Roles of Men and Women

By the end of the session you should be able to answer the following: Exam Focus: d) Explain Christian beliefs on the role of men and women in the Church family (6 marks) e) Women should always obey their husbands (12 marks) e) Everyone is equal (12 marks) There are 2 distinct areas that a man and a woman have roles in. 1 – the family 2-the church

The FamilyGeneral There is a belief in equality of all people, however, they may have different views on the roles of men and women in the family. ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ Galatians 3:28 Men and women are to be equally involved in family life. ‘You are not her master but her husband; she was not given to you to be your slave, but your wife’ St Ambrose Some Christians feel that women are meant to be man’s helpers and that the man should lead the marriage relationship. This is because Eve was tempted before Adam. ‘The Lord God said, ‘it is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’.’ Genesis 2:18 Some traditional Christians see a woman’s role to be in the home and the man’s as the main wage earner and provider. Each role is just as valid and important as the other. Roman Catholic Church Sees working in the home as important an role as any career that a person may have. Also feel that no woman should be under pressure for a career if they would rather be a fill time housewife and mother. ‘men should truly esteem and love women with total respect for their personal dignity, and society should create and develop conditions favouring work in the home. ‘ Pope John Paul II

The Christian Family Roman Catholic Church Male only priests and bishops – women are not to be ordained as there were only male disciples. Also Jesus is male, therefore a female cannot represent him during the Eucharist. Priests and Bishops (as with monks and nuns) are to remain celibate as they have dedicated their life to God and no person can come before this. I.e. they are married to Christ and the Church’s work. Women’s roles are as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion or visiting the sick and elderly. Often another role is that of a cleaner or flower arranger etc in the organisation of the church. Church of England Both men and women can become vicars There is disagreement whether an ordained female vicar should become a bishop. Some members of the church feel that this overview role should remain a male role. (There has been a female ordination in Boston, USA in 1989). When women were allowed to become priests, some members of the Church of England left this denomination to join the Roman Catholic Church.

Role of the Priest / Vicar Spend time preparing and celebrating the sacraments Spend time in personal prayer Visit the sick or those who need support Work with different organisations in the parish As he/she is the spiritual leader, they will make themselves available to their community