Father, it sure is a stereotypical Monday! Many are grumpy. Many are weary. I don’t even know how many students didn’t ride in on my bus this morning. May I be salt and light to the world around me. Amen.

Mark 15:40-41 (<<click to read the passage)

Alright…I sit here and feel that I must say what needs said. I began writing of it yesterday and backed off – hesitant – not sure how to proceed. But it won’t leave my mind and in preparing a devotional for a meeting tonight, there it was again. So, come what may, here we go! (It is fairly long, in that there is a lot of Scripture – regardless of your own theological views, would you please bear with me?)

Today’s passage speaks of the women who found themselves amongst the onlookers as Jesus hung, suffering, on that old rugged cross. Of all of Jesus’ followers, the only man that was present was John. The rest were women.

This past Saturday I participated in a Clergy Ethics Training as mandated by the United Methodist Church for all active clergy every four years. One of the many topics that was addressed throughout a full day of interaction was the Church’s (and this I believe goes beyond the UMC and extends to the Church universal) reaction to women who feel a call to serve in ministry.

I realize that this opens a major can of worms, in some circles, but it needs to be addressed. Entire denominations follow Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 where it states,

“…for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order.

As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people) the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says. If there is anything they want to learn [that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught], they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to talk in church.” (AMP)

I love serving in the United Methodist Church but my mother denomination – and the one of which I am an ordained elder – is the Church of the Nazarene.

This is what they have in their Manual – their book of laws and beliefs in regards to this topic. When Scripture is noted, I have inserted the passage for easy reference.

The Church of the Nazarene supports the right of women to use their God-given spiritual gifts within the church and affirms the historic right of women to be elected and appointed to places of leadership… including the offices of both elder and deacon.

The purpose of Christ’s redemptive work is to set God’s creation free from the curse of the Fall. Those who are “in Christ” are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! NLT

In this redemptive community, no human being is to be regarded as inferior on the basis of social status, race, or gender (Galatians 3:26-28)

For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values]. There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority]. AMP

Acknowledging the apparent paradox created by Paul’s instruction to Timothy (1 Timothy 2:11-12)

Women should learn quietly and submissively. I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.

…and to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:33-34 – see above), we believe interpreting these passages as limiting the role of women in ministry presents serious conflicts with specific passages of scripture that commend female participation in spiritual leadership roles

(Joel 2:28-29;

“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on servants—men and women alike.

Acts 2:17-18; 21:8-9;

‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.

The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.

Romans 16:1, 3, 7;

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.

Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, [a woman] my fellow Jews, who were in prison with me. They are highly respected among the apostles and became followers of Christ before I did.

Philippians 4:2-3),

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

and violates the spirit and practice of the Wesleyan-holiness tradition. Finally, it is incompatible with the character of God presented throughout Scripture, especially as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.

I think their statement on the topic is very thorough and most definitely brings to light what is of utmost importance.

As a part of Saturday’s teaching, our teacher (a wonderful woman of God, by the way) shared a video with us. The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church put together a video of male clergy reading statements submitted by women clergy of their conference. The statements were actual quotes of individuals speaking to them in regards to their feelings of women serving in the ministry. It is very disturbing if you care to watch it. Here is the link, Women in Ministry, if you would care to watch it.

Pray for all clergy, many are exactly where God wants them to be. Some are so far from God that we should pray they would receive an impacting vision of the God they claim to serve. But regardless we are all in need of your prayers, as well as, your love and support.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)

Sept. 16^th, 2019, Mon, 12:52 pm