WOMEN AS PRIESTS? ================= Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Professor of Theology and Church History, Andrews University Note: The following is a reply by Dr. Bacchiocchi to a reader who took issue with one of his essays. The context and her objections will be clear as you read. Dear Sister Maxfield: Thank you for inviting me to respond to your question, namely, How can I believe that women cannot Biblically serve in a headship role and yet accept the leadership role of Ellen White? Paraphrased. First of all, let me say, Sister Maxfield, that I had determined in my heart not to address the issue of women's ordination in this forum, because it is such an emotional issue that few people seem capable of think about it rationally. I will try to give you a brief answer. If you wish a fuller treatment of your question, I would be glad to mail you a free copy of my book WOMEN IN THE CHURCH where I address the question at great length. Just send me your address. The book has been adopted as a text book in many theolgoical seminaries. Sister Maxfield, the answer to your question is to be found in the distinction between the headship and leadership roles. There is no question that Ellen White fulfilled a vital leadership role in the founding and development of our Adventist church. But she never claimed to serve in a headship male role. She was happy to be a mother in Israel and not an elder in Israel. I understand that when her husband was alive she expected her husband to preach in the morning and she would talk in the afternoon. Even though she was God's messanger, she still looked up to her husband as the head of their home. May I ask you: Why in the OT women served as prophetesses but not as priestesses? Prophets often provided greater spiritual leadership than priests? Deborah was a prophetess and a great spiritual leader in Israel, but not a priest. Why? The answer is to be found in the fact that the role of a prophet was that of a communicator of God's will, and God communicates His will through men and women, irrespective of gender. On the other hand, the role of a priest was that of a spiritual father. The priest fulfilled a headship representative role of a father, and this is why women could not serve in such a role. This is the very argument that Paul develops in 1 Timothy. His reasons are not cultural but theological and creational. If you and others are intersted, I could download the section of my book where I address this very question. I am not sure whether than would be of great help, because my perception is that some Adventists do not wish to be Biblical informed.This is evident by the messages posted. No attempt is ever made to come to grip with what does the Bible really say on this subject. They feel that whatever the Bible teaches on role distinctions it is culturally conditioned and irrelevant to a society which has promotes and practices role interchangeability. This is why it is difficult to have a meaningful dialogue on this subject. Adventists who are culturally conditioned are not willing to listen to Adventists who are Biblically conditioned and viceversa. It saddens my heart that on the one hand our Evangelists with great conviction (example Net 95) tell audiences that we Adventists are the people of the Book. Then when people enter our church they hear some say that some of the teachings of the Book are irrelevant because culturally conditioned. Last week a lady called me long distance to tell me that she joined the Adventist church as a result of NET 95, but she had decided to leave because that particular church did not live up to what she had been taught. I did my best to encourage her. I hope she will reconsider the matter. Please note that what is culturally conditioned is not the principle of role distinctions, but its application that varies in every culture. Least I be misunderstood, I want to make it clear that the issue is not the ministry of women.I strongly believe in the ministry of women. I argue in my book that need women today more than ever before to minister to our churches and communities because of the many social problems such a single parents and abused children. Women should be treated fairly, paid on an equal basis like men. Second, the issue is not ordination as such, because Ellen White clearly states that women who perform certain ministries "should be set aside with the laying on of hand" (RH July 9, 1895). WHAT IS THE ISSUE THEN? The issue is role distictions. God has called men and women to fulfill different and yet complementary roles as fathers and mothers, both in the home and in the church. If you would like to develop this more fully, I can download the section of my book dealing with this. Letme know. I need to stop here because I am trying to reply to 242 messages I received in the internet during the last 24 hours from all over the world. I posted some of my essays on THE BIBLE AND ALCOHOL, THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF SEX, THE GLOBAL VISION OF POPE PAUL II, PAUL AND THE LAW, in several Catholic and Protestant news organizations, and I have been flooded with messages,from many from sincere people seeking for a fuller understanding of the will of God for our lives. Today I have replied to a Catholic priest from Australia very interested in my Sabbath research. He read my dissertation while studying in Paris and liked my essay on Paul and the Law. He urged me to send me all my books. A similar request came from Nottingham, England and Paderborn, Germany. God is giving us unprecedented opportunities. Unfortunately we miss many of them because we spend too much time arguing among ourselves and too little time sharing with others the timely message that God has given us. By the way, what an increadible opportunity the internet provides to reach people around the world from a little computer at home Thank you for affording me this opportunity to share few thoughts. Please feel free to contact me for any material on this or other subjects I have researched. I will be glad to make it available free of charge, hoping that the number of requests will be reasonable. Christian regards Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D. Professor of Theology and Church History, Andrews University 4990 Appian Way, Berrien Springs, MI 49103