Another Female Episcopalian Priest?

The Star-Telegram has informed us of Susan Slaughter’s ordination as an Episcopalian priest (Nov. 14, 16).  She joined over 2,000 other female priests in this denomination.  I find a serious contradiction in this entire event.  Peggy Pate of Arlington stated that Slaughter is “just trying to obey God’s calling.”  Slaughter herself says, “It’s just amazing that God would work in this particular way.”  She went on: “I feel like I was called years ago, and it’s still there.”  Bishop Gulick Jr. asked this new priest, “My sister, do you believe that you are truly called by God and his church to this priesthood,” to which Slaughter answered, “I believe I am so called.”

Friends, it makes no difference if this new Episcopal priest believes that God “called” her and it is not at all important that Gulick or the liberal Episcopalian Church believes the same.  What matters is whether God truly, objectively, told Slaughter to become a priest.  Setting aside the fact that every Christian is a “priest” and no denomination can “ordain” a person to the priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9), the question that needs to be asked is this: If God has already clearly revealed to us that He does not allow a woman to become a pastor, preacher, or overseer, what right do we have—as mere mortals—to rebel against His will in this, and then claim that He is the very One who wants us to disobey His revealed will?  What right does a denomination have to install a woman—Katharine Jefferts Schori—as “Presiding Bishop” of the entire denomination, when the Bible says that a bishop (overseer) must be a man (male) who is “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:1ff; Titus 1:5-7)?

Episcopalians who have any respect for the teaching of Holy Scripture should be reminded of what God says about the public participation of women: “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.  But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Timothy 2:11-12).  Verse 8 says that only men (males) are permitted to pray publicly.  1 Corinthians 14:33-37 says that “women are to keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak.”  Again, how can Slaughter be ordained to the priesthood if she cannot serve in the office publicly (even if it were a Scriptural office)?

It is time for Episcopalians who respect the authority of Scripture to declare this ordination to be an offense against the God who inspired Scripture by the Holy Spirit.  While I am not an Episcopalian, surely the conservatives in Fort Worth are right in their opposition to such a travesty of God’s authoritative Word.

Richard Hollerman