CRC Synod Deletes the Word "Male" from the Church Order

Last night was a historic night for our denomination, the Christian Reformed Church, as synod voted to delete the word "male" as a qualification for serving as elder and pastor, and also voted to allow women delegates to synod (the only restrictions that were approved were that some classes, or regions, may vote not to have women delegates). (For the past 12 years, women have been able to hold office in some CRC churches via an exception to the church order.) This decision was years, and tears, in the making.

This morning, Andrea and I are especially grateful for the four women--inside and outside the CRC--who we have been blessed to have as our pastors over the last several years: Pastors Mary, Joanna, Laura, and Thea.

And this morning we are also mindful of the 150 years of CRC history that this decision does not undo, including countless women who were denied the chance to serve as elder, deacon, or minister, and many more who, for too many of those 150 years, were denied the chance to vote in congregational meetings. Their silent witness nonetheless helps show us the beauty of Paul's words that in Christ there is "no male or female."

On a lighter note, after listening to more blustering last night about how the Bible says women shouldn't be pastors, I was reminded of this list shared by Meg (to which I added four Bible "proof-texts" against men being ministers--see comment #17):

Top Ten Reasons Men Should Not Be Ordained

10. A man's place is in the army.

9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.

8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be "unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.

7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievment of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.

5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.

4. To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father's Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.

1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

Related Post
Gender and the Church

Related Link
Synod Cloud of Witnesses 2007