No biblical case for a woman preacher? Read more ...

I usually don’t follow the arguments that take place in the Evangelical world even though I identify myself as an Evangelical. But I couldn’t help but notice the kerfuffle last week about the comments John MacArthur shared at a “Truth Matters” conference.  I listened to much of an audio recording of his remarks.  When asked to respond in a pithy statement to the words, “Beth Moore” he said “go home.”

I found this comment offensive and sexist.  His next comment prompted this blog.  He went on to criticize women preachers calling it unbiblical.  He said, “There is no case that can be made biblically for a woman preacher. Period

No biblical case for a women preacher?

Hmm.

When Hannah discovered she was pregnant after initially suffering from infertility, she shared a prayer to God in 1 Samuel 2.  Her prayer was included in the Bible and has influenced millions of people about faith, prayer, and the nature of God. Her prayer has inspired me many times during my own faith journey.  Thanks for preaching, Hannah!

When Jesus was raised, the first person he met was Mary Magdalene. He told Mary to go and tell the disciples what she had seen.  “Mary went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that [Jesus] had said these things to her.” (John 20:18) The fact that Jesus entrusted Mary Magdalene with the message of his resurrection is enough biblical justification for female preachers.  Thanks for preaching, Mary Magdalene!

When Mary the mother of Jesus visited her aunt Elizabeth, baby Jesus leaped in her womb. Mary shared a song of praise that has been heard by billions of people in churches.  Her song of praise has been an inspiration for many—including me. (Luke 1:46-56) Thanks for preaching, Mary!

After Jesus met a woman from Samaria at a well at noon the woman went to her own village.  “Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’”  (John 4:39)  That testimony—which is one definition of preaching—brought many people to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Thanks for preaching, Samaritan woman!

I’ve read the scant few Scriptures that those who don’t believe in woman’s ordination share as a case against women preachers.  One is from 1 Timothy 2:11-12. When Paul wrote that Scripture he was not making a universal statement about the relationship between men and women; He was making a contextual statement about a particular situation. His message is not consistent with the general message of Scripture.

I’m certainly not writing this blog, so that John MacArthur will change his mind. I am writing it so people in the north Metro will see that the biblical case for women’s ordination shines very brightly. My hope is that every church in the north Metro in 2020 will have a woman share the sermon.  For all who are reading this blog, I encourage you to ask the leadership team of your church to have a woman preach in 2020.  Who knows—perhaps the message from that female preacher will be as powerful as Hannah’s or Mary Magdalene’s or Mary’s, or the woman from Samaria.

For some churches having women preachers won’t happen until lay people make the biblical case.  If you attend a church that prohibits women preachers, I want to encourage you to make that case with your leaders.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has ordained women as pastors since 1956 when Margaret Towner was ordained.  On a personal note I can’t help but note that she graduated from Carleton College and Union Theological Seminary in New York City; the same places I received my degrees.  I know that denominations are not as important for people in choosing churches, but the reality that the PC(USA) has such a long and rich history of ordaining women is makes the case that a Presbyterian church is worth checking out.  Chain of Lakes Church frequently asks women to preach.  A week ago Sunday, October 20, Tahni Cullen preached at Chain of Lakes.  Many people with whom I spoke were helped by her message. 

Women are serving as CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies, they are serving on the Supreme Court, they serve in leadership positions in all part of our culture.  And even if some believe that those leadership positions are not enough of a case for them to be preachers, the message of the Bible cements the case.  I’m sorry that some parts of the church are two thousand years behind what Jesus desired and taught.  My prayer is that every congregation can catch up to the desires of Jesus and the teaching of Scriptures.

1001 New Worshiping Communities and Vital Congregations conference

Last week I had the privilege of attending the 1001 New Worshiping Communities/Vital Congregations national conference in Kansas City.  I haven’t had the opportunity to attend this national conference before. It made sense to me to attend as I was the organizing pastor of a new church and am serving on our Presbytery’s Committee on Congregational Vitality which oversees 1001 New Worshiping Communities.

In 2012 the Presbyterian Church (USA) committed itself to creating 1001 New Worshiping Communities in ten years. The web site of 1001 New Worshiping Communities shares the vision of this initiative. https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/1001-2/

The highlight of the conference for me was a plenary session led by Rev. Dr. Gregory Ellison and a plenary session led by Rev. Becca Stevens.

Dr. Ellison is co-founder of Fearless Dialogues, an organization that specializes in creating unique spaces where unlikely partners can gather to have heartfelt dialogue about difficult subjects. His presentation was especially relevant given the racial challenges of the United States.  A simple blog can’t capture the emotional intensity of the experience.  He called the presentation a laboratory of discovery. It was a heart-felt conversation where all of us had the opportunity to talk deeply to another person. Dr. Ellision talked about seeing, hearing, and creating spaces for change. “If you can’t see the humanity of the person in front of you,” he said, “you cannot change.” He shared five fears that stifle conversation—the fear of the unknown, of strangers, of appearing ignorant, of plopping and of oppressive systems.  His presentation helped me, yet again, recognize my own privilege and appreciate how African Americans have felt invisible in American culture. The presentation ended with each of us paired with another person. We were asked to look at each other for an extended period of time and then share what we saw. I’ll remember the experience for a long time.

I wish that his books had been for sale at the conference as I would have snatched them up immediately.

Rev. Beccas Stevens’ presentation the next day was just as moving. She shared her story of creating Thistle Farms, a place that welcomes women with housing, medical care, therapy and education for two years. Many of the women who come to Thistle Farms were trafficked. Rev. Stevens shared her own story of abuse and how that ultimately inspired her to create Thistle Farms.

She shared over and over the importance of bringing our whole selves into our ministry. She shared how everyone has the opportunity to be the host of God’s story and not the hero of the story. We already have a hero who is the host for our own story.  She encouraged everyone to create rituals for justice in our congregations.  We closed by anointing each other with the oils from her farm. This anointing was more than sharing a few drops. It was lavish and extravagant dipping of parts of our bodies into these oils. I’m still carrying the smell with me.

The workshops didn’t touch me as deeply as these two presentations. I would have liked a workshop for Presbytery committees wanting to start more 1001 worshiping communities.

I enjoyed learning more about the Vital Congregations initiative within the PC(USA). The initiative has identified seven marks of vitality. They are: 1) Lifelong discipleship formation; 2) Intentional authentic evangelism; 3) Outward incarnational focus; 4) Empowering servant leadership; 5) Spirit-inspired worship; 6) Caring relationships; 7) Ecclesial health.

Vital Congregations has done a pilot project with 15 Presbyteries and is looking to start another project with an additional 15 Presbyteries.

The web site for Vital Congregations is worth a look. https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/vital-congregations-revitalization-initiative/

Kansas City holds a special place in my heart as I lived there for three summers and a schoolyear. The seeds to my own call to ministry were planted in that experience. I drove to my old neighborhood to see the school and church that I attended and the facility where we lived.

I also took a night to attend Wednesday night programming at Church of the Resurrection. I’ve attended their Leadership Institute for more years than I can remember. I enjoyed talking to some folks who attend the church and being inspired by their ministry.

Three full days of intense learnings!