INTRODUCTION TO ORDINATION OF THE

FEMALE KIND

Bible Facts – introduction only

CURRENT DEBATE

Record: 8 Nov 2014 – 3

positions

1.No to Women’s Ordination

2.Yes to Women’s Ordination

3.Confused

SUBJECT:

Debate appears to be about ordination of women as PastorsTitle of “Pastor” and laying on of handsNOT elders and deacons or any other office – rarely contentious

BIBLE FACTS HERE ONLY

Officers of the early Church

Who appoints each

Precedents for women (if any)

Precedents for ordination

OFFICERS OF THE EARLY CHURCH

Episkopos = overseer/leaderDiakonos = servantPresbuteros = elderPoimen = shepherd (Latin, Pastor)Apostolos = one who is sent – apostleProphet

DISTINCTIONS UNCLEAR

Acts 20:17, 28

1 Tim 3:2 and Tit 1:5, 7

1 Peter 5:1-3

Elders acted as leaders and

shepherds

DIVINE APPOINTMENTS

Apostles, etc: Eph 4:7, 11; 1

Cor 12:28

Includes Apostles, Prophets and

Pastors

CHURCH APPOINTED

Acts 14:23, 2 Cor 8:19

(cheirotoneo)

Acts 6:3 (“deacon” not stated)

Only Elders and Deacons appointed

by church

SUMMARY SO FAR

Divinely Appointed: Apostles, Prophets (and Pastors as function only!), evangelists, etc.

Church Appointed: Deacons and Elders No precedent for separate office

of pastor from elder

WOMEN PRECEDENTS

Judges 4:4 – Deborah – leader of Israel2 Kings 22:14 – HuldahActs 18:24 – 26 PriscillaActs 21:9 – four daughters of PhilipRom 16:7 – Junia, an apostle!

PRECEDENTS FOR ORDINATION

Laying on of hands to ordainNONEShould this be done at all?What of accountants?NT: Holy Spirit reception, healing, blessing and arresting

WHY THE DEBATE?

Ordination not required for preaching

Ordination not required for leadership

Pastoral Ordination not required for

baptism

Why?? – only title

EXAMPLE

Rom 15:8, John 12:26, Eph 6:21

Matt 26:31, John 10:11, Heb

13:20, 1 Peter 2:25

Matt 20:25 – 28 **