Women's Role

[Evangelical]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

How exactly would a church determine "moral and sexual purity"? And if he is not the husband of one wife I assume he also has not led his family well, no children are in subjection. So you are not eliminating one criteria, you are eliminating two.

Well, just being married does not mean a person is morally and sexually pure. King Henry the "head of the English church" comes to mind.

I don't think you are reading this verse correctly, or as a person would normally read it. The website says:

We should understand this qualification as: If a man is married, he must be faithful to his wife. If a man has children, he must manage them well.

It also makes some good points here:

Why would Paul restrict (single) men from church leadership positions when he believes “…an unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs - how he can please the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:32)?


Some think this requirement excludes single men from church leadership. But if that were Paul’s intent, he would have disqualified himself (1 Cor. 7:8).

I don't think your view that a church leader must be married and have children has much weight, considering that Jesus himself was not married or had children.

Do you think that Jesus, being unmarried and childless "did not set a positive example for families"?

I think your view that men should be married and with children is far more extreme than a view that women should not lead the church and wear head coverings. My view disqualifies women, but your view disqualifies Paul and even Christ Himself.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Well, just being married does not mean a person is morally and sexually pure. King Henry the "head of the English church" comes to mind....

Really, there is an invisible "if" in front of all these criteria?

There is no such criteria for an apostle, or evangelist, or prophet, or person with the gift of healing, etc. There is no reason to think that apostles, evangelists, prophets, etc can't be leaders and positive examples.

But the function of an elder which has been greatly ignored, overlooked, or trivialized is to be a good example to the flock in certain respects: as a husband, father, and respected person in the community. (He and she) are not required to be good teachers, but if they are then that is a plus.