Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained
I got this from Serena...
Top Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained
10. A man's place is in the army.
9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.
8.
Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such
as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be
"unnatural" for them to do other forms of work.
7. Man was created
before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus,
they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of
creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is
easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching
basketball tournaments.
5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.
4.
To be ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a
traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been
considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also
more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for
ordination.
3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man
wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it.
Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously
unstable in positions of leadership.
2. Men can still be involved in
church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths,
repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father's
Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can
still be vitally important in the life of the Church.
1. In the New
Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his
lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the
subordinated position that all men should take.
Marvellous post! Somehow, I have a sneaking feeling I've heard these arguments before....
Posted by: Ben Myers | 25/03/2006 at 12:01
Yep all true.
I had this on my blog and took it off after some complaints...what can I say? I've got no backbone. ;-)
Posted by: Kat | 25/03/2006 at 14:44
Are you still fighting yesterday's battle?
Posted by: Alan | 25/03/2006 at 16:30
Ouch, but on target. Thanks.
Posted by: Jim | 25/03/2006 at 16:30
top post!
Posted by: richard | 25/03/2006 at 19:12
I've never seen this list before -- hilarious! I've posted it/linked to you on my blog.
Posted by: Talmida | 25/03/2006 at 19:39
Very amusing. A nice way to start a Sunday morning.
Posted by: Paul Fromont | 25/03/2006 at 21:34
Great fun!
Posted by: Chris Tilling | 25/03/2006 at 21:34
Hehe...
I had to link to it!
Posted by: Mike Noakes | 25/03/2006 at 22:55
Most men, of course, aren't in the slightest bit interested in church, let alone ordination. Or basketball - BASKETBALL??? Which may just render such satire a bit off the mark.
Posted by: John Davies | 25/03/2006 at 23:54
When you read some of the nonesense printed about the ordination of women these ten reasons why men should not be ordained make very good sense!
Posted by: hoschap | 26/03/2006 at 02:15
This was very funny. I'm glad to have found it. Anyone who thinks this is reverse prejudice just doesn't have a sense of humor and is also unable to appreciate satire.
The silliness and prejudice of it are exactly the point. Sometimes we don't see absurdity unless it is put into a new context.
Thanks for the great laugh this evening!
Posted by: Real Live Preacher | 26/03/2006 at 05:02
This is satire? I think much of it could be taken seriously. Where the Church went wrong was in not acknowledging how indebted it was to strong women in the early days (as Paul and others acknowleged in writing about Tabitha, Priscilla, Phoebe, Lunia, Junia, Chloe, Eudia, Syntyche, Apphia, etc.), and in not continuing female leadership. Maybe (just maybe) it wasn't wrong to let men get involved - but it certainly was wrong (in most places) to turn over the Church's leadership (esp. the priestly functions) exclusively to men.
Posted by: Neale Adams | 26/03/2006 at 06:23
Cutting and spot on!
I guess I should save today's sermon for Father's Day.
Posted by: Aaron Ghiloni | 26/03/2006 at 07:34
Maggi,this is great pre-monday reading. Food for lots of thought! :-) and it was fun ...
Posted by: Sivin | 26/03/2006 at 16:39
i think it's a shame we can't find more constructive and positive ways to move such a debate forward. It dissapoints me that we always fall to the lowest common denominator of negative debate.
Posted by: ross | 26/03/2006 at 19:42
Very funny - I think I have actually heard a few of these arguments directed elsewhere and at others - hmmmmm.
Posted by: T.B. Vick | 26/03/2006 at 21:01
I'm rather worried about where my daughter got her view of male behaviour.
Posted by: Hugh A (Dad to Serena) | 26/03/2006 at 21:42
Did I just shift universes? How refreshing to read this post! If this is the kind of community on this blog then I will surely be by often for a fix. My all-too-pc liberal world would not be happy to read this becasue they wouldn't want to offend anybody.
And Hugh A, good job on raising your daughter!
Posted by: lunazoon | 26/03/2006 at 22:42
Ross, with all due respect it's only a semi-serious contribution to the debate. It's more about considering the flaws in the arguments by putting them the other way around, to get a better perspective on the matter.
Hugh/Dad - I think Reason 5 was the best one, if that reassures you at all ;P
Posted by: Serena | 27/03/2006 at 00:53
You'll be interested to know that this version of the list of top ten reasons was originated by Dr David M Scholer of Fuller Seminary, who teaches one of the most popular courses there on 'Women, Ministry and the Bible'. For more, see the Feminarian at http://feminary.blogspot.com/
Posted by: John Drane | 27/03/2006 at 10:15
When I showed it around the staff room (where it was much appreciated), my colleague Mary Evans reminded me that the Bible also clearly states that men should do the cooking. Genesis 3:19 is a word given to Adam, not Eve -- 'By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread' clearly indicates that he is to do at least the baking.
One of my favourite Mary Evans stories concerns the time one of these evangelical reference book editors contacted her to ask if she would write an article for their book on 'Women in the Bible.' She replied that she'd be happy to if they could tell her who they'd asked to write the article on 'Men in the Bible.'
Posted by: ConradGempf | 27/03/2006 at 14:00
They forgot to really important tasks mention such as unscrewing the tight lids on a coffe jars and taking out the spiders from the dusty old corners
Posted by: Derek | 27/03/2006 at 14:33
I loved this. I bet that Forward in Faith, did NOT.
Parishioner ECUSA
Diocese of NW Texas
Posted by: Al | 27/03/2006 at 16:32
Fun, although I must say that it's been about fifteen years since I've heard anyone in my denomination advance any argument against the ordination of women. (I'm ELCA)
Mark Daniels
Posted by: Mark Daniels | 27/03/2006 at 17:06