Women Preachers

I was reading through the testimony of Reverend Ruth Pugh in the "Lounge" section ("My Grandmother's Testimony") and ran across this quick justification for women being authorized as being preachers."It wasn’t long after my husband passed away, the voice of the Lord came to me and He spoke very clearly, “Go preach My Word and help spread the Gospel to a lost and dying world.” I didn’t want to do this as all my life I had thought little of the women preacher. I had told my husband many times, “A woman just has no business up in the pulpit preaching. That is a man’s job.” When we get saved the Lord will change our minds about a lot of things. I didn’t know much about the Bible when I first got saved, but later I read in the Bible where He said in the last days, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…And on my servants and on my handmaidens…and they shall all prophesy.” So in the last days He has given the woman a right to preach."Now, Paul also carefully instructs that no woman should have authority over a man, and should remain quiet.For those who support women as preachers, how do you support it? I believe that women have a place in teaching, such as to a group of children, or youth group, etc. They can also "talk shop", as many women do here on SI. But I don't believe that a woman is to have authority over a man, as a preacher in the traditional makeup of the church, would.Grace and Peace...

I have some questions: Where in the Bible are women told not to PREACH? Note: I said "Preach"What is preaching? (ie, according to the Bible, not our tradition) Whom in the Bible preached?Where did they preach?What did they preach? Now ask: Should women "be allowed" to preach? Diane

For those who support women as preachers, how do you support it? I believe that women have a place in teaching, such as to a group of children, or youth group, etc. They can also "talk shop", as many women do here on SI. But I don't believe that a woman is to have authority over a man, as a preacher in the traditional makeup of the church, would.Can you qualify what you mean as a preacher? Do you mean women pastors, or do you mean that once they step behind the pulpit they are preachers? As a female I have pondered these things an awful lot - I want to be right before God and according to His word. I personally don't see were the word supports female pastors - however I do believe its possible that a female's role within church can reach beyond the sunday school and youth group. Is prophesy not considered preaching on one level - a proclamation? And I believe that the scripture does support prophesy by women in church I personally would rather not preach in a church setting (I do occasionally preach on the streets and on the door steps), but I wonder about the likes of Catherine Booth wife of William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army)- it would appear that she was anointed to preach?I was also thinking about the many women who have gone to foreign countries as lone missionaries..... I'm sure that they must have been in situations where they taught men and had authority over them as they started their work.... would it have been better for them not to have gone?I always end up leaving myself with more questions than I attempt to answer with this issue - God have mercy on us women!

Rebecca said, I believe that women can only prophesy in the church.What is the dividing line between preaching and prophesying? Anything outside of the church doesn't matter.Could you support this with Scripture? What do you mean by "anything"? Could you define the difference between preaching and prophesying, and also explain why God would permit one for women, and the other not? Use scripture to explain. Thanks. Diane

First of all, as a woman, as Raven's wife, I address the women who have spoken on this issue of 'women preaching". "THE AGED WOMEN LIKEWISE, THAT THEY BE IN BEHAVIOUR AS BECOMETH HOLINESS...TEACHERS OF GOOD THINGS; THAT THEY MAY TEACH THE YOUNG WOMEN TO BE SOBER, TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, TO BE DISCREET, CHASTE, KEEPERS AT HOME, GOOD, OBEDIENT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS, THAT THE WORD OF GOD BE NOT BLASPHEMED."-Titus 2:3-5So, you see, the elder women are teachers of good things - to teach the younger women good things."IT IS WRITTEN, THAT MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD OF GOD."-Jesus"IF ANY MAN WILL DO HIS WILL, HE SHALL KNOW OF THE DOCTRINE, WHETHER IT BE OF GOD OR WHETHER I SPEAK OF MYSELF."-JesusRegarding the Scripture Peter quoted from Joel, "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAITH GOD, I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY..." (Acts 2:17) I believe that "ALL FLESH" are the Gentiles as well as the Jews; not "men and women" as some would suppose. The promise spoken of in V. 39, I believe, clarifies that: "FOR THE PROMISE IS UNTO YOU AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, AND TO ALL THAT ARE AFAR OFF..."In Ephesians it is confirmed:"WHEREFORE REMEMBER, THAT YE BEING IN TIME PAST GENTILES IN THE FLESH, WHO ARE CALLED UNCIRCUMCISION BY THAT WHICH IS CALLED THE CIRCUMCISION IN THE FLESH MADE BY HANDS; THAT AT THAT TIME YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS AND FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE..."BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YE WHO SOMETIMES WERE FAR OFF ARE MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST."-Eph. 2:11-13 These, I believe, confirm that 'all flesh' is speaking of Jews and Gentiles alike.The "prophesying" that Peter by the Holy Spirit speaks of, is not preaching according to what is written. I would encourage all of you women to study all the prophecies of the women in the Bible, and you will see that they are speaking the utterances of the Holy Spirit. May our Lord confirm to you His Holy Word.The Holy Spirit also speaks through Paul saying: "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not (allow not) a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." I Timothy 2:11-12. So it is written. - Mrs. Nelson

This topic has been discussed a number of times previously in these threads:Women in the ministryCan women preach/teach in church?You may want to check this out also:Headcovering Q

yes it has been talked about as many older members know but then praise the lord we also now have new members, who want answers.

Here is a quote from a pastor I know:I don't believe in women preachers. I don't believe in men preachers. I believe in the Holy Ghost preaching through willing vessels.

1 Cor 14:34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.[35] And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.The wife should be silent in such cases where she has a godly husband who can answer what she wants to find out. Women should be quiet concerning the 'voice of the church' so to speak. I don't think this is saying that it is a sin for a woman to make a vocal sound on the church property, but rather that she is not to have a voice in church government.1 Tim 2:[11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.[12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.I would say that the woman Christian is free to do anything in service to God as long as she does not take a position in authority or teaching over a man. NOW, does the church I attend abide by this, or does my wife abide by this: NO. If I felt that God wanted me to leave my church because of this, I would. I trust that if revival comes to our church, the Spirit will bring correction, and will guide us in ALL truth.These verses are some of the many that it seems some try to explain away or re-interpret, where I see them just as Redpath saw some other verses and said, "I think it means just what it says."

It seems like we're wandering all over the place on this topic - inserting a variety of subjective comments. We are mixing this in with church authority/order, and all kinds of other stuff, (at least that's the way I see it.)Can anyone define "PREACH", according to its use in scripture? What did Jesus mean when he said, "The gospel must be preached to all nations."Mk. 13:10 Who did he expect would do this? "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things." Rom. 15:15Whose feet? Diane

Well put, Di.Any of you ladies wear headgear at church?Agree that authority over a man is risky business for a woman. but preaching the Gospel out of love is fitting, even in a church building.Just be women, even weaker vessels, and His Spirit will guide and reprove. Men are who are told to love their wives as Christ loved the church; correct me if I err, but I do not remember women being told to love their husbands anywhere.We need you! :-?

Rebecca can you clarify what you meant by sying this, "You'll laugh over the wicked too.You'll be thinking why was I ever worried about that for???"Thanks

hey all,rebecca,i don't know about asuza street, but according to the bible, the men who was in God's presence did not roll on the floor laughing, but was in fear in tremblingIsaiah 6:5 (New King James Version)New King James Version (NKJV)one of many examples:5 So I said: “ Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.” mloaks,you said you don't remember the bible saying for women to love husband. check out titus.Titus 2:4 (New King James Version)New King James Version (NKJV)4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,