Women voting on church issues

John Calvin, Institutes, vol. 4, ch. 10, sec. 29-30:

"Of the second sort are the hours appointed for public prayers, sermons, and sacraments; quietness and silence under sermons; the singing of hymns; the places appointed for these services, and the days fixed for the celebration of the Lord's supper; the prohibition of Paul, that women should not teach in the Church, and the like; . . .
. . . these things are not necessary to salvation, and ought to be applied to the edification of the Church, with a variety suitable to the manners of each age and nation, therefore, as the benefit of the Church shall require, it will be right to change and abolish former regulations, and to institute new ones."

 

I'm familiar with a Baptist Association in Western Kentucky which does not permit women to be messengers to its meetings.

At least one congregation has left the association over this policy.

 

and ought to be applied to the edification of the Church, with a variety suitable to the manners of each age and nation, therefore, as the benefit of the Church shall require, it will be right to change and abolish former regulations, and to institute new ones."

Interesting that even Calvin recognized the importance of understanding some scriptures in light of local conditions and cultural values.

Cheers,

Jim

 

More accurate is that Calvin did not understand certain scriptures in accord with God's commands.

 

Calvin got a lot of things wrong.

 

The women should have as much input voting-wise as the men do. And the men should consider what women have to say about things as much as the women consider the mens view.

Short and to the point! :thumbs:

 

I have never attended (knowledgeably) a church not allowing women to vote.

 

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - the fundie denomination of Lutherans - does not allow women to vote. One of the reasons I left. It was degrading and humiliating that an 18 year-old boy would have more say in the church than a woman - any woman.

If a woman has any questions about how the church is run, she is expected to ask her husband. No answer as to what an unmarried woman is to do. Get married? With this kind of attitude, it seems to be crazy to leave half of your membership without a vote. It's not only the vote part. If you don't allow women to vote, which seems pretty simple and straightforward, why do you expect them to do any work in and for the church? In this type of church, in my experience, a woman doesn't feel valued unless she is married. Without a man she is of no consequence. Bleh.

 

I can't believe the Bible makes women inconsequential. I can't believe Jesus puts women in a back seat. Even the Bible has women coming to the tomb of Jesus, first.

God bless women!

Cheers,

Jim

 

ahhh. I met a Wisconsin Synod Lutheran pastor once. From my encounter with him I understand.

I have a good friend that is Missouri Synod. They are still conservative, but she is so active in her church that I imagine they are not the same way.

 

My church isn't a full congregational form of government "Extra-biblical" means that it's not biblical - it's a human construct. That doesn't mean don't do it, but it should be obvious that discriminating against women is against the witness of the Bible.

Limiting women in this way is extra-biblical. Congregational voting is extra-biblical.

I think it's a mistake to put much in the congregation's hand in general, but that's obviously a minority opinion around here.

 

Nor would I.

 

Is your church Baptist?

 

If I understand you I agree. I have harped on this for years about the Baptist. I do not believe that the Lord ever intended the church to be a democracy or for the sheep to be voting on policy/church business. Shepherds lead and sheep follow. By the way that includes Deacons. They should never be handling church policy/church business. Only the Elders/Pastors should deal with church policy set by scripture. The bible gives the standards, and the church leaders are to preach and teach it and make sure it is carried out in the congregations/members lives and if not exercise discipline. In a biblical church there would not be any men or women voting on policy.

 

Jim1999-

Thank you for your posts!

I spent too many years in the southern deserts and northern plains, in place men would not consider ministering due to tough conditions and few people.

God bless the "Bible women" who would.

 

Nodak,

Thank you.

It was the turn of the last century that 5 women in Canada went to England, to the Brit parliament, to change a law in Canada that deprived women of being a "person". They were successful. Imagine, a woman was finally a person in Canada in 1914.

We might get there in the church one day.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jaigner said: Hopefully not, as it's blatantly offensive and extra-biblical.

So is voting.

 

Public office is not the church. That being said England is spiritually dead and they have women in leadership in the church.

 

You are correct. Voting by church members is not a biblical concept. Shepherds lead and sheep follow.