The Role of Women in the Churchby Inas Michael
Some of you may be familiar with the that very fine article "Man,Women, and the Priesthood of Christ", by (Greek Orthodox bishop/writer) Kallistos Ware. Which details out why women are not ordained to the priesthood, the various historical, theological, biblical reasons for that, as well as covers the various areas where women have served in the Church.
Well here is a very similar Coptic 3 part article, that I found on the LA Copts web site... While the writing isn't as compelling as Ware, it does cover some new ground, or angles of the topic.
Part I
http://www.lacopts.org/index.php/site/entry/9/
Part II
http://www.lacopts.org/index.php/site/entry/8/
Part III
http://www.lacopts.org/index.php/site/entry/7/
posted by Addai | 7:13 AM
3 Comments:
This is really excellent!
I love our church. :))))
I found this subject of interest when I read on Clifton Healy's site an argument which comes up about the 'Junia/Junias' debate and whether she/he was an apostle. Modern advocates of women's ordination (beyond that of historic deaconesses - a different subject it seems to me) have been won't to argue from the standpoint that (1) Junia was a woman; and (2) She was ranked as among the 'apostles' - ergo women can be both Bishops and Presbyters.
Countering this argument, some have been swift to make all sorts of linguistic arguments that either 'Junias' is the correct reading, or among the apostles doesn't really mean among the apostles.
In researching the issue from a tradition standpoint, I found that the Constantinoplean communion has consistently commemorated Adronicus and Junia. St. John Chrysostom, in his homily on the passages containing the discussion of Mary and Andronicus and Junia makes specific discussion of the role of women, extolling the virtues of these specific women, and yet also noting that women are not allowed to teach from the 'bema'.
The point that it seemed to make to me is that the Fathers were less afraid that calling women 'equal-to-apostles' or 'among apostles' or 'apostles to apostles' would somehow upset the sound teaching of St. Paul that women did not teach from the bema, although there were all sorts of other places they could teach. In other words, they just didn't seem to be all worried about it.
One thing I have found in my parish, which is mostly comprised of Syrian and Lebanese Christians, is the refreshing lack of a 'battle of the sexes' mentality. We are generally focused forward to the altar, not right or left to see whether we have a 'better place.' I think among my companions on the Way, they would think it strange to conceive of 'womens' ministries' or some such as being different from that which we are all called to do.
That said, as to the Junia matter, I found it interesting that the Copts appear to commemorate as 'Junia' although the Greek, Russian, and Antiochian Orthodox commemorate 'Junia' from as early as St. John Chrysostom and probably earlier.
First para: "wont"
sorry - need an editor :)
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