Ordination of WomenOrdination of Women

What is ordination?What is ordination?

Community decides this person should be Community decides this person should be a ministera minister

Usually involves education and a formal Usually involves education and a formal ritualritual

Sets person apart in the communitySets person apart in the community Catholicism: indelible mark on soulCatholicism: indelible mark on soul

Gives person responsibilities and powersGives person responsibilities and powers Preach, counsel, “pastor”Preach, counsel, “pastor” Can consecrate sacramentsCan consecrate sacraments

Some historical precedentsSome historical precedents

Unusually spiritual, perhaps marginal forms of ChristianityUnusually spiritual, perhaps marginal forms of Christianity Quakers, Shakers: women can speak with inspiration of Holy Quakers, Shakers: women can speak with inspiration of Holy

SpiritSpirit Congregationalists (1853)Congregationalists (1853) Holiness and Pentecostal female preachers (late 19Holiness and Pentecostal female preachers (late 19thth/early 20/early 20thth c) c)

Early 20Early 20thth century: possible but rare century: possible but rare Presbyterians (1922 as deacon, 1956 as minister )Presbyterians (1922 as deacon, 1956 as minister ) Methodists (1926 as elder, 1956 as minister)Methodists (1926 as elder, 1956 as minister)

Second Wave Feminism: Possible and more frequentSecond Wave Feminism: Possible and more frequent Lutherans (1970)Lutherans (1970) But note more conservative Lutheran denominations do not But note more conservative Lutheran denominations do not

ordain womenordain women Reform Judaism (1972)Reform Judaism (1972) Conservative Judaism (1985)Conservative Judaism (1985) Episcopal Church (1976) and Church of England (1992)Episcopal Church (1976) and Church of England (1992)

Arguments against: Arguments against: ProtestantProtestant

Main: Biblical verses that restrict women’s Main: Biblical verses that restrict women’s teachingteaching 1 Timothy 2:121 Timothy 2:12 1 Corinthians 14:341 Corinthians 14:34 Created order: God intends for a wife to be Created order: God intends for a wife to be

submissive to her husband; males are intended to submissive to her husband; males are intended to be in authoritybe in authority

Genesis 3:16; Ephesians 5:22Genesis 3:16; Ephesians 5:22 This does not imply superiority, but complementary rolesThis does not imply superiority, but complementary roles Hierarchy is good, b/c it is God’s way of maintaining orderHierarchy is good, b/c it is God’s way of maintaining order

Arguments for: ProtestantArguments for: Protestant

Biblical argumentsBiblical arguments Women in NT were deacons, apostles, “fellow-workers”, Women in NT were deacons, apostles, “fellow-workers”,

and house church leaders (see Romans 16)and house church leaders (see Romans 16) Therefore passages prohibiting women’s teaching can’t Therefore passages prohibiting women’s teaching can’t

really be that broadreally be that broad Jesus included women in his groupJesus included women in his group

Mary Magdalene, “the apostle to the apostles”, is the first Mary Magdalene, “the apostle to the apostles”, is the first to spread the good news of Jesus’ resurrectionto spread the good news of Jesus’ resurrection

Created order does not imply submission; this comes Created order does not imply submission; this comes from interpretation of the Fall of Evefrom interpretation of the Fall of Eve

Cultural argumentsCultural arguments Bible’s teachings reflected culture, were totally Bible’s teachings reflected culture, were totally

appropriate at the time, but culture has changedappropriate at the time, but culture has changed Protestant Reformers like Luther and CalvinProtestant Reformers like Luther and Calvin

Arguments against: CatholicArguments against: Catholic

Bible alone does not answer the question (1976 Bible alone does not answer the question (1976 Pontifical Biblical Commission)Pontifical Biblical Commission)

Issue is not teaching authority, but Issue is not teaching authority, but tradition tradition and and sacramental powersacramental power Cannot represent Christ because she lacks a natural Cannot represent Christ because she lacks a natural

resemblance to Christresemblance to Christ ““the faithful must be able to recognize [the sign] with ease”the faithful must be able to recognize [the sign] with ease” Male priest represents Christ the bridegroomMale priest represents Christ the bridegroom

Tradition cannot be changedTradition cannot be changed Jesus only chose male disciples, even though he associated Jesus only chose male disciples, even though he associated

with women and thus could have had female discipleswith women and thus could have had female disciples Church does not have the authority to change the doctrineChurch does not have the authority to change the doctrine

Thus calling only men to priesthoodThus calling only men to priesthood

Arguments for: CatholicArguments for: Catholic

All people can be “in persona Christi”, All people can be “in persona Christi”, otherwise, Christ could not be their saviorotherwise, Christ could not be their savior Salvation depends upon Christ becoming Salvation depends upon Christ becoming

human, just like us [“what was not assumed human, just like us [“what was not assumed was not healed”]was not healed”]

The Last Supper was not an ordination The Last Supper was not an ordination ceremonyceremony Women did participate in early Christian Women did participate in early Christian

ministries, which give us a fuller view of what ministries, which give us a fuller view of what ministry was aboutministry was about

Is this a genuinely new moment for the Is this a genuinely new moment for the tradition of the church?tradition of the church?

Remaining issue: diaconateRemaining issue: diaconate

Form of Holy Orders in CatholicismForm of Holy Orders in Catholicism Three types: deacon, priest, bishopThree types: deacon, priest, bishop

Includes ministries of preaching, instruction, Includes ministries of preaching, instruction, counselingcounseling

Women were deacons in early Christianity (cf. Women were deacons in early Christianity (cf. Council of Chalcedon, 451)Council of Chalcedon, 451) Included a ritualIncluded a ritual Ceased ca. 500sCeased ca. 500s

Diaconate changed, but was restored in 1960s to Diaconate changed, but was restored in 1960s to lay men, who can be marriedlay men, who can be married

So, can it be restored to women?So, can it be restored to women?