Women submit to your husbands
I missed this story in the Telegraph a few days ago (not my paper of choice) until I read it via The Church Mouse.
Two clergymen in Kent are preaching not only the old chestnut that women should be silent in church and submit to their hubands “because the Bible says so”, but even that divorce is the woman’s fault! (And where does it say that in the Bible, I ask? yep – nowhere at all) The more junior of the two clergymen has apparently said in his sermon that the rise in the divorce rate is due to the behaviour of women. (Never to mens behaviour? Or to economics, or education, or a culture that – thank God – no longer believes that a woman is the property of her father or her husband?)
The lines of argument being rehearsed in this Kent Church have proved so offensive that women are leaving the Parish church (good decision) and cancelling their financial support. Offensive, yes, but also risible for their total lack of logic. What are single women to do in Church? (With no husband to submit to, and no husband to speak on her behalf, is she to be returned to being a chattel among her father’s property?) And even more illogical – as Mouse has found out – the leaflet accompanying this line of teaching was written by a woman!! This part isn’t offensive, it’s just laugh-out-loud stupid. Get the rest of the skinny from Church Mouse: Woman teaches men that they should not be taught by a woman.
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Maggi has kept a blog since September 2003, writing about theology and faith, the arts and literature, and a little about life and random nonsense...
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Sometimes life is just great in the diocese of Rochester!!!
In case anyone misreads into that … I am as shocked, offended and in unbelief as most others in the diocese.
I can’t believe anyone still believes such crap!
For what its worth the diocese had made a statement which can be found on its webpage …. but I think it should go a lot further in what it says: (cut and paste below)
ST NICHOLAS CHURCH, SEVENOAKS
STN/LM/01
Statement on behalf of the Diocese of Rochester.
“Christians believe that all people are made in the image of God and are equal in God’s sight.
The Church of England is a broad and embracing Church which believes in and promotes the sanctity of marriage and the uniqueness of the Bible.
Members of the clergy interpret their priestly ministry in different ways and this is reflected in the rich variety of Anglican churches.”
Have to wonder about the quality of theological education in some parts of the CofE.
Also … they gave this man a curate?!?!?
>Members of the clergy interpret their priestly ministry in different ways
Ain’t that the truth!
Weeping and praying. I read that a few days ago on another blog. I just had to pick my jaw up off the floor. We see thing quite regularly in certain other very conservative denominations, but I am so ashamed to read of this in an Anglican Church.
Fr. Dan Graves
Friends of mine attend that church and I could never envisage her submitting to her husband!
As Chris said it does make you wonder about the quality of the ministers’ training; not just in the CofE – I’ve come across similar idiocies in the Baptist church.
Absolutely hilarious (yet not at all). Especially as I’m sat at an Evangelical conference with highly respected female members, and have been conversing with a woman who will be leading one of the conference bible studies on her own at Cape Town in October. Yes, there will be an evangelical conference with a woman conducting a bible study for 4,000 people on her own. Well done C of E for making the WEA look liberal! As I said. Hilarious.