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To: joathome
Do you believe that men are the head of the home? Why would God place a woman head over the spiritual family? That is not reconcilable in light of all the many passages dealing with women in the church and family.

I do, exactly as Christ is the head of the church. "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransome for many."

My wife and I share the decisions in the home. In areas where I have more knowledge, I make the decisions, although I always run those decisions by her before making them so she will always know what is going on. In areas where she has more knowledge, I would be a fool to assume that responsibility. She makes those decisions and I trust her. Of course, she also runs them by me. What kind of fool would refuse a gift given to him by G-d such as a wife who makes excellent financial decisions?

So what do I mean by head? It is my responsibility to give my life for the family. Thankfully the requirement has only been to lay down my wants and desires for the good of my wife and children. But if it ever required giving up my physical life - that is still the requirement.

So, let's relate this practically to a church. I'll speak to a protestant church, but it will apply somewhat to a Catholic church as well. I have been in a protestant church where the person most gifted musically was a woman. She picked out the music, rehearsed the choir, made all the sound arrangements, arranged music, hired musicians, etc., etc. In fact, when Jonathan Settel came one Sunday as a guest he told me he assumed she was the Worship Leader. But, of course, she was not. A man had to stand at the microphone because women were not allowed to be leaders. I call this stupid, but in a nice way. She had the gift, and G-d had given her and her gift to the congregation. As long as the Pastor held the final authority (as he did with anyone, male or female) why should the church create a false veneer (sp?) of male leadership? In the same way, I have known many male pastors who were not up to the task, their wives did most of the work. Why hold to the veneer of male leadership. The woman was a gift from G-d. Why not allow the gift to be used?

That said, I know that a Catholic Priest is not a protestant pastor. Protestant pastors are primarily business administrators. Catholic's see the role of Priest as different and I will not argue the validity of the Priesthood. It makes sense that the Catholics, seeing the Priest as a representative of Jesus in the congregation, would require the Priest be male. But if the best person to run the associated school is a woman, let her be in leadership over the school, IMO.

Shalom.

120 posted on 11/27/2001 7:39:03 AM PST by ArGee
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To: ArGee
For starters, I think that many Christians have begun to confuse the biblical idea of "gifts" with the idea of "talents". Women may be equally talented in areas with men, and leadership may be one of her talents; however, that does not mean that God has "gifted" a particular woman in order to become a leade in her church.

I also agree that it would be foolhardy for my husband to make decisions on subject matters where I have more information! I absolutely have my own sphere of responsibilities for precisely that reason. However, I am always cognizant of the fact that my husband is my leader, and head, of our family. The fact remains that God requires me to submit gracefully should the occasion ever arise over something we cannot agree or compromise over. For instance--a job transfer. The final decision would always rest in my husband, and I find rest in the knowledge that my husband is, indeed, a servant leader who truly seeks to put our needs ahead of his. That doesn't preclude the fact that we may come to two different conclusions about what is best for our family, though. :)

121 posted on 11/27/2001 7:48:34 AM PST by joathome
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