Women's ordination articles

There have been some good articles mentioned in the comments recently. Many thanks to commenters. This is a particularly one - Female Ministers - God's Will. (I seem to have lost track of the others.)

This article reminds me of the obituary for Bernice Gerard,

Gerard was involved in Christian-initiated cooperative housing in Richmond and downtown Vancouver. Shiloh Housing was eventually taken over by Broadway Church, her place of worship in later years.

When Parkinson’s Disease began to take its toll on her in 2000, she retired from Sunday Line. When she did appear in public, her gravelly voice was a little thinner; but the glint for Jesus still shone in her eyes.

Bob Burkinshaw, a church historian at Trinity Western University, recalls her as a leader among leaders. “When she walked in, she commanded the room,” he told BCCN.

Burkinshaw said that in working with Bob Birch to encourage the charismatic renewal, she helped bring to Vancouver such international leaders as Michael Green and David Watson, as well as Dennis Bennett, who advanced the movement on the American west coast.

Given such a tireless career in Christ, it’s not hard to understand why Bernice Gerard topped the Vancouver Sun’s 2000 list of the 20th century’s most influential spiritual figures in B.C.

It isn't really a matter of whether God does provide Christian women as leaders in the church, as it is whether the church recognizes these leaders. Fortunately Gerard was very much recognized as a sober and dignified TV evangelist and preacher, as well as someone who was involved in the foundation of up to 200 churches.

On another note, someone was just telling me about their preaching class at Dallas Theological Seminary. When it was her turn to preach, the male students left the room, rather than recognize her. I don't know if this is a common practice there or just an isolated incident.