Women in the pulpit

I read Randal Barry’s column in the July 13 issue. He addresses the current rhubarb over women pastors in the SBC. I don’t disagree with what he has set forth. There is more to it, though.

The king that had the translation done that produced the King James version of the Bible from the known original texts was the same king who had thousands of folks gruesomely killed for accusations of being witches. And much of the translated language was distorted because certain matters were not allowed to be discussed in those times in what we’d refer to as plain English. Euphemisms were employed generously, as were terms that didn’t translate readily into English of that day.

But there’s another aspect of the matter Mr. Berry didn’t address: the male superiority presumption that has pervaded human existence for centuries.

He quotes Apostle Paul saying, “saith the law.” So many are not aware that early Christians were subject to Roman laws, which the apostle was referring to there. We have a maxim today that says “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” which derives from that.

But I think more likely in this case is that we think, teach, admonish, comfort, persuade and otherwise fill the role of pastoring using our genitalia. I get the definite impression that those requiring that absurdity are doing just that here.

Recently I have, with some degree of cynicism, said that if women pastors would simply have a “sex change” and acquire the requisite male organs, why, they’d be in possession of the required qualifications to be SBC pastors!

That proposal wasn’t well received by some when I said it. Seems it was too close to the truth. My observation is that it is a male control mechanism to keep the distaff side in proper subjugation. If they ever let them have any real degree of personal agency, they can never be returned to their “rightful places.”

KARL HANSEN Hensley