For fun

My friend Tyler linked to this amusing piece for a Friday morning titled: Ten Reasons Why Men Should Not Be Ordained For Ministry

10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.
8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited to such tasks as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do ministerial tasks.
7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football and basketball games demonstrates this.
5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women worshipers.
4. Pastors need to nurture their congregations. But this is not a traditional male role. Throughout history, women have been recognized as not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are prone to violence. No really masculine man wants to settle disputes except by fighting about them. Thus they would be poor role models as well as dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a man. His lack of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated position that all men should take.
1. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof, and perhaps even lead the song service on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the church.

14 comments

  1. That is priceless and as you said, good for a chuckle on a Friday. And it truly does make alot of the arguments for “the other way around” sound ludicrous. THis ordained girl read them to her ordained hubby and he laughed too. Hope you don’t mind but I’m spreading this further, linking you in my blog… have a blessed day!

  2. The women are tagging this one all over, eh? I put it on my blog, too – I thought it was hillarious!

  4. This one makes the rounds every so often. I remember the unexpected mass of links I got when I posted it on my own blog almost three years ago. (Actually, I’ve posted it twice. The second time was for an International Women’s Day “Grid Blog” event, which explains some of the attention it got that time.)

    For the record, I first got it from Dr. David Scholer (who will no doubt use it again in his “Women, the Bible and the Church” class at Fuller, which he’s in the middle of teaching for the 30th time!), but Dr. Scholer doesn’t claim to have written it, either. However, I believe his version mentions different sports in item #6. You’ll notice I also used “football and basketball” when I posted it to my blog, but I think the wording here (which differs from mine) is closer to Scholer’s version, which makes me wonder if this bit has just come full circle!

  5. That’s great to know it has ties to Dr. Scholer! He used to teach W,B and the C back at my undergrad in Chicago and I so regret never having taken the course. It was never available when I was actually at Fuller, but I am glad to hear he is teaching it again!

  6. Excellent top 10 list! I’ll keep this one and spread it around, too. There is way too much truth in this! 🙂

    Thanks for the smile this morning.

    I’ve been reading your blog for some time now and just wanted to say ‘hi’.

  8. Hi Anni!

    Thanks for taking the time to say hello 🙂

    Rebecca,

    I appreciated your comment about how men had to stop being tall and decisive…totally made me laugh!

  9. Hee Hee Hee… I think I’ll read this to my students – the topic of men and women in ministry is always coming up.

    At Fuller Seminary, David Scholer once performed this at a Fuller Follies Night. He dressed up as a TV evangelist with purple hair and delivered it in classic TV style.

  11. I don’t get the humor in that list. Joking about the roles of male pastors is very disrespectful to men and God’s church on earth. Maybe it would be more humorous if the subject were a woman pastor. That is, if such things weren’t against all reason and propriety.
    Oh, wait. I’m married to one. 😉

  12. i love this! if i can figure out how to do it, i’m putting it on my blog too. it’s too perfect. fun to see you guys the other day… i look forward to finding out the results!

  13. This is too funny – and believe me, as a woman in ministry I have been given similar arguments over and over. Thanks for the laugh.

  14. obviously, this was written by a woman, Yes God Made Man First, saw that every Animal in the Kingdom had a mate, so ergo , he made a mate for man,
    The Bible also tells us that Adam did not Sin but was in Transgression for Listening to the Woman concerning partaking of the Fruit, instead of following What God had Commanded him. Lets stop putting what we want into the Bible, Gods Word doesnt need you to changs it.

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