10. A man’s place is in the army.
9. The pastoral duties of men who have children might
distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.
8. The physique of men indicates that they are more suited
to such tasks as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be
“unnatural” for them to do ministerial tasks.
7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype.
Thus, they represent an experiment rather than the crowning achievement of
creation.
6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their
conduct at football and basketball games demonstrates this.
5. Some men are handsome, and this will distract women
worshipers.
4. Pastors need to nurture their congregations. But this is
not a traditional male role. Throughout history, women have been recognized as
not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted
to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.
3. Men are prone to violence. No really masculine man wants
to settle disputes except by fighting about them. Thus they would be poor role
models as well as dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.
2. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was betrayed by a
man. His lack of faith and ensuing punishment remind us of the subordinated
position that all men should take.
1. Men can still be involved in church activities, even
without being ordained. They can sweep sidewalks, repair the church roof, and
perhaps even lead the song service on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to
such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of
the church.
