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From: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Marchionni's OPINIONS on female priests (Dyer and Tinkham)
Message-ID: <1274@shark.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Mar-85 03:45:56 EST
Article-I.D.: shark.1274
Posted: Wed Mar  6 03:45:56 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 8-Mar-85 03:19:52 EST
References: <1613V6M@PSUVM>
Reply-To: hutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison)
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 36
Summary: 

In article <1613V6M@PSUVM> V6M@PSUVM.BITNET writes:

>Female priests:
>
>I agree with the Church here.  Christ had the opportunity to "ordain" women
>when He ordained the Apostles. The Early Church also had ample opportunity
>to ordain women.

What makes you think that Christ did not "ordain" women?  He most certainly
did teach them, send them out as missionaries, and he defended them when they
acted against the traditions of their society in their pursuit of knowledge
of God.  Women are not allowed to be priests under the order of Levi, if
I recall correctly, but they WERE prophets, judges, and leaders of the
community and the temples.

Further, there is strong evidence in the Letters that women held positions
as apostles, as bishops, and as teachers of scripture.  Phoebe was called
an apostle.

We know that the Twelve had a special place as leaders of the church.
We also know that they did not pass on their roles.  The name "apostle"
was given to anyone who saw Jesus alive before and after His death and
resurrection.

>Since Christ wasn't stupid He left the Spirit to guide the Church. And it is
>the Spirit which helps the Church UNDERSTAND Revelation.  As of this writing
>the Church understands it to mean only male priests.

This is not obvious at all.  The RC church claims that it means only male
priests, but they also have hangups about celibacy that make it impossible
for them to follow the teachings of Scripture in regard to the choosing of
a Bishop.  Other branches of the Church which have equally valid reason to
claim the presence of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have determined that
scripture DOES permit women in the role of priests.

Hutch