Cheryl Schatz

Mark,
I love you for this:

Yes Cheryl, i would be willing to back you up in those circumstances. Although i disagree with you that woman can preach in church, i have no problem with a woman leading a bible study, leading youth, sunday school etc.

You are a dear brother in Christ. What I am looking for in being “backed up” is to fight with us with those who try to restrict us. I am very happy that you support us, but if you are willing to engage those who try to hold us back, that would be the very best “back up”.

Ultimately these things still fall under the spritual head of a man i.e pastor/elder adn i think that is the whole point. Women are still able to exercise their giftings, but I believe Paul restricts them where i have already said.

Why do giftings need to be restricted by men? If God doesn’t want a woman to be a pastor, then all He has to do is not gift her. It seems to me that if God gifts, then His gifting is His permission and any man who would stand in the way of God’s Spirit is hurting the one who gave us the gifts.

Also as pinklight has already said, there is no such thing as a “head” of the church other than Christ. No man is ever installed into the “head” of a church and any who would take this “calling” are actually usurping Christ’s headship. There is one head and no other. If a man comes to “support” a woman who is leading and teaching the Bible, that is appreciated. But women do not need to be spiritually protected since we do have direct communication with God just as men have.