Complementarian Versus Egalitarian Views on Female Ordination Paper

Content type

User Generated

Subject

Philosophy

Type

Research Paper

Uploaded By

jreegr

Pages

CHAPTER 3: THE STRUGGLE OF REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA AND WOMEN

ORDINATION

Complementarians Versus Egalitarian Views

Complementarians on Women Ordination

Christians from different denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican,

Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Reformed Churches of America have always relied on the Biblical

scripture to formulate the rules and policies that they follow. Despite using the same scripture,

believers come up with different conclusions and interpretations of what they have read in the

Bible. The subject on hand, the ordination of women in the church has been a subject of debate,

and contributed to a divide where two parties: the complementarian and egalitarian sides, feel

that their interpretation of the scripture is right. However, it is important to note that it is unfair

when assessing the debate to point out that one side of the divide accepts the Biblical scripture,

while the other does not. While this accusation has been made during debates, it is wrong

because both sides of the debate rely, and use biblical scriptures to make their arguments valid.

According to Duncan (2004), complementarians believe that although God created men and

women to be equal in terms of their essential dignity and human personhood, they are in fact

different, and complement each other’s functions. They believe that men are granted by God

headship in both the home and in the Church. They do not deny the fact women and men were

created equally, their argument is that, they were meant to perform different functions. Using

that context of Christianity, they believe that women are not suited, and therefore cannot hold the

position of an elder or pastor in a church setting. The reason for this is that these positions are

prohibited for women by the Biblical scripture. However, this does not mean that women do not

have a role in the church, and should be involved in the spreading of the Gospel of God through

preaching and being involved in teaching, however, it should be understood according to them

(complementarians) that they cannot hold leadership positions in the church setting.

Complementarian viewpoint uses the Biblical accounts in Genesis 1-3 to make their arguments

on role differentiation and leadership roles. In Genesis chapter 1:27, there is a distinction in

terms of the make of the male and female genders. According to Matthews (1996) they use it

primarily as their foundation for the argument about role differentiation. Koranteng-Pipim (2005)

makes the argument that both the male headship and leadership role, and also the female

supporting, or cooperative role were defined during creation.

Piper and Grudem (1991) states that complementarians provide the argument of order and mode

of creation as another basis for denying women leadership and their ordination in the church. In

Genesis chapter 2, the Bible clearly provides the sequence of creation as it states man was

created first, and then the woman was created later. Complementarians further argue that the

intention of God is clearly seen in the sequence of creation as God intended a man to be a leader

and therefore, He created Him first as Adam is the ‘firstborn’ of the human family. This position

provided him with a special responsibility of leadership. This is translated to all men in terms of

leadership in the family or church setting.

Ratsra and Bediako (2013) discuss another argument that complementarians use as a reason for

their opposition of the ordination of women in the church setting. In Genesis 2:18-22, the woman

is described as a man’s helper. They argue that women were created for a man’s interest, and to

assist him in the execution of authority over the other creation. Packer (1991) states that the

aspect of women being helpers of men prohibits them to be leaders in the church setting. It

means that the roles that they can be provided in the church include: pastoral assistants, youth

End of Preview - Want to read all 18 pages?

Access Now

Unformatted Attachment Preview

CHAPTER 3: THE STRUGGLE OF REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA AND WOMEN ORDINATION Complementarians Versus Egalitarian Views Complementarians on Women Ordination Christians from different denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Reformed Churches of America have always relied on the Biblical scripture to formulate the rules and policies that they follow. Despite using the same scripture, believers come up with different conclusions and interpretations of what they have read in the Bible. The subject on hand, the ordination of women in the church has been a subject of debate, and contributed to a divide where two parties: the complementarian and egalitarian sides, feel that their interpretation of the scripture is right. However, it is important to note that it is unfair when assessing the debate to point out that one side of the divide accepts the Biblical scripture, while the other does not. While this accusation has been made during debates, it is wrong because both sides of the debate rely, and use biblical scriptures to make their arguments valid. According to Duncan (2004), complementarians believe that although God created men and women to be equal in terms of their essential dignity and human personhood, they are in fact different, and complement each other’s functions. They believe that men are granted by God headship in both the home and in the Church. They do not deny the fact women and men were created equally, their argument ...
Purchase document to see full attachment

Tags: Complementarian View Egalitarian Views CS Lewis understanding of God secular ideologies Biblical and traditional values