responses to nt texts on gender

• Christian Egalitarians

  • argue there should be no distinction between men + women when it comes to their roles within the Church
  • that applies also between racial + social groups
  • all should be equal before Christ + treated as such
  • men + women should be permitted equal roles in the Church
• Christian Complementarians

  • equal but different
  • men + women are of equal importance before God, but they have different + complimentary roles: in marriage, family, society + organisation of the Church
• Catholic view: equal but different

  • philosophy, tradition + church teachings all lead towards the complimentarian view of gender roles in the Church

  NML

  • also follows complimentarian view
  • suggests that people should live in a way that reflects their inherent nature
  • if men + women have different natures, it suggests they should take different roles - it doesn't mean one is more valuable; simply that they are different
• tradition of the Early Church

  • extent of women's ministry in the Early Church is unknown, except for references in the scriptures + their opposition by church leaders in the 5th century
  • Pope Gelasius I: wrote in 494AD opposing women taking part in the celebration of the Eucharist