Ordaining women for ministry by JB Sibomana

Ordaining women for ministry

1.      My own experience concerning the strength of women

I learned everything from my mother! She was the greatest person in the world and every time she was not at home, things were paralyzed. Nothing could function well especially in the area of taking care of the whole family when she is not around. She taught me how to love, how to be obedient, how to keep the hope burning for great things to happen. She always taught me that in life I have to be positive and always optimistic. Most of all, she pointed me to God telling me that I will overcome in life because God loves me! 

When my father was out there trying to provide for the family at the beach, my mother has always been selling fish to keep food on the table. When my father had no job, it was my mother who worked hard to provide by selling small fish in the market after getting the capital from someone else who requires it back with interest. As years advanced, my two sisters became adults and they made sure everything was doing well in our home even when my mother is not around. They are both married now and we always remember how good they were to us by taking care of the whole family: in cooking for us, gathering fire wood in the forest, fetching water in the river for everyone to use, cleaning the whole house, teaching the boys how to cook, and sometimes dividing tasks to everyone in the domestic duty.

Lastly, I have a wife now. It is chaotic every time she is not at home. If I did not get a first born daughter, who is almost eight years old to help in one way or another, it can be almost impossible for me to care for two young baby boys. From my mother, to my sisters, then my wife and my daughter, I see the strength of a woman in everyday life. They are just strong that is why God called them helpers. Nobody can help if he/she does not have extra strength to contribute in helping.

2.      How Jesus Christ treated women

The first thing I notice here is in John 2 in different verses. The first treatment we see Jesus portrays towards a woman is in verses 3 to 11 whereby we see Jesus obeying the suggestions of His mother. He never disobeyed her even publicly. It shows that He esteemed her so much. The second scenario is found in verse 12. Jesus could spend some time with his mother even at that advanced age she had. They walked together from Cana to Capernaum and never felt disturbed to walk with His mother.

Other places we see Jesus interacting with women is first of all found in John 4 with the Samaritan woman. Jesus never ignored to talk to her and wait on a man to come. He immediately approached her despite differences. To entertain a conversation with this woman signifies a lot of things and Jesus never rebuked or pushed her away. In Mathew 15, we see Jesus meeting another woman. After sometime of silence, Jesus decided to talk to her and congratulated her faith. In the same chapter, Jesus fed people and among them there were women: Jesus was willing to take care of women also just as He was taking care of men. This shows equality in terms of value for Jesus. Another woman came and poured expensive oil on Him and He commended her action and said that she will be talked about in all generations (John 12); there is also this woman with issue of blood that Jesus never refused to talk to (Mark 5:21-34); In verse 34, God calls this woman His daughter. It is a much esteemed name; Jesus wept with the sisters of Lazarus (John 11); Jesus responding to people who are talking about the womb that gave birth to Him (Luke 11:27-28). This shows how Jesus could entertain women even when they did address themselves to Him; He had to engage Himself in the conversation. In Luke 10:38-42, we see Jesus being received by Mary and Martha in their house. Jesus went on teaching them while one was busy to try to feed Jesus and the other was sitting at His feet. Jesus gave a comment saying that Mary has chosen well, a gift that she will not be taken from.

Not all the things we get in life will remain with us. Even when it comes to the ministry, position can be taken from us. A widow that gave what she had in the synagogue was much appreciated by Jesus to the point of giving a comment on her (Mark 12:41-44);   Allowing women to stay together with men for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1); Jesus giving a new name to a bent woman for 18 years (Luke 13). He called her “mother” in my mother tongue bible. Jesus never excluded women in different settings.

3.      How Paul treated women

There are many women who hosted Paul and others ministered to Paul in a very profound way in his missionary journeys. In his letters he used to recommend some of them (1 Corinthians 16:19; Romans 16, especially verse 13 where he mentions a certain woman to be like a mother to him).

4.      How did Paul say about women’s ministry

1 Corinthians 11 speaks of women always covering their heads in church; Galatians 3:28 Paul says that we are all one in Christ; Ephesians 5:22-33 Paul says of the duties for both women and men; Philippians 4:2-3 Paul requests to keep these women in ministry and help them; Colossians 3:18-19 Paul says that women are to obey and men to love; 1 Timothy 3 (especially verse 11: “women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips but temperate, faithful in all things”); and finally Titus 1 speaks of men and women.

 It seems Paul wanted women silent in church. Can that be a cultural issue? Is there any context for those passages? Are those passages meant to be for even now or just for that time? In any case, Paul likes to either talk about the current situation in his time or a certain truth that goes beyond time and culture. Would Paul be against ordaining women today? The answer can be “yes” or “no”! But I do not lose anything when women get ordained. I respect them and believe in the potential God put in them without man’s permission.

5.      How did Peter spoke about women and their ministry to God

1 Peter 3:1-7 speaks about men and women but especially the riches on a woman. It is found inside her not her outward appearance (verse 7 is the key; we are all heirs of God’s inheritance).

6.      The reason why women should be ordained

a.       Definition of ordination

This is an ecclesiastical Term that says much of consecrating (someone) as a priest, or a minister; it is to confer holy orders upon; It is also to appoint with authority in a way of establishing order that is supported by the power and authority given[1]. It is investing with someone ministerial or priestly authority. This is to be entrusted with God’s call to minister to the people and their God. Someone uses his/her gift to serve others while pleasing God. An ordained minister is someone who has been given authority to minister and serve God’s people while being used by the God of the people.

b.      Qualification for ordination

In the book of Titus and 1 or 2 Timothy, Paul speaks of some leaders who should be people that God entrusted them with a family and they are taking good care of their families first. There is a certain behavior that is expected to be seen in their lives. But those characters can be found to both genders and can be exhibited by both genders too.

c.       Examples of OT women workers

We have strong examples of women ministry especially: the ministry of Ruth to Naomi and Boaz (the book of Ruth), the ministry of Queen Esther to the Jews and at the palace (the book of Esther) and finally the ministry of Deborah in the book of Judges in the 4^th and 5^th chapter. These women were powerful in their office as ministers!

d.      Examples of NT women workers

When Jesus rose up from the dead, the first people to be in the tomb were women. Women were the first ones to be given the job of telling the rest of the people that Jesus Christ rose up from the dead. This great news, which is the foundation of the Christian faith, was entrusted to women before anyone else. Our faith could not have any foundation if it could not have been for these women who accepted to speak out this great news. I take it as a ministry that God gave them to evangelize and tell people that Jesus was not actually among the dead, but He was among the living.

Tabitha or Dorcas in the book of Acts 9:36-43 who ministered to widows in a mighty way to the point that when she was dead, widows wanted her back. Priscilla (as mentioned above) is also the most spoken by Paul because of what she did to him. These women were much spoken besides the mother of Jesus and her company.

e.       What to lose when ordaining women

We actually do not lose anything when women get ordained (given a position to serve God better and in authority). On the contrary, we allow women to make an impact and put into use their gifts. These are gifts that God gave them. Men are not the ones to give gifts to women. If they do not use them, God will ask them why. We cannot afford to have a ministry of hindering people to live for God and serve Him.

f.       What to gain when ordaining women

We gain another side of ministry that men do not have. Women get to put into practice their gifts. Women cab please God with the gifts that God gave them. Ordination comes with responsibility. Women become stewards of their gifts. We are able to put women in their place where God ordained them to be. There is always something g that someone has that is different from what we have or know.

Conclusion

There are two main things that allow women to be treated as men in different level of life responsibilities:

1.      Galatians 3:28 says that men and women are one in Christ. There is no distinction between man and women when it comes to the expectations of serving God in any capacity. In the same place, Paul says that even women are children of Abraham and equal heirs with the rest of the people according to the promise.

2.      It is believed that God created man in His own image (in the book of Genesis). This gives enough evidence that God decided to give His image to every human being and refuses any other animal or thing to possess His image.

Therefore, I respect and accept the people who would not ordain women. But for my opinion, I don’t mind if some of them are ordained because of their calling, faithfulness, proven and gifting. I would always sit under a woman’s teaching and get the message that God has for me. This position is not that I am right or wrong. It is just because I have nothing to lose when a woman is ordained.

---

[1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ordaining