Women and the Religious Right

I have a question for Conservative Christians, especially Southern Baptists. If, in November, you decide to cast your vote for John McCain because of Sarah Palin, will you extend the same opportunities to women in your own churches? That is, will you allow women to take leadership in church and home, even as you affirm the right of a woman to serve in the 2nd highest office in the land?

I suppose some might answer, well she's not President, only VP, and therefore "in submission" to a man. But, what if, God forbid, happens to John McCain, what then?

I ask this question in all seriousness, because I think this is an important opportunity for Religious Conservatives who have placed women on the sidelines to embrace their gifts. But, if you continue to insist that women must submit to the husband in the home and disallow their leadership in the church, then how can you justify her candidacy?

I don't think this is an issue, necessarily for Sarah Palin herself. Her own religious involvement has been largely with Assembly of God churches, a Pentecostal denomination. Pentecostals have in general been more lenient on the issue of women in the pulpit and church leadership. The greatest example being Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (on Aimee see Matt Sutton's Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America).

I don't think Palin is the right choice for VP, but that a Conservative Christian woman is on a major party ticket is an intriguing one, one that could have lasting implications, not just for the nation, but for society in general. But, my question remains -- if you insist a woman must submit to her husband and can't provide leadership in the church, then how do you justify this?

Comments

Anonymous said…
She might be a woman but she doesn't represent women. She has slashed funding supporting the housing of unwed mothers in Alaska, she is forcing her daughter into a marriage with a boy who "lives for hockey", calls himself a "[expletive] redneck" and says "I want no kids" on his myspace page, and she is opposed to abortions which would save the life of a mother. I found all this on Jim West's blog.
Anonymous said…
The Bible is very clear that the husband is the head of the home and pastors and deacons should only be men.
Anonymous said…
Jack,

I am no apologist for Sara Palin but I must respond to Jack's rather narrow interpretation of some parts of scripture.

Not every man is the head of a home, nor is every man a pastor or a deacon. What then, are they failures at achieving what God intended for them?

And not every judge or prophet was a man. Women of authority are depicted in Scripture. Mary Magdelene was the first to see the Risen Christ - and it was her job to be the Apostle to the Apostles. Are these women flaunting the rules which you believe God has imposed on humanity?

When Paul lists the gifts and fruits of the spirit he does not say that those gifts and fruits are gender specific.

Men and women were created in the likeness and image of God. Some people are gifted with the charism of teaching and leadership and some are not. God gifts certain men and women with the extraordinary ability to speak and act with authority in their time, and we - men and women - are called to respond to the calling to lead when so called, and to follow when so called.



John
Anonymous said…
John,

In God's sight, the husband is the head of the home. If he fails in his responsibilities, he will be accountable to God.

Not every man is a pastor or deacon? Did you expect them to be?

Mary Magdalene was an Apostle? The Bible does not say that. What is that, Catholic teaching?

Since you referenced Paul, you might want to read his qualifications for pastors and deacons; women are excluded.
Robert Cornwall said…
Jack,

But my question here has to do with Sarah Palin. If you are of the view that women must submit then can you vote for a woman to serve as VP? If so, how do you justify it? I hear the Religious Right is all fired up about her, how come?
Anonymous said…
Paul's teaching as to the role of women is conflicted, and any serious analysis must take account of all that he says, not just the part the analyst agrees with.

As for Mary Magdalene's role in announcing the resurrection to the Apostles, I am pretty sure the Protestants left that in the King James Version of Scripture. But I guess they could have left this truth out if it was too uncomfortable.
Anonymous said…
Mr. Cornwall,

I would prefer a man for v.p.. I would not consider voting for a woman for president. And I was not planning to vote for McCain, no matter who he chose for v.p..

You'll have to ask those who support Gov. Palin why they do so.
Anonymous said…
Jack,

I have already pointed out Mary Magdalene's role which you have dismissed on the false supposition that my depiction of her is Catholic and thus beneath contempt.

I have another more complex story for you to consider. What of the episode of Jesus and the woman of Samaria. (John 4) Even she asked Jesus what he, a Jew was doing speaking to her, a woman of Samaria. As the story unfolds she discovers that Jesus is the Messiah and then she seeks out her community, tells them of Jesus and his message, and brings them to the well where Jesus waited. The all-male all-Jewish Apostle's club, present for the most part to witness the events, is reduced to spectator status, powerless to take any role in the proceedings.

Like Mary, the woman of Samaria is gifted by Jesus with the role of prophet and preacher. Perhaps Jesus employed her in this fashion because her community was culturally more willing to listen to her, perhaps outside of Israel women were more likely to be heard? Perhaps Paul's injunction to an all-male leadership fraternity was targeted to cultures, such as Israel's - but not just Israel's, which was not then capable thriving under female leadership? Perhaps the woman was merely a gifted speaker? Perhaps anyone, regardless of gender, can be called by Jesus to deliver His message with authority?

Who knows? But it can not be denied (or dismissed as Catholic!?!) that when it suited Him, Jesus entrusted women to be among the foremost exponents of the Gospel.

And Paul's comments cannot be dismissed either.

Prayer for guidance as we seek to discern the truth among the contradictions is the best we can do -- and for forgiveness when we fail to accurately hear and abide by the will of God.

John

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