Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Hypocrisy
Southern Baptists issue doctorate to woman then fire her.
Let me get this straight, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary provided theologian Sheri Klouda with her doctorate, provided her with a teaching position, and later fired her for being a woman. I guess somebody with a lot of money feels women (in this case woman) are incapable (based on the Bible I'm sure) to teach theology and/or original languages.
I can't help but note a hint of hypocrisy going on, not only with SBT but throughout evangelical denominations in general. You'll also note the progression of this whole 'females in ministry' debate. Before, women couldn't teach anything, then they could teach kids. Before women couldn't teach men, and then recently they could teach in Bible Colleges and even seminaries. Now, women can't teach theology and original languages.... Sorry if this sounds strange, but clearly the 'paradigm' shift will slowly move to accept women as suitable teachers.
In my opinion, if the Lord bestows the spiritual gift of teaching to a woman there's nothing in Scripture preventing her from doing so and nothing a church committee can determine that trumps the gift of God.
You know, this debate kinda sounds like, among other examples, a bit like the Jehovah Witnesses? Right now they won't allow blood transfusions--many have died. In the past they wouldn't even allow vaccinations! Of course that changed as time moved on, one expects the same to occur with blood transfusions (maybe even birthdays). I surmise so will this topic of women in ministry/teaching.
One bit from the article that caught my eye was the last paragraph. "Sheri Klouda is not a pastor, she has not been ordained or licensed, she does not perform ministerial duties. She is a professor, for heaven's sake," Wade Burleson said. "The same institution that conferred her degree and hired her has now removed her for gender. To me, that is a very serious, ethical, moral breach."
This brings up a very good point. Why would you grant a degree to someone if they can't teach anywhere? Is that not theft by the institution, taking the money from students when they know very well they'll never have opportunity to get at job? If women can't be ordained/teach then why on earth do denominations take their money in Bible Colleges and Seminaries?
To further complicate the matter, many women who can't get ordained here move to mission work overseas. Funny thing is, in the mission field they act as ministers in the absence of men performing the normal duties of ordained male ministers with full blessings from denominations. However, once they come back to the 'cultured' first world nations with the 'we know better here' attitude, they are relegated to backbenchers.
Your thoughts? Further discussion to be held in the Pomo Forum.
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Cheryl said,
January 23, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
You commented: "If women can't be ordained/teach then why on earth do denominations take their money in Bible Colleges and Seminaries?"
While I agree with you that this doesn't sound right, kind of like theft, would refusing to teach them be better? In John MacArthur's seminary, The Master's Seminary, they won't even let women into the seminary to learn. If all institutions were like this, then women couldn't even learn. Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:11 "let her learn". While I believe that the one's whom God has clearly gifted for body ministry should be allowed to minister in their gifting and not be denied just because of their gender, at least allowing them to learn biblical languages and ministry courses in seminary is a step towards allowing women to minister while denying them the opportunity to even learn is quenching the Holy Spirit's work in their lives. Letting them learn is at least one step up from full suppression.
ro said,
January 23, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
Well put Cheryl. My point exactly. If you're not going to ordain them then don't even bother teaching them. Of course, seminaries or Bible Colleges wouldn't go to this extreme. My statement is merely to highlight what appears to be laughable hypocrisy.
john said,
January 30, 2007 @ 2:11 am
that is terrible. If those are the only facts considered, they owe her for her lost wages during the time of her studies, plus the costs of her education, plus the lost increase in income she could have had building a career without such an education. (something like that, in my opinion)
This would be a court case I would support.
Definately a case of hypocrisy, but on what level is debatable.
For if it was wrong for them to allow her to teach, it is their duty to correct the problem by terminating her employment and to compensate for damages. If it is not wrong for them to allow her to teach, then the contradiction is obvious enough.
Yet this argument that if someone can learn then they can teach is baseless. For we educate the masses in our public schools but few qualify as teachers. Jesus taught women and children but did not apoint any as teachers. (not to say that is an argument against women or children teachers)
Every leader must first learn how to follow. Yet not every follower can lead.
Ro said,
March 12, 2007 @ 12:43 pm
well John you got your wish:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070311/26247_Female_Professor_Sues_Seminary_Over_Dismissal.htm