3.6 Roles of Men and Women

Question 1

What is Christian complementarianism?

Answer 1

The belief that men and women were created differently to fulfill different but complementary roles.
Not that the roles were superior/inferior, but different.

Question 2

What is Christian egalitarianism?

Answer 2

The belief that men and women were created as equals.

If humans were created in God’s image then they are equal and have equal responsibilities and should work as a team.

Question 3

Which Christian tradition mainly supports a complementarian point of view?

Answer 3

Roman Catholic

Question 4

Which Christian tradition mainly supports an egalitarian point of view?

Answer 4

Church of England

Question 5

Do men and women have egalitarian opportunities within Christian communities?

Answer 5

Churches are free to specify the gender of the ministers they wish to appoint
Roman Catholic Church is complentarian and will not permit women to become priests or bishops

Question 6

Why does the Roman Catholic Church have a complentarian view of the roles of men and women within the church?

Answer 6

It teaches that:

• This is God’s law
• That Jesus only chose male disciples
• Authority in the Church has been passed on through men and this tradition cannot be broken

Question 7

Why do some churches have an egalitarian view of the roles of men and women within the church?

Answer 7

They teach that:

• Jesus came to break down barriers not reinforce them
• Jesus was following the tradition of the time; if he was alive today he would include women
• God created women in his image as well as men

Question 8

What does the Bible teach about the roles of men and women in the religious upbringing of children?

Answer 8

• parents have a responsibility towards their children to bring them up with a knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith
• Roman Catholic and Church of England teach that parents should get their child baptised into the faith and then confirmed when they are old enough