The Tribune

By Jessye Dowlatt-Moxey

Women, their roles and their plethora of issues, have been a long time favourite topic of mine, ever since I became literate.

The issue of women in church ministry, in particular, has been an issue of debate for as long as I can remember.

Many religious men think that women should keep quiet in church, according to the exhortation of St Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:34: “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak but are to subject themselves.”

Scholars who read wisely would have researched the background as to why this was said by St Paul, to whom and under what circumstances. There are still some people in this modern society who believe that women should not be ministers in church.

Proponents of this view examine the role of a woman, evaluate it in their own way, draw conclusions and make them gospel. The line of thought goes something like this: What time would a woman have for church ministry when she has to be the perfect wife and mother, handle a pregnancy and subsequent child care over an extended period of time? What model of parenthood does a woman project when she leaves her children in a day care centre in order to minister to church members?

When I think of all the other questions that follow this I am appalled and mortified.

In the Bahamas and other Caribbean countries women are the backbone of society. They hold the homes together when the men do not execute their roles as fathers and husbands. Often they work single-handedly to raise the kids when the men gamble, do drugs, when they become addicted to alcohol, when they go sweethearting, when they commit crimes and are imprisoned.

How dare anyone prevent a woman from preaching in a church, from voting, from being a president of a country, a vice president or a doctor? Who knows suffering, sorrow and hard times better than women?

What is the great difference between a female teacher and a male minister? This space would not be adequate for me to even begin to describe the roles of a teacher, especially a female teacher, in the 21st century in many countries.

God made a woman (which was indeed His masterpiece) with that special touch to carry out that job among others. The teacher’s job is to mould young minds, to be role models, to teach, instruct, educate in religious morals, intellectual matters and pursuits. A male minister’s duty in my opinion, seems to have a similar description. What then makes the priesthood or church ministry an office of which a woman is not worthy?

The school, home and church are three institutions that are responsible for the dissemination of various aspects of training in the lives of both the young and old.

When it comes to school there is no question whether or not teachers should be male or female. Many years ago, however, some schools could only be headed by a man. It was hilarious to me when I visited a rural school in Jamaica decades ago and the head was referred to as “man teacher”. You see, he was the one who wielded the discipline, he was harsh, rough, severe and unapproachable. He was revered by everyone.

In this 21st century, teaching as well as preaching have taken on different faces. In many societies women are the ones who are holding the reins of education. Women also hold many positions in the church. They are leaders, deaconesses, evangelists etcetera. What on earth would make anyone believe they should not be ordained and assume great leadership positions as their male counterparts do?

Whatever made St Paul make that remark forbidding women not to teach or have authority depended on a number of factors. First and foremost, it certainly depended on the period in which the Bible was recorded. It was the order of that day that women take inferior positions. Women in the Bible were highly discriminated against. Jacob had 12 sons, he had daughters too; Father Abraham had many sons, he had daughters as well. The writers of the Bible had to conform to the norm, but things and times have changed drastically and dramatically since then. How can anyone in their right mind rebuke a woman from tending to a flock of weak sinful souls? We must change with the times and I am delighted to observe that in many societies women have the freedom of preaching the gospel and taking care of the lost sheep.

Women are assets to the church. They are more sensitive, more prone to forgive (a trait that Jesus himself emphasised), more loyal and dedicated. Look at how a woman tends to her baby. Look at the deep pain that is experienced when things go wrong. Look at the pain and suffering of child birth. These are the qualities that define a woman, making her eligible for playing a great part in church ministry. Men may ask the question, how can a woman fulfil her marriage vows to be a loyal wife and mother and be an ordained minister at the same time? May I ask, how can a man fulfil his marriage vows and be a loyal husband and father when he is an ordained minister? Children are left at day care centres all over the world while women and men preach and teach. What makes one eligible and the other ineligible?

• Jessie Dowlatt-Moxey is a teacher of English language and literature with the Ministry of Education. She holds a Master of Arts and will be pursuing her doctorate.