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.
'See...I knew you couldn't stay on the subject."
Since you are so good at telling the future please give me the winning lottery numbers for tonight.
nonsense. Why is it ok to attack christians so easily these days? Put black, hispanic, gay, jew or just about any other descriptor in the sentence and you'd be slammed.
That is precisely what I am doing, and not falsely. What's funny are the resulting "well yeah, but" logical fallacies.
Nothing anymore and happy about it.
No, not putting either. Ever watch one of those made-for-tv golf events where Tiger and Annika take on Phil and some other dyke-in-spikes?
Another similarity! Thanks.
is it really ?
Exodus 15:24: Miriam, Judges 4 & 5: Deborah, Acts 9:36 Tabitha, who was also known by her Greek name Dorcas, Acts 21:8: Philip had four daughters who were prophets, Philippians 4:2: Euodia and Syntyche, Romans 16:1: Phoebe, Romans 16:3: Priscilla, Romans 16:7 Junia
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Fortunately, Watertown is a little snowmobile stop on the way to the Adirondacks, not really known for influencing Church culture or doctrine - however errant
Shalom.
"Philip(the apostles) daughters were Evangelists.."
yep you're right, but then I'm not one to tell God he's wrong. I have lost that argument with him every single time.
Like how to care more about how our nails look than how to swing a hammer?
Seriously, there are G-d given differences between men and women that we should consider and respect (and love and drool over ... I digress) but the civilizing factor that women bring to men is, IMHO, well demonstrated.
Shalom.
THe passage is in first Timothy, chapter two, and the words "in church" are not in the New International Version of the bible.
The teaching is clearly about spiritual, not worldly matters, but I disagree that it deals only with preaching (especially since preaching and teaching were separate issues to Paul).
Regardless, the belief that women should not be spiritual teachers of adult men is within the mainstream of belief of fundamentalist and evangelical churches. It is not some whacko belief of some fringe element.
Five years and still waiting? He's clearly taught you what he wants you to know.
<ducking for cover>
Shalom.
'Nothing anymore and happy about it.'
It's one thing to be "nothing", and another to demonstrate obvious disregard for Christians.
I see that you enjoy Middle Eastern dance, so I was thinking you may be an Arab/Muslim.
"is it really ?"
yes really
While you are quoting you might also quote the parts that show what I'm talking about.
God expects men to be the leaders. Sadly we have done very poorly at times.
People hear this and think women are being put down as inferior. Thats nonsense.
Don't blame it only on the women - it's also because the public schools hire girly men, and none of them believe in discipline.
In a Baptist church Sunday School is for all ages. I don't know if she was teaching children or adults, but you can't assume from the name among our Baptist bretheren and sisteren.
Shalom.
Don't most of our "lessons learned" come from our mothers? Sadly, this guy's mom missed a big lesson...that of respect. Our pastor has done a wonderful sermon on his 4 mothers. Some give birth to you, some raise you, some give you direction at key times in your life. Sadly, here we have a baptist minister, leading a congregation of believers, who still could use some direction at this stage of his life.
"Because it is so very easy to attack stupdity and prejudice."
No, because you are intolerant of anyone who does not agree with you and do not take the time to think before attacking.
Is that the the lefave chick?
How many people has he killed to ensure that governments which allow women to teach are punished?
There IS a difference. Get your own brain in gear.
Shalom.
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