Posted on 03/22/2011 3:12:00 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Like all too many Americans, Mark Almlie was laid off in the spring of 2009 when his workplace downsized. He has been searching for an appropriate position ever since, replying to more than 500 job postings without success.
But Mr. Almlie, despite a sterling education and years of experience, has faced an obstacle that does not exist in most professions: He is a single pastor, in a field where those doing the hiring overwhelmingly prefer married people and, especially, married men with children.
Mr. Almlie, 37, has been shocked, he says, at what he calls unfair discrimination, based mainly on irrational fears: that a single pastor cannot counsel a mostly married flock, that he might sow turmoil by flirting with a church member, or that he might be gay. If the job search is hard for single men, it is doubly so for single women who train for the ministry, in part because many evangelical denominations explicitly require a man to lead the congregation.
Mr. Almlie, an ordained evangelical minister who lives in Petaluma, Calif., has also had to contend with the argument, which he disputes with scriptural citations of his own, that the Bible calls for married leaders. “Prejudice against single pastors abounds,” Mr. Almlie wrote in articles he posted on a popular Christian blog site in January and February, setting off a wide-ranging debate online on a topic that many said has been largely ignored.
Some evangelical churches, in particular, openly exclude single candidates; a recent posting for a pastor by a church on Long Island said it was seeking “a family man whose family will be involved in the ministry life of the church.” Other churches convey the message through code words, like “seeking a Biblical man” (translation: a husband and a provider).
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
It also indicates he is evangelical--and evangelical/biblical belief by definition rejects homosexuality.
It really is amazing to me the suspicion and bigotry of married people against single people.
No wonder so many get divorced--with all the pressure to get married...to anyone.
Actually, our local synagogue used to have a single rabbi. He was definitely interested in finding the right woman to settle down with. And he did a very good thing, besides being a quite decent rabbi: he organized special services for the entire area specially for Jewish singles who were looking to meet other Jewish singles. I hope he is married somewhere and happy now.
1 Corinthians 7:6-9
6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
It comes down to whether the individual is living as God has given them the ability to live. Some people can do it single, others can't. Some people don't have a choice.
And you are who, your authority on that is what? Exactly?
On the other hand:
One of the signature teachings of the Lutheran Reformation is the teaching named Sola scriptura—”Scripture alone.” The Missouri Synod believes that the Bible is the only standard by which church teachings can be judged.
The Missouri Synod believes that justification comes from God “by divine grace alone, through faith alone, for Christ’s sake alone.” It teaches that Jesus is the focus of the entire Bible and that faith in him alone is the way to eternal salvation. The synod rejects any attempt to attribute salvation to anything other than Christ’s death and resurrection.
The Synod teaches that the Word of God, both written and preached, and the Sacraments are means of grace through which the Holy Spirit gives the gift of God’s grace, creates faith in hearts of individuals, forgives sins for the sake of Christ’s death on the cross, and grants eternal life and salvation.
Wow, they sure are an apostate church believing in all that nonsense, right?
The Bible specifically states who can be a Bishop (pastor). That doesn’t mean there are no other ways to serve, they just can’t be a Pastor. Stop focusing on the job and focus on serving where God wants you. A single man or woman being a missionary to a dangerous place is putting their life and beliefs on the line in a way that a married man or woman cannot. Each serves and each has a different role.
What a load of blarmy! Missionary CHURCH PLANTERS and Apostles were in authority ABOVE pastors, roughly like bishops are today, depending on your denomination. A Church planter like Paul, by definition HAD to be a pastor, as he started the fellowships, which he oversaw...
Jesus gave us an example, in His lifestyle and teachings, and, was fully human....so the "He can do whatever He wants" because he was also God doesn't cut it as an argument. Why do you believe single adults are morally inferior to married adults?
Again, what organized Christian group, except for the "Church of wbarmy," REQUIRES married leadership (be they pastors, missionaries, or bishops)??
RE: Paul was never a Pastor and never tried to be one, he was a missionary and Apostle. Jesus is God, He can do whatever He wants.
Some observations:
1) According to the book of Acts, Paul stayed in Ephesus for 3 years, later appointing Elders to oversee the church. That to me sort of is a Pastoral role.
2) When Paul left Ephesus, he charged Timothy to be the Bishop of the Church of Ephesus (Eusebius of Caesaria mentions this in his Church History). At that time, Timothy was a Young man (1 Timothy 4:12).
Timothy is first mentioned in Acts 16:1. His mother Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, are mentioned in 2 Tim. 1:5. All that we know of his father is that he was a Greek not a Jew (Acts 16:1).
I find it very strange then that Paul would tell Timothy in the end of his Second Epistle to greet several people in Ephesus, but does not greet Timothy’s wife ( which seems to indicate to me that he wasn’t married at that time ).
I believe 1 Timothy 2:12 comes into relevance here.
For those who believe that this passage only dealt with during Paul’s time the following verses clearly shows that not to be the case.
I never said anything about Missoui synod. The original poster said a bible believing church wouldn’t have a woman Pastor. You offer, in opposition to this statement, ELCA as a denomination which allows female pastors. I pointed out ELCA is not a bible believing denomination. Then you went on an incoherant rant about Missoui synod which didn’t have anything to do with anything. Try reading the posts you are responding to.
I’m pretty sure wbarmy didn’t write those passages.
We disagree on analysis. Your first sentence (above) is confusing, though. "Christian scholars" were late on the scene, and had nothing to do with Pharisees, nor Sanhedrin. "Christian scholars" can't even agree on dispensational stuff... and many don't even know the saving grace of Jesus' cross. My father is an Episcopalian priest and doesn't believe in the virgin birth.
I'd debate that the "vast majority" is not my favorite source... and you are welcome to join them. I Cor 7 is NOT definitive on Paul's married state.
I am not a scholar, but I know enough to know that it is ambiguous at best! Sorry, but your assessment reeks of "I know more than you do", phrased to sound "scholarly" by using "others" as your source of surety! Quote scripture for source and maybe we can discuss it, but I doubt either of us can "win" the argument.
In Acts 26, Paul states that he "cast his vote". The only votes were cast by MEMBERS of the Sanhedrin... and they were married. She may have been dead at the time of the Damascus road event, but I would not agree with your "scholars".
Ok, my mistake. And thank you for your information. I initially wrote I know a female pastor of a Lutheran church, then all heck broke loose. I do not know whether the church is part of the Missouri Synod or not. When I researched this ELCA it came up with what I posted.
Jesus is God and can do whatever He wants. That is the ultimate expression of God. He can save Whom He wants, He can condemn who He wants, and He can lay down His life when He wants.
I do not believe that single adults are morally inferior. Don't put words in my mouth unless you wish to do it face to face. Everyone has different gifts and responsibilities.
Try going to an Independent Fundamental Baptist church and telling them the Pastor doesn't need to be married. Or can be a serial monogamist.
There is no “church of wbarmy” but there is a family of wbarmy. And all are professed Christians, bought by the blood and serving in their local churches.
(Keep a decent tongue in your mouth)
As someone pointed out upthread, they aren’t following the admonitions given in the Bible.
I’m sure there are many definitions of “Bible Believing”, but it would seem to me that a true Bible believing church would follow the Bible’s words on picking a pastor.
May we guess that it's one renowned for not being "Bible believing"?
Wow man, your statements are pretty strange. Paul was clearly in a pastoral type role.
This kind of weird bigotry really hurts the Church.
I went back and checked. The ELCA came into existence in 1988. I knew her before that (1970’s) so the Lutheran church she was pastor of was not in the ELCA denomination.
Well guess away. I’m not one to judge which is or is not Bible believing although there are some requisites. Too many denominations point fingers all around accusing this or that denomination of being non-believers. Sad.
Evidently, those churches which Paul had someting to do with...
I Timothy 3: 1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.
... and he was a "misogynist" according to your "modern" standards. I'll trust his words for it! But, we are talking about Scripture and everybody knows the scholars ca do anything they w=is!
1 Tinothy 2: 11 A woman[a] should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
everybody knows the scholars can do anything they wish!
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