actually, pastor is a relatively new position (post new testament church). If you read pastor in a new translation of the Bible, its not accurate.
Second. If you have a interlinear Bible and look up the verse. You'll find that the verse pretty much means EXACTLY what it says.
Pastor, Bishop, Shepherd, Pope -- call a church leader whatever you want. It was not intended to be led by a woman.
Hmmm ...sounds almost like the book quoting guys that used to run Afghanistan...
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