1.2.6 Gender roles in worship and authority

Question 1

What is Gender equality?

Answer 1

People of all genders having the same rights and opportunities in all aspects of life.

Question 2

What do Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe women can do in the church? (2 with 2 examples)

Answer 2

• Women can play an active role in worship and the life of the church. E.g, women can become nuns, for which they must take vows to devote their life to God.
• Women are viewed as equal members of the church congregation and as such can support the work of the church in many ways. E.g, they can help with church finances or running church facilities.

Question 3

What do Catholics and Orthodox Christians not believe women can do in the Church? (2)

Answer 3

• Women cannot be ordained (appointed to take on a religious role) as priests
• This means they are lay members of the church (members who do not have the authority to lead the church or lead worship)

Question 4

How do Catholic and Orthodox churches support the view that women can’t be ordained and are lay members of the church in relation to Jesus? (3)

Answer 4

• Jesus’ example should be followed, and he chose his 12 disciples (his pupils and helped him in work) to be men.
• Before his ascension he left leadership of the early church and the spreading of the Christian message to 12 apostles (his disciples) and they were all men.
• Jesus is the best example of how to fulfil Gods will - Jesus chose men therefore men should lead the church today.

Question 5

How do Catholic and Orthodox churches support the view that women can’t be ordained and are lay members of the church in relation to the Bible? (2)

Answer 5

• Many Biblical passages seem to support the view that men and women have different roles to play in life and the church
• In many letters St. Paul (one of the apostles who was the leader of the early Christian church) seems to suggest that only men should have positions of authority within the church and that women should be subordinate to men

Question 6

What biblical quote can be used to support the idea that women can’t be ordained and are lay members of the church?

Answer 6

“A women should learn quietness and full submission. I do not permit a women to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet”

1 Timothy 2:11-12

Question 7

How does Genesis 1 and 2 support the Catholic and Orthodox Church view that women can’t be ordained and are lay members of the church? (4)

Answer 7

• Genesis 1 & 2 suggest that men and women are equal, but this does not mean that they are the same; they have different strengths and contributions to make.
• Men have an important part to play in religious leadership whilst women have an important role to play in their families and supporting the community.
• Women, for example, are better suited to more caring roles; the priest hood has a ‘hands off’ nature that is distinctively male.
• A women’s role within the family is unique to them and its special nature is emphasised by the respect that is shown to Jesus’ mother, Mary, as the Mother of God.

Question 8

Which Pope made a statement in relation to the Catholic and Orthodox Church view that women can’t be ordained and are lay members of the church?

Answer 8

Pope John Paul II confirmed the Catholic Churches view.

Question 9

What does the Anglican Church believe in relation to women and equality (ordination)?

Answer 9

In the Anglican Church both men and women can be ordained and can take up equal roles in Church leadership and worship. In 2014, the first female bishop was ordained.

Question 10

How does the Anglican Church support its view that women and men can take up equal roles in the church in relation to Jesus? (2)

Answer 10

• The context in which Jesus lived must be considered when using his example to guide believers in the modern world. Jesus lived 2000 years ago when cultural attitudes towards women were very different; maybe Jesus chose men because of the cultural expectations of his time. The work of a disciple was very hard and not something which women would have been expected to endure. Also, Jesus used the disciples to help spread his message – it is unlikely that others would have listened to women disciples or have taken their leader seriously; men held positions of authority not women.
• Jesus appeared to have a very different view to others of his time regarding women. He appeared to value them as equals & welcomed them as followers.

Question 11

How does the Anglican Church support its view that women and men can take up equal roles in the church in relation to the Bible? (2)

Answer 11

• Genesis 1 & 2 suggests that all humans were created in God’s image and as such men and women have equal value, this means there should be equality in every aspect of life. If God sees no difference nor should we. This view can further be supported with Galatians 3:27-29 – this is a passage from the early church (in the New Testament).
• In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught that it is wrong to discriminate. This message is reinforced in other Biblical passages such as Acts 10:34.

Question 12

What message does Galatians 3:27-29 convey?

Answer 12

It suggests that gender, religion, status and race are irrelevant; what really matters is a person faith in Jesus.

Question 13

What does Acts 10:34 say in relation to discrimination being wrong?

Answer 13

“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism.”