Oh ooh! What am I getting myself into with this?

I have had many discussions about the role of women in The Church (i.e. Gods people, the ecclesia) and in parallel, the role of women in the RCI. This is an important issue for me: I personally believe that in the foreseeable future, given the growth of gender equality, the issue of women having an active role in a church is going to become an large and painful sticking point. Unless a suitable balance can be derived.

Firstly I would like to divide the two components of the discussion.

The Church: Is God’s chosen people. This is where the ministry should come from. It is where the benchmark of salvation and a spiritual life should be set. The Church is what we invite people into when witnessing. All decisions should be completely reliant on scripture.

The RCI: Is a subset of The Church. It is first and foremost an organisation that must function in the surrounding society: this requires a workable business model and structure. Under the RCI banner people should hear ministry of The Church, they should feel welcomed by The Church.

In the confines of The Church lets look at what women shouldn’t do. Two things: a) Teach, and b) Exercise Authority!

1 Timothy 2:12

In simplest terms this really means in The Church women shouldn’t give talks or be pastors (or any other title which implies the person must Shepard others). The word Teach is ambiguous, as it leaves us with questions such as: Why can women teach Sunday school? Remember that in context this verse is Paul directing Timothy how The Church should be maintained. To Teach is to minister to The Church, minister spiritually. Sunday school is to help children understand The Bible, to feed their minds, it is not to feed them spiritually.

Extending this to the RCI. As an organisation women can have equal responsibility with men. As a subset of The Church, the above applies. Merging all of that together: Women can perform any task (or role) with in the RCI as long as such task is not ministering spiritually to all of The Church (i.e. from a platform) and is not Sheparding of the flock.

At this junction I should note that certain societies may impose extra restrictions. As an organisation operating in such a society the RCI must comply with these restrictions. I do not have an opinion on such restrictions, I feel a society should find what works for it.

Presently women have an incredibly limited range of roles they may fulfil. Why is it so?

The best answer to date comes from:

1 Corinthians 10:23

It may be lawful, but a decision has been made with all things considered that it is not a profitable (or expedient) use of people. Allowing women to open / close in prayer or lead choruses may also be unedifying; either for the more traditionalist thinkers or for the women who then get distressed by the restrictions on talks and pastors.

While I do not accept that these decisions should be based on what people will think: If Jesus cared what people thought where would we be? I do acknowledge that managing the operations of The Church inside the RCI is easier with less people. It isn’t a reason to exclude, but it is definitely easier.

As an organisation you can establish an internal code of how things are done. However that must obey the law of the land, and in western society that means such a code can not discriminate on gender. But, in all fairness, it does discriminate.

None of this covers the administration of the organisation.

  • Money Management
  • Group Activity Co-ordination
  • Public Relations (Pamphlet Design / Outreach Organisation)
  • etc…

Consider each item: Women could quiet easily perform any of these tasks.

My Suggestion

As change is always enacted in small steps perhaps we should move, for now, to the position that: All tasks involved in running of the RCI subset of The Church, essentially meetings / spiritual stuff, should be left with men fulfilling the role. All other tasks, basically any organisation administration, should be open to anyone who is willing and able. For big ticket events I would suggest a mixed gender team is best.

Most importantly that people keep an open mind to change as we look to the future. The Word of God gives the ecclesia great liberty; we would be crazy to impose restraints on that liberty.

Galatians 5:1