[Conservative til I die]

Did the early church err in placing women in positions of authority? Psst - sometimes whole churches were just women because Christianity spread, not surprisingly, the fastest in the underclass. In an early document (can't remember the name of it offhand, but it can be found in Paganism and Christianity by MacMullen and Lane (my Greek mentor)), instructions are given to traveling evangelists who come to churches where there are no men. So it was obviously a known quantity. What to do? I guess they just sat around waiting for the men to show up.

Show me this in the Bible. Show me where these women decided not to wait around for the men. Show me where a female consecrated the bread and wine in these all-female masses. Show me how its such an "obvious quantity".

You can't apply one standard for Catholics and one for Protestants. For Catholics, unless its explicitly stated in the Bible, the Catholic position is non-existent or horsecrap. But for you it seems, if something is not mentioned in the Bible either way, Protestants can take free license and offer up their conjecture and say things lke "Obviously" "Probably" or "In my opinion."

[the808bass]

You can't apply one standard for Catholics and one for Protestants. For Catholics, unless its explicitly stated in the Bible, the Catholic position is non-existent or horsecrap. But for you it seems, if something is not mentioned in the Bible either way, Protestants can take free license and offer up their conjecture and say things lke "Obviously" "Probably" or "In my opinion."

If you will allow me to establish the template for the formation of your theology, I will be most satisfied with the blueprint you have laid out for me. Until that distant date, please allow me to define my own theology (or insert comments at will, either way).

If Scripture is our primary source for theology, that does not preclude the usage of other documents. Also, if you wish to be consistent, you must use your own theological system when evaluating a piece of evidence, not the nearest one that serves your purpose.

[OLD REGGIE]

Show me this in the Bible. Show me where these women decided not to wait around for the men. Show me where a female consecrated the bread and wine in these all-female masses. Show me how its such an "obvious quantity".

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Show me where a male, Jesus excepted, consecrated the bread and wine anywhere.