ORDINATION: WOMEN AND CHURCH
LEADERSHIP
1.
INTRODUCTION
Women
have contributed much to the ministry of the Church throughout its history.
However, their role in this area has never been free from controversy. Today,
most Church bodies are discussing about the place of women in their ministries.
Therefore, this paper here will make an attempt to discuss about ordination:
Women and Church leadership.
2.
ORDINATION
In
different ages of the world there are different meanings have been define for
the term Women Ordination. However, “In
the early centuries of Christianity, ordination was the process and the
ceremony by which one moved to any new ministry (ordo) in the community.” By this definition, women
were ordained into several ministries. Therefore, here the presenters will make
an attempt to understand ordination: women and church leadership from the
perspective of the definition given by Macy.
3.
THE BIBLICAL BASIS FOR MINISTRY OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH BASED FROM NEW TESTAMENT
Before
going to further discussion it is noteworthy to have discussion about the
biblical basis for ministry of women in the church based from New Testament as
following:
3.1 Women
in the Ministry of Jesus
Actually,
“Jesus mission was not gender biased; it was gender inclusive.” However, there are yet
question raise by many people, why Jesus did not choose any women to be His
disciples? In answering to this question Aida Besancon Spencer, said, “The twelve
do not; signify that only men can be leaders in the church.” Therefore, though women
did not choose to be one of the twelve Disciples of Christ yet there
involvement in the ministry of Jesus is noteworthy.
3.2
Women in the Ministry of Paul
Paul
recognizes the leadership of women. Paul recognized the leadership of Priscilla
which has been express clearly from the term when he called Priscilla as a
fellow worker. “By calling Priscilla as
a fellow worker Paul accorded Priscilla as well as Aquila, an equal place among
other such workers as Timothy, Titus, Luke (Philemon 24), Apollos and Paul and
others. This term applied to Priscilla was also applied to Euodia and Syntyche,
leaders at Philippi.”[5]
Thus, it is clear that women
played a significant role in the early church as leaders and as female disciple
(Rom. 16:7).
4.
WOMEN’S ROLE AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
Since
here in this paper ordination has been understood as a process of set apart
someone for a new ministry (several ministries) therefore, here the presenters
will discuss about the involvement of women in different ministry of church
from history (selected centuries) as following:
Throughout
the early church history “especially the second and third centuries, we have
many instances of virgins and widows who played important roles in the ministry
of the early church.”
In
the “seventeenth century women seized the opportunity to step out as
missionaries. The contributions that women made to Catholic missions are
tremendous. They were courageous and prophetic woman...”
In
the “nineteenth century, women’s ministry concentrated on evangelism,
education, medical and rescue work among widows, orphans, children and famine
victims.” However, still there
ministries were not recognized as man’s ministry.
In
the 20th century also the same scenario has been displayed by the
church towards women ministry and this is well articulated in the story of
missions in North America. In “1929, 67 percent of all foreign missionaries
from the United States were women and over forty women’s mission boards had
been formed.” However, the “leaders of
the mainline churches opposed the appearance of women in public meetings, and
their assumption of leadership roles in churches on the mission fields.”
However,
there are some women have been ordained as Pastors or leaders in the West and as well as in India in 20th century.
Though, the history witnesses’ women’s participation as ordained minister and
as a leaders yet their name have been missing from the history. Thus because of
this reason, Dorothy C. Bass sates that, “Large proportions of women throughout
history have not been granted their due voice, position and space whether in
the Bible or in the other writings.”
No
matter how women’s name have been disappear from the written history yet the glimpse of history of Christianity
witnesses the involvement of women in several ministries of the Church.
5.WOMEN ORDINATION
Women
ordination is controversial issue ever in the church. There are two views as
against and in favour of women ordination:
5.1
Arguments against the Ordination of Women
There
are major arguments and factors contributing to the against of women ordination
includes “1). Traditional Interpretation of the Scripture 2). The Absence of
Women Apostles 3). The Priest as Icon of Christ and 4). Patriarchy.”
5.2
Arguments in
Favour of the Ordination of Women
Though there are arguments against the ordination of
women there are also arguments in favour of the ordination of women includes: 1). New Testament supports
the full equality of women and men in Christ[15] 2). Church Today Cannot Take Over the
Whole of New Testament Practice 3). The Royal Priesthood of all believers 4). Spiritual gifts
are accorded to both men and women.
So, from the above arguments it has been
manifested clearly, that though there are some churches have been in favour of
women ordination yet there are some factors which contribute factors for the
against of women ordination.
6. WOMEN IN CHURCH
LEADERSHIP
Gender
biased in the workplace is not a new Phenomenon. This phenomenon seems to be existing
in Church as well. One could say that the Church is one of the institutions which has
accepted women in leadership, and often then with much lack of enthusiasm.
Some
churches are still struggling with the idea of women leadership. Yu-Fen
Lin reports that “many Asian Christian women and female pastors are told that
men lead the church, and men are strong. Therefore, women rationalize that they
should not assume leadership roles in the church.” This reports shows that,
though there are some women holds some position of leadership in church yet
there are many women do not get the opportunity of holding the leadership role
as male leader hold.
However,
going by the definition of Servant Leadership
women can hold the role of leadership in church. It is because, “When leaders
are not over others, people will share their ideas, feelings, thoughts and
attitudes with them and communication will be a two-way process. Women will be
good leaders in this kind of leadership, as servant-leaders. The servant does
not have authority and power but should be an example, by doing ministry.”
Therefore, women are required to get the leadership role in church.
7.
THE ISSUE OF WOMEN ORDINATION AND LEADERSHIP IN NORTH EAST INDIA (NEI)
Here the presenter will discuss
about the women ordination and leadership role in NEI as follwoing from the
perspective of Nagaland and Mizoram (since they are the major christian state):
N.B.E
Bharati, in discussion about women ordination in Nagaland said, “Women should
remain single to be ordained. While men are given even posthumous ordination,
women cannot even ask for it.”[21]
However, in 2017the Morung Express reports that, in 2017 WSBAK[22] has
ordained 70 including women but 15
candidates were given full ordination (reverend) while the rest were given
‘Ministry License,’ which included 18 women.”
Coming to Mizoram Presbyterian
Bharati said, though Mizoram has many trained women theologians yet the ordination
is denied to them that imply denial of privileges such as housing, low salary
and many other privileges.
Therefore,
it is to be understood living in this 21st century though the “North-East
India started to do ordination for women but this ordination, not as Pastor or
Presbyter, but they have separate ministries for them” said by R.L. Hnuni. In addition to what Hnuni
said, it is proper to say that though the Nagaland and Mizoram offer ordination
for women, but all these are perhaps exceptional cases only.
8.
TH RESPONSE OF THE PRESENTERS ON THE ISSUE OF ORDINATION: WOMEN AND CHURCH
LEADERSHIP
The
presenters in opine of women ordination and church leadership. The presenters
based their arguments for the women ordination and church leadership based on
some factors as following:
It is important to have women pastor because “women
understand family systems better, and that is where we need the most work.”
It
is a matter of Justice. Therefore, when
the church does not include women in priesthood and leadership role there is a serious
injustice against women, and against God who calls both men and women to be
priests and leaders.
For
the church “To function effectively, it needs all women to fulfil the biblical
directive to minister.” Therefore, for the
well-functioning of church, women are commendable to carry the role of
leadership.
Leadership
is all about influencing others. In ministry we need strong leadership of
people who can influence others and can move them towards the goal. If
leadership is all about influencing others then it is acceptable to say,
without doubt that, women are capable so much in this area. Woman can influence
people very quickly which give us another reason to allowing women hold on the
role of leadership in church.
9.
CONCLUSION
In
conclusion, the above following discussions demonstrate the ordination of women
in church ministry and call for the need to ordain women and give them the
opportunity of leadership role in ministry. It is therefore necessary for the
church to re-examine and change the traditional attitudes towards women and allow
them to be ordain as minister and leader, so that the purpose of God will be
fulfilled, by sharing the partnership in God’s mission.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books
[n.a]. The Participation of Women in the Ordained
Ministry and Leadership in LWF Member Churches.
Geneva: The Lutheran World Federation, 2006.
Athyal, Sakhi M. Indian Women in Mission. Lalgarh: Mission
Educational Books, 1995.
Macy, Gary. The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination:
Female Clergy in the Medieval West. New York: Oxford university press,
2008.
Stendahl, Krister. The Bible and the Role of Women.
Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966.
Articles
in a Book
Journals
Online
Sources
Spencer,
Aida Besancon. “If Jesus Were Really Counter-Cultural in His Treatment of Women, Why Didn't He Choose any
Women to be His Apostles?,” Https://Www.Cbeinternational.Org/Resources/Article/Mutuality/%E2%80%9Cif- Jesus-Were-Really-Counter-Cultural-His-Treatment-Women-Why-Didnt-He.
Accessed 21 February, 2020.
The Morung Express,
“WSBAK ordains 70 people; 18 women given 'Ministry License,” https://morungexpress.com/wsbak-ordains-70-people-18-women-given-ministry- license.
Accessed 20 February, 2020.
[1] Gary Macy, The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination:
Female Clergy in the Medieval West (New York: Oxford university press,
2008), 32.
[4]Aida
Besancon Spencer, “If Jesus Were Really Counter-Cultural in His Treatment of
Women, Why Didn't He Choose any Women to be His Apostles?,”
Https://Www.Cbeinternational.Org/Resources/Article/Mutuality/%E2%80%9Cif-Jesus-Were-Really-Counter-Cultural-His-Treatment-Women-Why-Didnt-He
(accessed 21st February, 2020).
The Lutheran
World Federation in their survey in the West they have come to conclusion that
there are 65 percent male pastors to 35 percent female pastors. See, [n.a], The Participation of Women in the Ordained
Ministry and Leadership in LWF Member Churches (Geneva: The Lutheran World
Federation, 2006), 18.
In the 20th
century CNI Church has more than 20 women as pastors. See, Sakhi M. Athyal, Indian Women in Mission (Lalgarh:
Mission Educational Books, 1995), 80.
Those who are in
favour of women ordination “They drew one of the Pauline text (Galatians 3:28)
which states that in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor
free, male nor female and to the example of Jesus which shows favouring the
equality of women with men. In light of this evidence, they concluded that
there was no valid biblical reason to bar women from ordination.” See, Krister
Stendahl, The Bible and the Role of Women (Philadelphia: Fortress Press,
1966), 41.
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