EGALITARIAN VS. COMPLEMENTARIAN (my thoughts on women ministers)

At around 6 last night, after walking Joy to megamall where she and Lennie were to watch a movie, I rushed to Ayala's Trinoma Mall up north for a scheduled dinner with three of my closest female friends! I had a fun time eating out with them, something I've not done in a very long time.

I met them way back in Bible College 8 years ago! After Bible college and some time in hands-on involvement in their local churches, all three of them decided to go to seminary, something they've always wanted to do. One wishes to teach in a seminary, one wants to continue leading her church's youth department [and so claims/dreams to be a preacher's wife!], and one already works actively in her denomination's leadership team as somewhat of a bishop/superintendent for a region.

Like any other group of Christian workers gathered around a cramped dinner table in a noisy Chinese restaurant, we talked about the current state of our faith walk, our ministries, struggles, hopes and vision! Being the only man in the group I felt as though my role should be somewhat of a booster/comforter/big brother to my sisters swamped with overwhelming issues in the ministry, and at the same time be the life of the party- cracking some jokes here and there, making them laugh and all that! One of them admitted, "I have not laughed this much in days! Let me rephrase that, I have not laughed in days!" At that instant, I realized that the struggles that these women ministers are way more serious than I imagined. They are facing things I wish they never have to. No, their not facing gender issues, they are facing life and ministry issues that men normally face, or at least given to men to face!

I seriously thought how these women in their 20s came to grips with a sense of call from God to the ministry. Most women their age spend more time climbing the corporate ladder, making themselves more attractive, getting swooned and falling in love! These resilient, strong-willed but gentle and delicate women are in the same way called to the ministry as I am, and many others.

There are women ministers everywhere, and in many evangelical churches, they have been boxed in ministry to children, among other "minor" positions.

The first woman ever in recorded history to be ordained is Antoinnette Brown by the Congregational Church in 1853. She later joined the Unitarian Church. Eventually, egalitarianism rose from among the ranks of Protestants. Now, no one would deny its potent symbolism as a measure of gender equality and feminine achievement--today about half of all American denominations ordain women, and about 30% of all seminary students (and in some seminaries over half) are female. Egalitarianism holds that all people should be treated as equals from birth, and anything a man can do, so can a woman.

But I am a complementarian. I am a firm believer in the complementarian understanding of manhood and womanhood. In short, I believe that while being absolutely equal in personhood and dignity, man and woman are distinct in regards to roles in the home and church. This position is to be distinguished with both ancient patriarchal culture which often neglects the equality of the sexes and egalitarianism which neglects the clear Scriptural role distinctions of genders. Man and woman are equal, but there are commanded role distinctions in the Bible. Scriptures teach that we each have proper roles in the home and church.

In our church, we don't have ordained women pastors, but we do have women ministers! Women who love God and have sensed God's call in their lives to serve Him full time! As a pastor, am I equal with them in standing before God? Yes. But like I said, I, as any other man, have a different role.

There has been genuine, respectful dialog between complementarian and egalitarian scholars. But more often than not, the emotions that are brought into the dialog caused some disrespect for both parties by both parties. The body of Christ is meant to fight the enemy together but when some turn their weapons inward in order to fight their brothers and sisters in Christ because of a secondary issue of faith, this certainly brings not only shame upon our Lord Jesus, but harm to some precious members of the body of Christ.

The Lord Jesus is best served when we treat our fellow believers in Christ with respect even when that respect is not afforded to us. Yet we do not give up sharing truth and doing so in love. The winning side will be the one who fights for the truth of scripture while passionately debating the issues in love. (C.Schatz)

Thought for today:
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present." - Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda