Role of widows and divorced women in the congregat

[Mark]

Since the word of a widow or divorced woman is binding upon herself, does she have equal say (vote) in the congregation as that of the men?

Or should women vote in the business of the congregation at all?

But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
(Numbers 30:9)

[vegangirl]

I have posted something here and now its gone? why?

[Mark]

Hi Bri'gette,

The only thing that I can figure is that when I was exploring around in my new-found administrator functions I accidently bumped something and you fell off the site completely. I deeply apologize and would ask that you go ahead and re-post your comments.

Mark

[vegangirl]

Okie dokie ...

I think I said that widow or divorced woman should beable to vote in the congregation we should be as equal as any one.. Divorce happens and widows can't help if there husband dies.

Why are the women thats been divorced binding upon herself? or bound their souls shall stand against her.

God forgives people that has been divorced.

[Mark]

I was speaking with a Mennonite fellow some time ago and the subject of women's role in the congregation came up. He was adamant that women must be under the authority of their husbands. Iasked, "Do women vote in your Church?" He said, "of course, everyone has a vote in the Church." I concluded, "Then, if there are more women in the Church than men, women rule the Church." He was hot.

The whole voting thing, tomy mind, is usually a bit silly. Quite honestly, if we focusing on the things that Messiah has told us to do and living obediently to the commands laid out in the Scriptures, there are not a whole lot of decisions that need to be made.

Yet, this side-steps the question as to whether the divorcee or widow should be, in effect, treated as a second-class citizen.

It may be noteworthy that Titus 2:3 doesn't distinguish the marital status of the "older women" who are to take charge of leading the younger (a distinction that would have been very easy in Greek).

Is divorce wrong? Absolutely and without exception; but it is a wrong that is an unavoidable reality among us; and very often the conclusive victimization of two people after a long pattern of refusing to live biblically on either or both parts. It is not our position to condemn not judge any person on the basis of what was or what has occurred in their lives. Are fornicators or idolaters more acceptable in the community of Messiah because they have remained married to the same person, legally, for a number of years? The truth is that we are all sinners. We need to get over the idea that your sin is worse than my sin.

[vegangirl]

So sin is just plan sin no matter what kind of sin.. Its all the same?

Well I know many people that have been divorced 2 times and then marry again.. and there christians... This is a thing because they must not fear God enough to work it out.. Who knows. I just think people should never judge each one another we never know it could happen to any one..