Women In Church

  Just looking historically, In the Jewish tradition, women were not allowed to participate as leaders. In the time of Jesus there was some loosening in the Roman world where women were able to excel in certain areas,  especially the upper class women. Of course the poor women of the low classes worked, it was a necessity. 

In some ways Jesus broke the mold of bias against women. Contrary to Jewish tradition, he talked to women in public, scandiously to women he didn't even know or who were of ill repute, and he had women friends, as well as some women in his following.

Paul praised women, even calling one of them an apostle. And he declared that in Christ there is no male or female slave or free etc. His writings seem to argue both directions, but mostly it's because of pseudo Pauline writings.   Later works that were written in his name, but not written by him, such as the Timothy s and Titus, spoke harshly against women doing anything in church.

In the beginning of the Jesus Movement, some women had a fairly prominent role, at least more than in most society. But by the end of the second century, that was obliterated. 

That was one of the points of debate among the Orthodox and the Gnostic leaders. The Orthodox position was very patriarchal, arguing that God was male, and they argued from Genesis two rather than Genesis 1. Gnostics argued from Genesis one, and they placed women, for the most part in places where they rose and were encouraged to become prophets and to participate in the sacraments, even lead the sacraments,  and also preach. This was pne of the reasons the Orthodox were horrified and declared them heretics. Plus the Gnostics saw God as the masculine and feminine principle. Being creative by birthing all of creation was the feminine aspect, and thinking it up in the 1st place was the male aspect.

There were other distinctions of course. For More details, I recommend Elaine Pagel's book on the "Gnostic Gospels".

The orthodox thinkers and leaders called everyone who disagreed with them heretics and in some cases put severe penalties upon them, even imprisoning them or having them executed. The early orthodox writings used extremely negative violent words and of actions upon those who disagreed with them, excommunication, shunning, even torture. It took centuries for women to gain agency in churches again. Even today there are some churches who do not know history Do not recognize the origins of the Jesus movement as pro or at least inclusive of the feminine.. And so still in some churches today women are a subservient and substandard species not able to lead or preach or teach. Some profess women must be subservient.to men. 

History Can be our teacher, if we pay attention to it. I think it's time that we let go of the ancient irrational patriarchy and realize God created us all, male and female.