I recently attended annual conference and was dis-hearten to see the teatment of women ministers. It was so important that we, as a people voice our distaste against the teatment of black people. Yet, we are moving into the year 2000 and our own brothers are doing all that is with in there power to keep the sisters out of the Ministry. These are our men that are working under the old boys network. When are we as AMEes going to look at everyone as equals and not by the size of the church. I was once told that size didn't matter, but what you do with what you have!

-- Anonymous, June 23, 1999

Answers

Sandra, You raise an important issue about the mistreatment of women and church size. For some of us we have voluntarily incarcerated our thinking process due to a quest for status and acceptance. This is a tragic consequence because we are walking around deluding ourselves thinking we are some big shot when in God's sight we are insignificant. Egos are the biggest obstacle for effective discipleship. But, herein lies the problem. Many of us are so Biblically illiterate we don't know or care about God's will for our lives individually and collectively.

-- Anonymous, July 19, 1999

It's so unfortunate that when blacks in this nation still struggle against the tremendous outpouring of increasingly overt racism that the black church continues to exercise its own form of discrimination and prejudice against women. One can't help but wonder when the Word makes so clear that there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free in Christ when it is that the Lord will render judgment on those who refuse to acknowledge women in ministry. What's more disheartening, though, is that the women are far too often hindrances. How sad!

-- Anonymous, July 22, 1999

Of course discrimination is wrong, and of course women minister, today and in scripture. There is a difference in ministering (serving) or exhorting, and excercising authority though. The Bible is also clear (despite our lack of complete understanding as to the whytos and wherefores) that women are not to excercise authority over a man. So God does clearly define limitations on the leadership roles of women in the Church, though this in no way prohibits thtem from serving God and preaching/exhorting, etc.

Let's not jump in the ditch on either side of the road.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 1999

Count it all joy when men discriminate against you. It is testing you; validating your ministry in YOUR mind; preparing you for a higher calling in Christ. Steel is tempered in the fire to make it stronger. So is God's ministers. Take the spring as an example: The more you compress a spring, the more energy is ttored in its coils (energy from the opposition by the way). When it is finally released (read that break out), all of that stored energy serves to make the spring go higher than it would have otherwise. Praise the Lord. Why do you think Tiger Woods is able to soar so high in golf? Because Lee Elder and Charley Sifford and Calvin Peete was com-pressed so tight. Praise the Lord for Women in Mininstry. Pastor Alton Paris

-- Anonymous, February 08, 2000

I am excited about the prospect of our zion electing a woman bishop. I think its the right thing to do and the Godly thing to do. We have extremely qualified women to lead our zion on the episcopal level. We should all eagerly embrace this new opportunity in our church and show the world that we are truly an inclusive body!

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2000

Our election of bishops should be under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The right thing to do us to be controlled by the Spirit. If a woman is elected so be it. It is clear that God is no respecter of persons. He calls withot regard to race, gender, or economics. If WE decide it is time to elect a female bishop and it is not in the will of God, it will surely fail.

-- Anonymous, February 15, 2000

If when you refer to ministers you are talking about itenerant elders then any sort of mistreatment should not be taking place with respect to qualified pastors. Devotion to God and the ability to lead God's flock should be the only consideration. Remember that preaching the Gospel is speading the good news of Jesus Christ and that he is risen. The first person to proclaim to the world that Christ is risen was a woman.

-- Anonymous, February 16, 2000

I agree with Michael Boggus 2/16/2000 answer. I've recently had the question to me by my daughter. She wanted to know how I felt about women in the ministry. I tried to explain it to her in by example. We all know the story of Jesus' crucifixion. We read that Jesus' disciples were male. They had witnessed all the miracles performed by Jesus. They knew his powers to save. But in Jesus' dying hours on the cross who was there at the foot of the cross, mourning? (Women-Mary, Mary-Magadaline). Where the disciples, we know Judas had hand himself for the betrayal, the men?

What is main purpose of a minister(To Spread the Good News That Jesus Has Risen from the Grave)? Who were the first to discover that Jesus had risen (Women)? Who did Jesus instruct to go tell his disciples that he had risen and where he could be found? Does this sound like the job of a minister, telling the disciples(us) that Jesus had risen and how to find him. That was my answer, women have long been in the minsitry.

I think we have some well qualified women in the A.M.E. Church. Who are capable of filling any position we may have in the A.M.E. Church. I know of one personally, She is Major Oledia Bell, a Chaplain in the Air Force, currently stationed at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. I think this is a name you should file away, because I believe everyone will be hearing of her after her military obligation is completed.

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2000