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My reading of the Scriptures is that women should not be ordained as ministers or pastors in a Church, unless there are no men to do so. Our country certainly doesn't have that problem. My reading of the Scriptures does not preclude women from otherwise fully participating in public worship, leading song, leading in prayer, leading in scripture reading. The scriptures most definitely allow women being teachers of the gospel to other women, to children, and also participating fully in home bible study groups (where women held church in their own homes during Paul's time) where they may freely state, to men, what the passages are telling them. Some of the scriptures which give women this freedom have already been posted. There are many more that could be posted, in both the Old and New Testatments, examples of where God either used women as prophets, or where Jesus and Paul, for example, have explicity encouraged women to continue their ministries. Viva, you continue to take Scripture out of context, and nothing further can be posted which will change what you have decided is right. May the Holy Spirit enlighten your mind rather than the doctrine of man which you follow.

I prefer to follow Jesus' example more than that of Pual. Paul was a great teacher, don't get me wrong. Jesus "suffered" women to minister. Paul did not. Notice Paul says "I suffer not a woman to teach. Paul was, as he himself admitted, with faults and was subject to err. Jesus was not. If the Holy Spirit is giving a message through a woman that is His perrogative. There are many instances in the bible where women were used mightily of God. Some in big ways and some in minor ways, but nevertheless USED of God to a level of importance worth reporting or in such a way that the outcome was worthy of being an example.

I love the worship song which says, "I ain't gonna let no rock cry out in my place". Again, I agree that we must obey scripture but we MUST have an understanding of the times and circumstances in which those scriptures were written. Gives a new understanding to the scripture in which God says that His people are destroyed for lack of KNOWLEDGE.

I dare ask if any of these women on this forum ever went to services while they were menstruating. Sounds obscene? Maybe, but the LAW says that a woman is unclean during this time. Did these women set themselves apart from their families for seven days as the LAW requires.If not, they were ignoring scripture and in sin. Did their husbands touch anything they touched during that time? If so, their husbands were unclean as well and required to be apart from their families and others for seven days. If you are "obeying" one part of the law you'd better be obeying ALL of it or you are no more than a hypocrite. I persoanlly thank God for sending His son and providing me the grace which frees me from the bondage of legalism.

We can be literalists and have a complete lack of understanding. If one so chooses then that is their perrogative. I choose to seek out the wholeness of scripture, including the original texts and studies of the customs of the people to whom they were written. If you wanna stay in Egypt murmuring and complaining then fine.

I choose to live in the freedom from the curse of the law as Jesus provided for me. And as Michael the Archangel wouldn't criticize Lucifer ( again, a case of recognizing the annointing that had once been upon him ) and would only rebuke him, so I choose NOT to insult another as I may be touching God's annointed which would not be profitable for me.

You can find websites all day long to insult or compliment any doctrine. Understanding the scriptures and seeking the wisdom ( as required of us according to scripture ) through the instruction of the Holy Spirit is the key to discernment. Not another man's interpretation or criticism of doctrine.