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Letters to the editor: 05/09/02

Women deserve voice in today's church

To the Editor:

I must say that the article in last week's Sylva Herald titled "Baptist committee objects to women in the pulpit" really bothered me.

I Corinthians 14 seems to be a fundamentalist's scripture dream come true for keeping women out of the ministry. I am assuming this is the scripture to which Reverends Ledbetter and Wehunt were referring when they said, "...the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by scripture."

In my opinion these verses are frequently taken out of context. These are Paul's letters to the Corinthians, letters he wrote during a time when women could not speak out because it was against the law. The purpose of Paul's letters was to promote unity within the church and not to teach about a woman's role in the church, for which it is often used. Fundamentalists also take the word "speak" (v. 34) out of context and use it to mean "preach."

I am sure Paul would not expect us to think women should not have a voice in today's church. Laws have changed. It is clear from I Corinthians 11:5 that women prayed and prophesied in public worship. It is also clear in chapters 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ.

Women are always encouraged in the smaller roles of the church. For example, I learned most of my theology from Sunday school and Bible drills, both of which were instructed by women.

Let's be honest. The Tuckaseigee Baptist Association wants to use the scripture as a shield from reality instead of admitting that they do not think a woman is qualified enough to be in the ministry, specifically in the role of a pastor. Although it may be strange to see a woman in the pulpit, we should not say it is wrong, even if the Southern Baptist Convention says it is.

Think for yourself. I've lived here for eight years and it never ceases to amaze me how fired up this community will get over gender-specific issues in houses of worship. Such intolerance slams church doors shut to people seeking faith.

My sister is one of the most Christ-like women I know, and also one of the most knowledgeable Christians I have ever met. She is so knowledgable because my parents, heaven forbid, paid for her to attend seminary so that she could be qualified to be a minister of music (in a Baptist church, as we are Baptist). After seminary, my sister could not find work in North or South Carolina because of closed-minded Christians like those found in the TBA. More Christian women like my sister and Tonya Vickery should feel comfortable in a staff position in our Baptist churches. Women are vital, untapped resource.

But what do I know; I'm just a woman.

Rebecca Short

Whittier

Junkyard discourages visitor

To the Editor:

I was visiting my summer home on Allens Branch Road in Sylva a few weeks ago and noticed the Junk cars along the street. They are not only eyesores, but the cars parked on the side of this very narrow road make it very dangerous to pass.

The children who live in the neighborhood could also be endangered by the cars should broken glass and rusting metal result.

I also have environmental concerns. I fear the groundwater maybe contaminated by old oil and rusting metal. Not to mention my concern that my property value will be lowered as a result of these cars.

I contacted the town zoning department in regards to this matter; as of April 30 nothing had been done to clean this up or to fine the parties responsible.

I know there are ordinances in place to control these matters. My question is this why is someone being excused from abiding the law as others in the community do? I visit North Carolina for the gorgeous mountain views. What I have now is a drive through a junk yard.

Thank you,

Lucinda Babb

Kissimmee, Fla.

'Friendly fire' harming area churches

To the Editor:

A great disservice is being done to the cause of Christ and the mission of the church by those within it whose personal and institutional agendas exclude Christ's spirit of love.

This self-righteous, judgmental battle for power is not limited to any one denomination, but it is so pervasive and so disturbing to me that I've ordered a new book that may help me better understand it. The book is titled "When Bad Christians Happen To Good People" by Dave Burchett (WaterBrook Press).

Far too much damage is being done within the body of Christ by "friendly fire." Far too many are being repelled from the body of Christ by Christians who would rather fight over the proper translation of the Bible than share the good news of love, forgiveness and hope it contains.

I know that my autonomous friends at Cullowhee Baptist Church prayed long and hard and invited the Holy Spirit into the process of calling their new pastors. I rejoice with them that they have found excellent pastoral leadership. I welcome Jeffrey and Tonya Vickery, not only to our community, but into the loving fellowship of Christ which has long been shared between the Cullowhee Baptist and Cullowhee United Methodist churches.

Together, our churches provide an outstanding Vacation Bible School for children of the area each summer. We are linked together in heart and mind as we provide worship, language classes and outreach ministries to Latinos and migrant farm workers each Sunday. We join together in an annual sunrise service each Easter and in "The Trail of Lights" each Christmas. Our senior adults come together for meals and activities. Out of a common spirit of compassion we work together through the Jackson County Christmas Store, United Christian Ministries, the Community Table and Habitat for Humanity.

Cullowhee Baptist Church may be the oldest church in the county, but it imbues a vital, courageous and fresh spirit that dares, with compassion, to confront the true and important issues of our day. I thank God for these friends in Christ and for the ministry and fellowship our churches share.

Frank L. Padgett

Pastor

Cullowhee United Methodist Church

Man, not God, excluded women from the Bible

To the Editor:

In the sixth century there was a power struggle between bishops of the Catholic Church over which early Christian writings should be included or excluded from the Bible. Those which were excluded, and there were many, are now called the Apocryphal books of the Bible.

Since bishops then were probably no more perfect than those today, serious Christians should consider what those other books have to tell us. For example, the Apocryphal books say Jesus had 120 disciples, not just the 12 reported in today's New Testament. They also speak of women disciples.

Even within the New Testament as we have it today, it is clear that Jesus had a high regard for women. If that were not true, He would not have chosen to appear first to a woman after His Resurrection, which was the most important event of His earthly mission.

Those who would relegate women to the back pew of the church need to read the Apocryphal books that man, not God, chose to eliminate from our New Testament.

Yours truly,

Mary Joyce

Sylva

We have more important things to think about

To the Editor:

I find it appalling that the Tuckaseigee Baptist Association has nothing more to think about than whether or not a woman should be in the pulpit.

At a time when our country and our whole planet has air and water so polluted that it's not safe to breathe it or drink it, and at a time when many people are unemployed and don't know where their next meal is coming from, they are making a major issue of something like this.

Why don't they allow churches and individuals to interpret the Scriptures for themselves and get on with the really important things like helping the needy and cleaning up the environment?

Betty Dishman

Sylva

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