Gone are times when women were to be seen and not heard.
These days, they have affirmed vibrant presence in all fields of
endeavour — politics, banking, manufacturing, sports, etc. But in some
churches, and especially mosques, they are not allowed to lead prayers
or mount the pulpit and preach. It could even be easier for a camel to
pass through the eye of a needle than for a woman to become an Imam.
CHRIS IREKAMBA and OLUWAKEMI AJANI take a look at centuries-old brick
walls of doctrine and seek fresh interpretations on the role of women in
religion.
‘Women Can Function In The Area Of Women Affairs, Ushering, Choir, But Not To Teach Over Men’
(PASTOR LAZARUS MUOKA, General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries)
1COR. 11:3 “but I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” 1Tim 2: 11-12 says, “let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. Verse 12 “but I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
The Scripture makes it clear that public religious teachers should be men, not women. Man has this prerogative from God; so, it’s not a man-made precept, rather divinely arranged from creation by God. For man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Verse 9 “ neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Cor. 11: 8-9).
However, it does not mean women are not assigned roles in the church. They can function in the areas of women affairs, ushering, choir, childcare, home/family care, motherhood and others, except teaching when the church is assembled for public worship. God has allotted to both genders different spheres of duties, and one should not usurp the other while performing his or her duty.
‘Women Can Share Their Educational Knowledge In Conferences, Religious Gatherings, But Can’t Lead Prayers’
(ALHAJI SHERIFF YUSSUF, National President of Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT)
THE order in Islam is that men are to lead prayers and that is the way God has ordered it, ‘I have created the man to be the leader, to take charge of all the other creations that I have put in the world.’ So, in any gathering men take the lead, especially in prayers. But not withstanding that women and men are encouraged to seek learning, seek knowledge, anybody that has a deep understanding of a subject is encouraged to share it with other Muslims; this is why you can see women address the congregation on a subject. Women are not to preach because preaching is connected to prayer and whosoever leads prayer will preach. But in educational gatherings, in conferences, even in religious gatherings, women are allowed to address the congregation, share their knowledge. Women can address the congregation but they are not to lead prayers. Women cannot also be an Imam.
‘In The Work Of God Women Play Subordinate Role’
(BROTHER GODWIN IFEACHO, Chairman Executive Board, God’s Kingdom Society (GKS)
IN the work of God women play a role subordinate to men. They are not to lead men. (Genesis 2:23; Genesis 3:16) The Scriptures make provision for priests, prophets, bishops, pastors and deacons, all in the masculine gender. (Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 5:1; Numbers 12:6). A few women are reported in the Scriptures to have led the Jews at some point in their history. These were aberrations occasioned by their degeneration from the way of God. For this reason God lamented for them thus: “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths,” (Isaiah 3:12). Our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles maintained the same standard by appointing only men to the ministry — Mark 3:13-19; 1 Timothy 3:1-5.
St. Paul put it in black and white that women should not preach in the church or lead men. He stated: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law,” (1 Cor. 14:34, 35). “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence,”1 Timothy 2:11-14. He added: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant,” 1Cor. 14:37, 38.
The Bible gives allowance for women to teach fellow women. (Titus 2:3-5) The statement in Acts 21:9 that Philip had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied means that they could preach the word of God with considerable facility, obviously to fellow women.
That women are not allowed by God to preach the gospel does not mean they are in perdition or servitude. Women are to support the work of God, in other ways for their salvation, but not as pastors. See Luke 8:3; Matt. 26:6-13; Philippians 4:3.
If we want to serve God we must do it as He has enjoined us and not to please ourselves, for His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8,9) “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:3,16).
‘We Do Not Prevent Women From Mounting The Pulpit To Preach’
(Rev. FRANCIS EJIROGHENE WAIVE, General Overseer, Fresh Anointing Missionary Ministries Inc., Warri Delta State)
Churches that don’t allow women to mount the pulpit to preach has to do with their interpretation of the Pauline Epistles, which they give to justify their traditional segregation and discrimination against women. In Christ there is no male or female — Gal 3:28. The old order is only in existence in places where men have refused to accept the word of God, thereby exalting their tradition above God’s word - Mark 7:13.
We do not have such practices of preventing them from mounting the pulpit. This is because we do not do selective and subjective interpretation of scripture. We base our doctrine and practice on the whole counsel of God’s word. We do not look for scripture verses that tend to, on the face of it, support our cultural norms. We interpret scripture with scripture. There is also the need to balance the Old Testament with the New or else we will not be practicing Christianity, but Judaism.
The fact that biblical ignorance is high in Christendom is well known. There are so many church leaders, who have not read the Bible for themselves. And because men have traditionally been in leadership in every sphere of life, there has been a tendency for them to hold on to power as it is.
‘Women Can Be Lay Readers, Assist Priests In Giving Communion, But Not Priest’
(Msgr. GABRIEL OSU, Director, Social Communications, Lagos Archdiocese)
THE Catholic Church accords women a pride of place in its liturgy. Indeed, this is evident in the fact that they constitute the majority of members of the consecrated life. In other words, we have more nuns than priests and deacons put together. They also serve as lay readers, churchwardens, hospital, school administrators and others. We have many female saints and role models such as Saints Theresa, Rita, Mary Magdalene and others. Women have also been instrumental in the setting up of schools, hospital, nursing homes and monasteries. Also, we have many women, who are members of the top hierarchy of the church such as Parish Pastoral Council and Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.
We, even, have some Rev. Sisters who are allowed to assist priests in giving communion during Mass. The only office they are not allowed to occupy in the Catholic Church is that of the Priesthood.
All men, who through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, have become priests or Bishops participate in Christ’s priesthood. They act in persona Christi Capitis, in the person of Christ, the Head of His Body, the Church. But that does not mean the Church considers women as inferior, neither is it against women preaching or teaching the word of God. We have some of them, who are consecrated evangelisers; they are given the official permission to spread the gospel of salvation and they have been doing very well.
Since the Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has been much more liberal in incorporating women in the affairs of the Church.
‘Women Don’t Preach’
(SENIOR EVANGELIST YUNUSA IDOWU, Parish Pastor, Celestial Church of Christ, Ogo Oluwa Parish)
WE do not give women the privilege to preach in the house of God, because men are head of the church. It’s even so in the Bible. For the fact that Christ died for us; we should abide by the rules and regulation. Women don’t have right to preach the word of God in the church because from the bone of the man God created the woman.
God Himself is a man and if He wants to send a message He uses a man. We have spiritual women, notwithstanding; they don’t have the kind of mind that Men have. Women do not have the power to preach in any Celestial Church. The practice can never fade away.
In The Church, There Is No Male And Female
(HIS EMINENCE SUNDAY OLA MAKINDE, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria)
WE are ordaining women in our church, we have women preachers, we have ordained women priests. In the church, there is no male and female; so, you can’t segregate, you can’t divide because God made them male and female. You don’t de-emphasise that. In fact, among the orthodox churches, it is the Methodist and Presbyterian that are ordaining women, and we don’t regret it. It is a milestone and if it is a barrier; we have broken it. It’s not a law and it doesn’t happen in every church.
‘Women Can Function In The Area Of Women Affairs, Ushering, Choir, But Not To Teach Over Men’
(PASTOR LAZARUS MUOKA, General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries)
1COR. 11:3 “but I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” 1Tim 2: 11-12 says, “let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. Verse 12 “but I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
The Scripture makes it clear that public religious teachers should be men, not women. Man has this prerogative from God; so, it’s not a man-made precept, rather divinely arranged from creation by God. For man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Verse 9 “ neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (1 Cor. 11: 8-9).
However, it does not mean women are not assigned roles in the church. They can function in the areas of women affairs, ushering, choir, childcare, home/family care, motherhood and others, except teaching when the church is assembled for public worship. God has allotted to both genders different spheres of duties, and one should not usurp the other while performing his or her duty.
‘Women Can Share Their Educational Knowledge In Conferences, Religious Gatherings, But Can’t Lead Prayers’
(ALHAJI SHERIFF YUSSUF, National President of Nasrul-Lahi-Fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT)
THE order in Islam is that men are to lead prayers and that is the way God has ordered it, ‘I have created the man to be the leader, to take charge of all the other creations that I have put in the world.’ So, in any gathering men take the lead, especially in prayers. But not withstanding that women and men are encouraged to seek learning, seek knowledge, anybody that has a deep understanding of a subject is encouraged to share it with other Muslims; this is why you can see women address the congregation on a subject. Women are not to preach because preaching is connected to prayer and whosoever leads prayer will preach. But in educational gatherings, in conferences, even in religious gatherings, women are allowed to address the congregation, share their knowledge. Women can address the congregation but they are not to lead prayers. Women cannot also be an Imam.
‘In The Work Of God Women Play Subordinate Role’
(BROTHER GODWIN IFEACHO, Chairman Executive Board, God’s Kingdom Society (GKS)
IN the work of God women play a role subordinate to men. They are not to lead men. (Genesis 2:23; Genesis 3:16) The Scriptures make provision for priests, prophets, bishops, pastors and deacons, all in the masculine gender. (Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 5:1; Numbers 12:6). A few women are reported in the Scriptures to have led the Jews at some point in their history. These were aberrations occasioned by their degeneration from the way of God. For this reason God lamented for them thus: “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths,” (Isaiah 3:12). Our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles maintained the same standard by appointing only men to the ministry — Mark 3:13-19; 1 Timothy 3:1-5.
St. Paul put it in black and white that women should not preach in the church or lead men. He stated: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law,” (1 Cor. 14:34, 35). “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence,”1 Timothy 2:11-14. He added: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant,” 1Cor. 14:37, 38.
The Bible gives allowance for women to teach fellow women. (Titus 2:3-5) The statement in Acts 21:9 that Philip had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied means that they could preach the word of God with considerable facility, obviously to fellow women.
That women are not allowed by God to preach the gospel does not mean they are in perdition or servitude. Women are to support the work of God, in other ways for their salvation, but not as pastors. See Luke 8:3; Matt. 26:6-13; Philippians 4:3.
If we want to serve God we must do it as He has enjoined us and not to please ourselves, for His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:8,9) “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:3,16).
‘We Do Not Prevent Women From Mounting The Pulpit To Preach’
(Rev. FRANCIS EJIROGHENE WAIVE, General Overseer, Fresh Anointing Missionary Ministries Inc., Warri Delta State)
Churches that don’t allow women to mount the pulpit to preach has to do with their interpretation of the Pauline Epistles, which they give to justify their traditional segregation and discrimination against women. In Christ there is no male or female — Gal 3:28. The old order is only in existence in places where men have refused to accept the word of God, thereby exalting their tradition above God’s word - Mark 7:13.
We do not have such practices of preventing them from mounting the pulpit. This is because we do not do selective and subjective interpretation of scripture. We base our doctrine and practice on the whole counsel of God’s word. We do not look for scripture verses that tend to, on the face of it, support our cultural norms. We interpret scripture with scripture. There is also the need to balance the Old Testament with the New or else we will not be practicing Christianity, but Judaism.
The fact that biblical ignorance is high in Christendom is well known. There are so many church leaders, who have not read the Bible for themselves. And because men have traditionally been in leadership in every sphere of life, there has been a tendency for them to hold on to power as it is.
‘Women Can Be Lay Readers, Assist Priests In Giving Communion, But Not Priest’
(Msgr. GABRIEL OSU, Director, Social Communications, Lagos Archdiocese)
THE Catholic Church accords women a pride of place in its liturgy. Indeed, this is evident in the fact that they constitute the majority of members of the consecrated life. In other words, we have more nuns than priests and deacons put together. They also serve as lay readers, churchwardens, hospital, school administrators and others. We have many female saints and role models such as Saints Theresa, Rita, Mary Magdalene and others. Women have also been instrumental in the setting up of schools, hospital, nursing homes and monasteries. Also, we have many women, who are members of the top hierarchy of the church such as Parish Pastoral Council and Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.
We, even, have some Rev. Sisters who are allowed to assist priests in giving communion during Mass. The only office they are not allowed to occupy in the Catholic Church is that of the Priesthood.
All men, who through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, have become priests or Bishops participate in Christ’s priesthood. They act in persona Christi Capitis, in the person of Christ, the Head of His Body, the Church. But that does not mean the Church considers women as inferior, neither is it against women preaching or teaching the word of God. We have some of them, who are consecrated evangelisers; they are given the official permission to spread the gospel of salvation and they have been doing very well.
Since the Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has been much more liberal in incorporating women in the affairs of the Church.
‘Women Don’t Preach’
(SENIOR EVANGELIST YUNUSA IDOWU, Parish Pastor, Celestial Church of Christ, Ogo Oluwa Parish)
WE do not give women the privilege to preach in the house of God, because men are head of the church. It’s even so in the Bible. For the fact that Christ died for us; we should abide by the rules and regulation. Women don’t have right to preach the word of God in the church because from the bone of the man God created the woman.
God Himself is a man and if He wants to send a message He uses a man. We have spiritual women, notwithstanding; they don’t have the kind of mind that Men have. Women do not have the power to preach in any Celestial Church. The practice can never fade away.
In The Church, There Is No Male And Female
(HIS EMINENCE SUNDAY OLA MAKINDE, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria)
WE are ordaining women in our church, we have women preachers, we have ordained women priests. In the church, there is no male and female; so, you can’t segregate, you can’t divide because God made them male and female. You don’t de-emphasise that. In fact, among the orthodox churches, it is the Methodist and Presbyterian that are ordaining women, and we don’t regret it. It is a milestone and if it is a barrier; we have broken it. It’s not a law and it doesn’t happen in every church.
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