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Actually, my criticism of celibate clergy has nothing to do with that passage. Peter, who according to Roman Catholic tradition, was the first pope, was a married man. Passages relating to elders assume that they are married men (but I believe do not exclude those who are single, do not necessarily exclude those who are divorced, do not exclude widowed men, and do not exclude those who have been made eunuchs by God). Paul was not married and started many churches in a very pastoral role. One's marital status, therefore, according to Scripture, is less important in whether or not one will be a good pastor as is one's character. If they are using the Timothy passage as an injunction against celibate clergy, they are misusing the text. But on the flip side, you will not find in Scripture where clergy are to be celibate.

Amen! We agree.

Celibacy is a discipline of the Church and can be (and has been) changed. It is a prudential matter for the leaders of the Church to determine.

The Catholic view is that there is no right to be a pastor. One can inform the Church that one feels called by God, but the Church determines if the call will benefit the Church. (Thus a reformed axe murderer may feel truly called by God to be a pastor, but the Church must discern if this "call" will truly be of service to God's people). I presume it is similar in that a protestant man cannot just demand that he be a pastor - he has to find people willing to give that honor or responsibility to him.