Who Is Worthy To Minister? -- By: Madeline S. Johnston

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 13:2 (Spring 1999)
Article: Who Is Worthy To Minister?
Author: Madeline S. Johnston


Who Is Worthy To Minister?

Madeline S. Johnston

Madeline S. Johnston is a free lance author and editor who also serves as faculty advisor for the weekly student newspaper at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. A member of the university’s Women’s Scholarship Committee, she has also been active in promoting the ordination of women in her denomination and is a local elder in the campus church.

Denominations struggle with the role of women in the church. Is it appropriate for women to serve as ministers in God’s church? Are women worthy even to receive ordination as local elders? In some of our churches these questions have never arisen. In others they have long since ceased to be an issue at all. In still others, they are centers of hot debate. Antagonists on both sides continue to marshal arguments in hopes of convincing the church of “the truth.” Some observers of the strength of conviction on both sides fear that this issue could split the Christian community.

Not to worry—we have a precedent. One of the earliest splits in the church, born of uncompromising convictions, came precisely over the issue of who was worthy to minister, and the body of believers survived it! Looking back, historians and theologians view this split as a blessing for the church, because it doubled its ministerial force.

A sharp disagreement arose between good friends, coworkers, and leaders in the church. Their association spanned several seasons and had been cemented by shared hardships as well as mutual joys. It began soon after the Jerusalem church had sent Barnabas to Antioch to investigate reports of many Gentiles joining the church there. Satisfied that these conversions were genuine, but recognizing a need to establish the new believers, Barnabas had gone to Tarsus to find Paul. He brought Paul to Antioch, where together they taught for a whole year (Acts 11:22-26).

Then prophets from Jerusalem came to Antioch, predicting famine (11:27-28). The Antiochan church sent Paul and Barnabas to deliver help to its brothers and sisters living in Judea (11:29-30). After completing their mission, they returned from Jerusalem to Antioch, bringing John Mark with them (12:1-17).

Mark came from a good home and showed promise of becoming a good worker. It was his mother who opened her home for prayer meetings and welcomed Peter there after an angel released him from prison (12:1 ff.).

Later, the Holy Spirit told the Antiochan members to set apart Paul ...

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