Alison

That’s the obvious solution, Cheryl. I’ve long maintained that there are no “pink lists” or “blue lists” in terms of spiritual gifts. Today being Pentecost Sunday, I’m having a hard time imagining the Holy Spirit going into the upper room and choosing the women only for gifts like helps, hospitality, administration, etc. (the stereotypical “feminine”) gifts, and the men only for the gifts of leadership, shepherding, etc. I just don’t think He worked that way on that day, nor does He work that way now. He gifts each individual according to their hearts, not their gender.

It just shows the arrogance of some of these men to deny that women were evangelists and preachers after the coming of the Spirit. They might not have ministered publicly, but their contribution to the spread of the early church was nonetheless invaluable. After all, wasn’t it Priscilla who set Apollos straight? I’m having a hard time imagining Paul telling her to sit down and shut up! SO, why then, do we still insist on telling women to do the same, over 20 centuries after Paul?