LOL Once again you raise the concept of some organizational hierarchical structure. Paul's comments clearly say that a woman should not exert spiritual authority over a man. As I showed there are numerous examples in scripture of women being teachers and defenders of the faith. If your concept of "pastor" is that the person in that position is somehow in authority over others than a woman should not hold that position.
The other inherent attitude in this "authority" thing is that no where does Paul ascribe any of those position as pertinent to our salvation. If a person is hung up on the legalistic organization of some hierarchical structure their focus is certainly not on what is required for salvation.
I agree. However, let's not lose sight of an important word Paul inserted in that passage: usurp. He said a woman was not to "usurp authority over a man". That word only occurs ONCE in all of Scripture. The Greek transliteration of that word is authenteÅ and means:
I. one who with his own hands kills another or himself
II. one who acts on his own authority, autocratic
III. an absolute master
IV. to govern, exercise dominion over one
What is prohibited here is a woman, on her own authority, being a master of authority over a man, instead of a woman being in submission to male leaders and, of course, her husband.
BUT...what about the case where a woman is NOT usurping a man's authority but is teaching men by their own invitation? Do churches have guest women teachers? Would it be wrong if the men have given their permission for a woman to teach them? I don't think in this case it would. That I think is the gist of Paul's warning to Timothy.