What is Ordination? New mullings

Enjoying reflecting on a new read:

Enjoy might be the wrong word. It is a journey that I am unfamiliar with, that of churches that do not ordain women. See I came back to faith at a church with a woman minister, and her husband helped (they were both educators). My journey in my Bible College undergrad was in a tradition that espoused the concept women shouldn't have teaching authority over men (though we had female professors, hmmm) and in seminary, openly encouraging women to seek ordination in mainline churches that would affirm their calling as their homes tradition wouldn't. The greatest espousement of higher education at that moment for them to earn their MRS (be married to a pastor or missionary).

As I explore a bit of American and historical context to this patriarchy, some things stood out. In the Southern Baptist Convention (the largest Protestant denom to the south), it is a fairly new development (last 30ish years), and is rooted in compliance and complimentarianism, also capitalistic cost savings of two staff for one, and keeping wages low to allow for access to the IRS personage tax break. These were the dressed up rationale, while covering up sexual abuse, revealing bait and switch mega churches (Warren's saddleback was kicked out of SBC for.ordaining wowmen, but until that moment in 2023 very few knew it was not non-denominational).

It is also intriguing that the empire cloaked Roman Catholic Church centuries ago imposed celibacy to keep church land, and stop inheritance of pastoral charges. Yet the complimentarian system has brought this system back quite easily.

So why does all this matter? Just Wanting to percolate some thoughts regardless of tradition you're in. Encourage you to pick up Barr's books, engage with them, and ask what needs to be rooted out in our own systems that cling to ways that are just about control, money and power…and not about Christ-like community.