An Understanding of the Times

Headship Symbol and Challenge

Duane Aubin

June 1999 Revised August 2003

of the children of Issacher, who had an understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command. I Chronicles, 12:32, NKJV. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11, KJV.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 HEADSHIP A SYMBOL OF THE GODHEAD .............................................................................................................. 4

CAN EQUALITY AND SUBORDINATION PEACEFULLY CO-EXIST? .................................................................................... 4 THE IMAGE OF GOD .......................................................................................................................................... 5 AT CREATION .................................................................................................................................................. 5 AT THE FALL ................................................................................................................................................... 6
CHALLENGE ............................................................................................................................................................... 7

AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMES ...................................................................................................................... 7 THE FALL REVISITED ........................................................................................................................................ 7 SIS. WHITE ON EQUALITY, HEADSHIP, INSUBORDINATION AND ORDINATION. ................................................................. 8 Equality ................................................................................................................................................... 8 Headship ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Insubordination ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Ordination ............................................................................................................................................... 8 WHAT SHOULD WE DO? .................................................................................................................................... 9 VOCABULARY PRIMER ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Ordination ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Subordination ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Insubordination ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 10 THE EMPOWERMENT OF SUBORDINATION ............................................................................................................ 10 THE DOUBLE HUMILITY OF HEADSHIP AND SUBORDINATION .................................................................................... 11 A FINAL CONSIDERATION ................................................................................................................................. 11
APPENDIX ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

ACKNOWLEDGING AND DISMISSING OLD ARGUMENTS .............................................................................................. 12 Old Arguments Against WO ................................................................................................................... 12 Old Arguments For WO .......................................................................................................................... 12

Headship Symbol and Challenge

Introduction
This study on headship was initiated by a desire to better understand the arguments for and against Womens Ordination (WO) in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I was a proponent of womens ordination (WO). In fact, not only was I single when I was ordained as an elder in 1992, among my colleagues was a women who carries herself to this day with a Christian dignity paralleled by few Ive ever met, including myself. Obviously, my pastor at that time was a proponent of WO, and still is, as far as I know. There has been a push of varying degrees for WO in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for over 100 years. The North American Division (NAD) has in the last 10 years clearly voiced its view to the world church NAD is pro-WO. Even though I have been a passive proponent of WO, it was due primarily to trusting that the reason my pastor and mentor was pro-WO was sufficient for me that WO was right. Ive gathered information on both sides of the issue. Ive read the product of both scholars and laypeople. As they gathered their information and distilled from their wider reading the strongest points for their arguments, their distillations were my wider reading. In addition to this arm of the research, I also did my own studying. Ive chosen not to present the findings in a scholarly format, hoping rather that the informal tone will make for more comfortable reading. I should also clarify that my position is still tentative. I havent finished studying yet. The material presented is but a gist there are so many texts and ideas that could stand far more academic rigor.Im working on itin the meantime, the following is my progress so far. As is the case in any discussion, there will be those who both agree and disagree. Either way, I hope you are able at least to recognize the sincerity in the conclusions. Above this, I hope you are able to see the love of God shining through. And I welcome your feedback. Duane Aubin aubin@oughtthoughts.com

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Headship a Symbol of the Godhead

Can Equality and Subordination Peacefully Co-exist?
Based on the material Ive read, I think its safe to conclude that the chief argument for WO is that women and men are equal, and equality cannot support subordination. Its either/or if we are equal, there can be no subordination; if there is subordination, we cannot be equal. I found, however, that the Godhead appears to indeed support both equality and subordination in harmony. And we are made in Gods image. Let me explain. As Christians, we believe that there are three persons of the Godhead Father, Son, and Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit). We also contend that these three persons are equal to each other. Yet, when we consider such texts as Philippians 2:5-11; John 14:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 15:2728, we see that the Son is subordinate to the Father. Consider the point Paul is making in Philippians 2:5-11, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." He waived His rights and accepted abasement, and in due time God exalted Him. The harmonious co-existence of equality and subordination can be illustrated by sports or music. Consider a football team. All of the teammates are equal members of the team, yet, in order to win a game, they must assume positions or roles that work together, and they work together by not doing the same thing. A quarterback is a player on the team as is the wide receiver. Both equal players, but one is to throw the ball, one is to catch the ball. Having the quarterback both throwing and catching would be senseless. Or, consider the running back, who takes handoffs behind the line of scrimmage and must run through whatever hole the play is designed to attack. He cant just take the ball and do his own thing, because the linemen are blocking to open a particular lane through which he should run. If he does his own thing, he lets the rest of the team down because the play was not designed to go that way. While he thought he was maximizing his potential and demonstrating his abilities and freedom of choice, in fact he was only showing his selfish disinterest in the good of the team, and he sits on the bench. Looking at the members of a band, all are equal, yet all dont play the same instrument. Not only do they not all play the same instrument, they dont even play the same notes. The bass line is different from the piano, different from the brass, different from percussion. Yet, brought together by the conductor, we hear beautiful music. And, the conductor is the leader, but hes no more equal than the other members of the band. In order to make beautiful music, the drummer doesnt try to push over and play the melody, and the trumpet isnt trying to lay down the rhythm. What results then, is a reasonable distinction between status and role. The members of the Godhead are equal in status, but ordinate in roles. Ordination in role is not antagonistic to equality in status. This union of equality in nature and subordination in function clearly did not hinder Christ from filling his office and administering his responsibilities. Subordination did not compromise Christs status as an equal member of the Godhead. In fact, we should ask the question, WHY would the Son have to accept this role? The answer appears to be, in order to make salvation possible for us. There was put in place a plan that required this sacrifice. The Godhead made the image of

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Himself with this plan built into our design, so that we bear in our nature both the marks of creation and redemption. How this is so is a part of the mystery of the nature of God, and the mystery of the Incarnation, that Christ could be fully God, yet fully man; fully equal, yet fully subordinate. Further, it is this context in which Paul comments that we should let this mind be in us that was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:5. While He was equal with God, yet He did not assert His equality to the extent that it should risk the equally important facet of His subordination. He recognized the importance of the balance of both facets. Later in the text, we read that God exalted Christ above every other name. He abased himself at the first, accepting his subordination, and afterward was exalted above all others. Think of it. Christ had a right to recognition as equal in the Godhead. But, he did not choose to exercise his rights. We sing how He could have called ten thousand angels it was his right. He waived his rights, however, in order to fill his role in the plan of salvation, which was the purpose of the subordination in the first place. And He asks us to recognize this design, and choose to reflect it.

The Image of God

If this duality of equality and subordination is a part of the nature of God; and if man (, anthropos, male and female made He themand called their name Adam, Genesis 5:1-3) was made in Gods image; to what other conclusion can I arrive but that God fashioned the male/female relationship to reflect both the equality and the subordination in the Godhead?

At Creation
Some argue that the issue of headship finds its beginning as a result of sin. Paul gives us his reason for expressing care of the headship: he does not cite the fall at all rather he cites creation, 1 Corinthians 11:2-12, " Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God." 1 Corinthians 11:8-9 (subordination) and vv. 11-12 (equality). And Paul calls it an ordinance, something we do that symbolizes something deeper. Consistent with Philippians 2, we again see the partnering of these two concepts. Clearly they are not competitive -- rather, they are complimentary (as the relationship between male and female are also intended to be). Looking at Genesis 1, we read the first account of creation that includes the Godhead saying "Let us make man in our own image...", demonstrating the unified decision-making of the Godhead. Anthropos (humanity) will be in "our image" not in "one of our images" and that anthropos is both male and female (Genesis 5:1-3). The unity and equality of the image, male and female, is an intended reflection of the unity and equality of the members of the Godhead. Genesis 2, however, makes many distinctions between the male and the female. Furthermore, the name for God changes to zero in on one of the personages, the Father. Here we see one member of the Godhead functioning in his role, and ordaining the image accordingly. And, we see the male functioning independent of the female, assuming a role she does not share. Aubin Page 5 of 12

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Ultimately, in these two accounts of creation we see resonating support for a duality of equality/subordination in the Godhead, and in its image.

At the Fall
Before we look at what Satan said to Eve, we should notice that Satan approached Eve alone, without the male. The entire context of the temptation is tinged with this probable reality - Satan apparently felt it advantageous not to have to face a united image, but a divided image could more easily be toppled. Let's look closely at the crux of the issue as Satan presented it. He questioned Eve as to whether all the trees in the garden were "equal." She responded by saying "no, there is one tree that God has set lower than the others." In a word, this tree had been subordinated. The serpent responds, "this tree isn't lower, in fact it's higher than them all!" Why is the serpent antagonistic of the tree's subordination? Lucifer was ejected from heaven for insubordination! It's at the root of the entire problem Satan has with God Lucifer himself was not content with his station, his rank in the order in heaven. He felt he was entitled to more, to a higher station. The tree of knowledge of good and evil was a symbol of the woman. As the tree was in the midst of the garden, so was Eve taken from the midst of the male. As the tree was a little lower than the other trees, so was Eve subordinated to the male in role. To promote something above God's design is not to His honour and glory. It is insubordination, it is idolatry, it is putting something before God. Insubordination is the main thrust of Jude's letter. Ambition and dissatisfaction with one's station is at the heart of the entire issue. This was Lucifer's problem, and he antagonized the image on this very point. Successfully. Before I undertook this study for myself, I simply trusted that Paul's citation of creation had to be right. Based on my look at the creation account, I now believe I know that it was right. Headship is in the creation of humanity because it's a critical part of our being made in the image of a God who himself is a harmony of equality and subordination.

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Challenge
An Understanding of the Times
I used the New King James Version to present 1 Chronicles 12:32 on the contents page to avoid any misuse of the KJV use of the term men. The issue was not whether the chiefs were male, but to highlight that they were in position to lead out, knowing what ought to be done, because of their understanding of the times. There seems to be a valuable connection between knowing what to do and understanding the times play a role in determining what should be done. Although WO has been supported by various groups in the SDA Church over the last 120 years, I dont think anyone would argue against my perception that the NAD is a leader in the effort to have the world church through the GC in session endorse WO. The West has a long history of social consciousness. Concepts of freedom, the fight against child labour, progressive interpretations of a decent workday, human rights, suffragettes and the demonstrations on behalf of minorities has yielded many results. Yet, anyone in the struggle for equality knows that, even within the church, we still have ground to cover. On the other hand, a freedom pervades western society that is not altogether virtuous. There are pressures in western society that pervert and distort the concept of family, that Christians should take personally and offensively, especially as we observe that the family is the first and supreme institution of God. Fashion continuously presents styles of attire that can be worn equally by men and women. Women are encouraged to be more aggressive, like men, while men are encouraged to get in touch with their feminine side, There is currently research being conducted to have a male gestate a fetus to term and give birthand the same-sex marriage issue is bursting to the forefront at the highest levels of government. This tendency towards convergence, this distorting and blurring of the distinction between male and female is seen as progressive by the worldly, but to a Christian it perhaps should be mistrusted as an attack on the institutions and ordinances of God, designed to point to His creative and salvific efforts; more than this, it ought to be considered an affront to God directly, a rejection of His authority as Creator and Redeemer.

The Fall Revisited

Which takes us back to Genesis 3:16. The curious curse of Eves desire and the husbands rule is not a sentence, as though imposed by God as the punishment for their transgression. God is tipping them off as to what they should come to expect as a consequence of their actions. We know that the wage of sin is death, but we also know that sin has consequences beyond the wage itself. Banishment from the garden was a consequence, and weve never returned, despite Gods saving grace and ransom paid. The plan of salvation will ultimately deal with sin and its wage and its consequences, but until glorification, the consequences are still a natural part of our lives. As Paul calls it an ordinance, we do it as we would other ordinances, to show the Lords coming. The understanding of this odd phraseology is unlocked in the original language when compared to that of Genesis 4:7, which is the only other place in the entire Bible where this phrase is ever used. God tells Cain that sin desires him, it is stretching out beyond its normal grasp, and he would have to rule over it. Sin wanted to overcome Cain, and Cain would have to gird himself up and kick and fight against sin to prevent it. Looking back to Genesis 3, we now grasp that God was telling them, because of sin, the harmony that I intended is lost, and what will ensue is a battle of the sexes, as women seek to overcome men, and men will gird themselves up and kick and fight to prevent this. It is neither impossible nor unreasonable to suggest that the groundswell of an equality that at the same time rejects subordination could be a manifestation of this so-called curse. Given the scope of my total findings, I have now come to this conclusion. I believe that, as Satan employed the alluring power of insubordination at the first, he is redeploying it at the last.

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Sis. White on Equality, Headship, Insubordination and Ordination. Equality

"When God created Eve, He designed that she should possess neither inferiority nor superiority to the man, but that in all things she should be his equal. Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 484.

Headship
"The Lord has constituted the husband the head of the wife to be her protector; he is the houseband of the family, binding the members together, even as Christ is the head of the church and the Saviour of the mystical body. Let every husband who claims to love God carefully study the requirements of God in his position. Christ's authority is exercised in wisdom, in all kindness and gentleness; so let the husband exercise his power and imitate the great Head of the church." The Adventist Home, p. 215.

Insubordination
"Eve had been perfectly happy by her husband's side in her Eden home; but, like restless modern Eves, she was flattered with the hope of entering a higher sphere than that which God had assigned her. In attempting to rise above her original position, she fell far below it. A similar result will be reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in accordance with God's plan. In their efforts to reach positions for which He has not fitted them, many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a blessing. In their desire for a higher sphere, many have sacrificed true womanly dignity and nobility of character, and have left undone the very work that Heaven appointed them." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 59.

Ordination
"Women who are willing to consecrate some of their time to the service of the Lord should be appointed to visit the sick, look after the young, and minister to the necessities of the poor. They should be set apart to this work by prayer and laying on of hands [ordination]. In some cases they will need to counsel with the church officers or the minister; but if they are devoted women, maintaining a vital connection with God, they will be a power for good in the church," The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 9, 1895, p. 434.

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What Should We Do?

I believe that the world church has a unique and special opportunity, chiefly through the members of the NAD, to let the light of our message shine. While other progressive theologians and laypeople throughout Christendom call for WO as a statement of equality, I think that the SDA Church in the NAD should not join them in that struggle. As more attention to this issue grows, we have the unique challenge of maintaining the image of God, the reflection of both the equality and subordination that we believe peacefully co-exists among the members of the Godhead. We were made in the image of God, and it is our reason for being that we continue to reflect God in our being. To perpetuate this symbol in the context of a society that challenges every point of Biblical faith is among the chiefest opportunities to be peculiar people. It becomes most appropriate that the NAD continue its position of leadership if the world church, through NAD, withstand the eloquent, impassioned and not-wholly-without merit arguments to leave off this intriguing symbol, it can face the new millennium with a strengthened confidence and resolve to do the will of God. Equality for women is not yet complete. I fully agree with this conclusion based on an observation of how we do things in society and in the church. Yet, I now believe that ordaining women, for the clerical ministry, is not a positive step in the walk towards equality. We know that Sis. White did indeed encourage ordination for women but not necessarily to a pastoral role. Thus, we can, and should, ordain women to ministry. But, in the sacrificial effort to maintain the reflection of Gods harmonious equal and subordinate facets, we follow the account of our nature. We are the supreme image of God, yet we read that we were made a little lower than the angels. Thus, we are sub-ordinated, we are elevated and ordained as Gods image, yet sub-ordained below angels.

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Vocabulary Primer
Here are my definitions of these three related words.

Ordination
- to be given some authority.

Subordination
- to be put under authority.

Insubordination
- to be defiant or unwilling to submit to authority.

Summary
At the root of all these is the concept of authority, or "lines of communication" as another way to talk about order and rank. Thus, when we speak of ordination, we cannot do so outside this context, and certainly not wholly independent of order, rank, and some form of subordination. We in the Seventh-day Adventist Church already demonstrate an understanding that there are different roles to which a person can be ordained. Being ordained an elder is no "promotion" above the ordination to the deaconate. Elders and deacons have different roles that require a form of order and ranking, but all the people occupying these offices are equals, as is a coach and a football player, although the player takes direction from the coach. In the absence of the pastor, an elder acts as the pastor, but an elder does not hold all the rights and privileges of the pastor -- the ordination to eldership is not a free pass to the office of pastor. When a pastor is ordained, he still works within the lines of communication in the conference (we don't use the term bishop denominationally, but that's basically what the conference president -or perhaps at least, the ministerial secretary -- is, an overseer of the spiritual leadership in the region). And so on up to the union, division...ultimately even the president of the General Conference is supposed to be lead by...someone...and we usually consider his earthly head to be a general conference in session. Ultimately, all of us, from the GC president to the local deacon, are sinners, in need of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus who Himself is equal to God but subordinated in role, in a line of communication in which he answers to the Father alone, and from whom all his authority has been given. All of us are in a position to have to submit to "his head," even Christ. Choosing to do so is not a statement of weakness or inferiority, but of empowerment.

The Empowerment of Subordination

Female and male are equal. Both have been subordinated, both have heads. Being invited to accept this is a statement of empowerment, not of weakness or inferiority. God recognizes our freedom to choose whether to accept or reject it. We have that power. Accepting subordination is a declaration that one has freely chosen. However, that power of choice doesnt mean any choice is a good one, any more than Adam and Eves power of choice rendered their decision to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil good. Virtue is not so much in exercising freedom and choice, but in making the right choice. Romans 6:16-18, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Aubin Page 10 of 12

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The Double Humility of Headship and Subordination

Leadership in the church is increasingly becoming something of a meritocracy, where people feel they win nominations based on their ability to do the job relative to other candidates. Yet, throughout salvation history, God has demonstrated that, often, a person's calling to do something has nothing to do with their ability to do it. - indeed, God has often called people who were not capable, but were empowered by God to meet His request. Men and women are equal and, with the exception of the average physical task, the average woman is as capable as the average man of doing what God requires. A man should therefore stand before a congregation mindful that half the congregation could do his job but have chosen to decline to compete with him. This should prompt an overwhelming sense of humility when he looks at himself, and respect (the utmost) when he looks at the women. If a man stands before a congregation with pride in his abilities, this litmus test may be applied to demonstrate that, in fact, he may not be fit for the job! (to represent Christ is to attempt to represent the perfect standard of humility - there can be no exaltation of self). Further, a woman who accepts subordination to a man knows that it is not a statement of her inability to do whatever it is he's doing. She could step up, but declines. A man who accepts subordination to Christ knows that he cannot step up, and so has no opportunity even to decline. If he demonstrates that profound humility and respect, then women too should respond to his humble leadership with humility and respect as well. The cycle in play is about esteeming others above ourselves why, Paul preambles with this very thought in Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves"! In other words, a woman is once humbled by NOT aspiring above the ordinance, sacrificially accepting subordination to the man without taint of inability to aspire. A man, on the other hand, is once humbled looking to a woman knowing she just might be more capable than he, and twice humbled looking to Christ knowing he is unequivocally incapable of aspiring to do what Christ did for us! Angels are neither proud to be a little above us, nor jealous that we are God's image. Such concerns are the product of Lucifer. Arguments of superiority/inferiority should never occur at our human level. Men and women were made equal, together "a little lower than the angels," yet together "in the image of God."

A Final Consideration
The humility of Christ is a major theme of Philippians. After recommending us to have that mind in us that was also in Christ, Paul confesses his desire to know himand the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil. 3:10). I believe that the Godhead harmoniously balances equality and subordination and that our being made in Gods image calls for the symbol of headship. It is an empowering position, because individuals have the choice to submit to headship or not. But the appeal is that we have this mind in us that Christ did, for the job at hand, to reveal God and his salvific plan. Bible students generally recognize that the church was based on a model typified by the home (especially given that the family as an institution predates any sense of church). In the early church, the relationship between the home and the church was such that the absence of much New Testament material about family life is explained by the observation that the much material about the church applied equally to the home, for indeed the material to the church was based on the knowledge of the home. This suggests that the symbol of headship woman, man, Christ, God applies equally to the home, and to the church. Let us retain the symbol equality and subordination in co-existence of our Creator and Redeemer. Aubin Page 11 of 12

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Appendix
Acknowledging and Dismissing Old Arguments
First of all, I am not going to attempt to oppose WO based on a few of the more common interpretations of a few key texts; in fact, I think that these interpretations should be discarded altogether. Nor will I delve deeply into any of them chances are, if youve had any interest in this issue, youve heard at least one of them before, and they are readily available.

Old Arguments Against WO

must be the husband of one wife. The clear observation is that this text is never used to declare an elder or pastor must be married (must be a husband). A better understanding is that this text simply expresses concern for a candidate of monogamous fidelity, not an issue of gender qualification. Keep silence. Again, this text is not used to suggest women cannot teach in church, our sabbath schools are full of sisters who teach the Word beautifully. The idea that this text is concerned with under-education, as though all women in general could be assumed to be under-educated, is silly; there were just as many under-educated men, but the text does not say I permit no undereducated person to teach an educated person. disciples were all men. I cant understand how this reasoning persists. If this excludes women, doesnt it also exclude Americans? Granted, Americans werent there at that time for Christ to overlook; however, there were both Jews and Gentiles, and Gentiles were overlooked. Following the all men interpretation is only consistent if we follow an all Jewish interpretation. When I look around, I see that we dont.

Old Arguments For WO

By the same token, there are arguments used by WO proponents that are equally of little merit, in my opinion

Galatians 3:28. A poor understanding of literalism may be at fault for presuming that the term there is no difference effectively eliminates distinction. Obviously this text does not mean that Jews and Greeks, or Canadians and Americans, or British and Scottish, or Jamaicans and Bahamians, are without difference. Further, those who might support homosexual marriage would cite this text, to which the average fundamentalist would disapprove. Ultimately, however, the issue is that there is equality, in terms of salvation itself, through Christ. Pauls use of the body as an allegory is apt though all are one, and of equal value in the body, certainly the shape and function of an eye and an ear are different. preventing WO is preventing development of ministry. Sis. White remained unordained, yet her leadership in the church was strong and enduring. Surely this testifies that the church is not opposed to women taking their place in ministry. Further, along with all the other prominent women the WO proponents can list, it shows that these women were/are quite able to perform without the ordination; and during times with less freedom and rights than women rightly enjoy today.

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