Related to the question: Are women allowed to be pastors?
John, a Catholic Christian, has a dialogue with Bethany, an Anglican Christian, about whether women can be pastors.
John: In the Catholic Church, only men can be ordained priests. This is based on the model of Jesus, who selected only men as his apostles.
Bethany: In the Anglican Church, we ordain both men and women. We view this as consistent with the broader biblical ethos of equality and justice.
John: Our stance is not about inequality, but about different roles. The male priest is seen as representing Christ in a specific way, as per our tradition and interpretation of biblical texts.
Bethany: We interpret those texts in the context of their time and culture. Our interpretation leads us to the inclusion of women in the priesthood as an extension of the gospel's radical inclusivity.
John: We view the priesthood as a sacrament. The male priest, in this sacrament, represents Christ – a tradition rooted in the apostolic lineage.
Bethany: Anglicanism maintains a high view of sacraments but doesn't limit the representation of Christ to males. The call to serve as priests can be experienced by both men and women.
John: The Catholic Church's interpretation of Christ's actions and words in scripture lead us to the conclusion that priesthood is to be male. This is not a judgment of worth or ability, but of divine mandate.
Bethany: The Anglican Church's interpretation of scripture, taking into account cultural context and the progression of revelation, leads us to the inclusion of women in the priesthood. We see it as an evolution of divine understanding.
John: We see the male priesthood as part of the unchanging truth of the faith, something not subject to evolution or change.
Bethany: We see the inclusion of women in priesthood as part of a dynamic faith that grows in understanding, adapting to new revelations and understandings of God's will.
John: Our two traditions interpret the scripture and the role of the priest differently on this matter.
Bethany: Indeed, they do. And it's important to engage in these dialogues to better understand our shared faith and our differences.
