Coptic Church & Ecumenical Movement - Saint Mina Coptic ...

Some Objections:
1. It may occur to some that the Bible denied woman the right to priesthood on the
grounds that she played no active role in society in old ages and in the early years
of the Church, and that nowadays, since women are becoming more and more
active in almost every walk of life she should also assume a bigger share of
responsibility in the sphere of the church as well, including, the Holy Orders. But
let me point out the inherent inaccuracy in this idea. Women did occupy quite
elevated positions in society in bygone days. There were women prophets, such
as Mary the sister of Moses and Aaron; there were women judges such as
Deborah. There were Queens, such as Esther, and the Queen of Sheba (mentioned
by Christ). We all know of Cleopatra and Hatshepsut. However, no women
assumed any position as member of the ecclesiastical priesthood.
At the time of Christ, woman had her full share of recognition: we know of Mary
Magdalene who was the first to tell of the resurrection, we know of various
women who offered their own houses as churches, as the mother of John known
as Mark, Lydia seller of Purple. Priscilla wife of Aquila, as the daughters of
Phillip who used to prophecy, and many other women mentioned by Paul the
Apostle in his Epistle to the Romans. Let us not forget that we do not know of
any woman who took part in any of the Ecumenical Councils.
2. Some may argue that the Holy Spirit can be accepted by women as by men and
gives them the gifts; consequently, women can be ordained as priests. Our reply
to this is that truly the Holy Spirit is for all believers in the sacrament of
Chrismation and the gifts for several of believers according to church needs but
the sacrament of priesthood is for a chosen group. The gift of the Holy Spirit is
not the same for all people. We see this clearly in St. Paul’s letter to the
Corinthians: “And God has set some in the church, first Apostles, secondly
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all
teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all
speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” (1 Corinthians 2:28-30). So that the gifts
of the Holy Spirit are not common for all people and this means not all can receive
the One Gift.
The Lord said: “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the
eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’”, (1 Corinthians 12:20-21).
Can all be the head? Can all be eyes? Of course not, for they, are many members.
The Lord has set in the body of the church every member with a special function.
Also in our body every part has a function and that does not reduce the value of
other parts.
Must it be that all is eye or tongue or head? Where is the Heart? Or the hand? It
is possible that Woman is the heart (centre of affection) and not the head.
The right place of woman in the church
As deaconess (without consecration by laying on of hands), such as Phoebe of the
church of Kankharia, or Olympias who served as deaconess to St. John Chrysostom
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