Excellent! Am happy to see that the UMC (my former denomination) has ordained women for over 50 years. And what does it say when the women are better educated? Women “Rule”.
However the differnce in pay? Typical of a society that still underpays and under rates women in many fields…not just this one.

My guess is that the difference in education has a lot to do with the kinds of churches in question. Protestant churches that don’t allow female clergy are very much more likely to not expect a seminary degree than the mainline denominations that let women in the pulpits. Most female pastors are going to be in churches where seminary education is expected or highly encouraged; many of the men will be in places where “Bible college,” which rarely if ever is even at the level of a typical undergraduate degree, is the normal route.

I admire many of my mainline denominational pastor friends and many of them do a great job. But it amazes me that Jesus would have fallen in the category Nate describes as “which rarely if ever is even at the level of a typical undergraduate degree, is the normal route.”
Such attitudes, no offense Nate are indicators that church is something else other than what it started as like Acts 2 churches. I’ve seen so called pastors refuse speaking engagements because they could get in a 5 star hotel and there was no limo. Back to the topic I think that there are way too many women pastors currently and that is a indication of just how far the church has declined and lost credibility.

Could Jesus get a job as a pastor today?

“……I think that there are way too many women pastors currently and that is a indication of just how far the church has declined and lost credibility.” cknuck
Whoa! Talk about a sexist statement. I know you are conservative but add sexist to that and …sad…really, really sad, though I guess the 2 sentiments can go together.
And of course the churches have gone down hill because of women in the ministry….bull!
Jesus as minister today? If he got a degree maybe…and got Mary M. to help him.

I think most Mainline Churches with male and female Ministers have both undergraduate degrees, and Masters, a few I know have Doctorates. Our Episcopal Church in CA had both Husband and Wife as Priests. Our Methodist Church in midwest had the same. Disciple of Christ Church had both male and female Ministers. UCC has a female Minister. Around these parts it seems pretty balanced. Fundamentalist Churches have the lesser degreed Ministers, by far. My cousins in Texas are both UMC Ministers, husband and wife team. I don’t understand why you think there should be less women in the Ministry Ck. Of course Fundamentalists put women in a lesser esteem in the Church so I guess that is why you have this opinion. Your expression, Nate, that the mainline churches “let” women in their pulpit is so old man. You let the dog in, and the cat out, but you don’t say that about a woman Minister.;)73jey

Interesting that the same people who thought George W. Bush would make a fine president think uneducated people will make fine preachers.
Clearly some of them make successful preachers, but I don’t think higher education necessarily makes people better talkers. But as a preacher should know something about his or her theology and be a councilor and have something of a head for bookkeeping and fund raising and probably several other things I’m not so aware of, it seems to me like they do need a good education.

To lament the increase in the proportion of women among church pastors is mind-boggling. If it is not sexism, it is at least a demonstration of the most hide-bound dogmatism.
As for education for pastors, that is an interesting subject. The clergy can study all kinds of topics in an academic fashion: church history, comparative theology, critical analysis of sacred scriptures, the lives and teachings of church leaders, the impact of religion on culture and history and politics, the responsibilities of a counselor, the practical aspects of an administrater, etc. But one subject that cannot be studied in any academic fashion is God. Well educated priests and pastors can talk with authority about what people have thought about God in the past and in the present, but God cannot even be proven to exist, much less be measured or studied. Sometimes, it seems that obvious point is forgotten as clergy (and non-clergy) make assured and assertive claims about exactly what God likes and dislikes.

My former UMC had a husband/wife team at one time as ministers. Worked well.

nnmns quote “Interesting that the same people who thought George W. Bush would make a fine president think uneducated people will make fine preachers.”
nnmns if you are referring o me you are wrong, I never once voted for Bush and there is no correlation just trying to influence some superstitious nonsense.
To H4C and H22 I don’t care about mainline churches anymore than Jesus did, my statement about the influx of women preachers is relevant to the decrease in male attendance and it has a lot to do with the credibility of the church for our youth. When men disengage homes are affected as well as neighborhoods and ultimately the country. Most of you sound so disconnected.

Hi folks. I’m back from our long lap up the east coast inter-states. Family events and visits went well, good to be away, good to be home.
This is an interesting topic. Our own UCC has at least as many women pastors (“senior pastor” is a curious an valueless distinction) as men. A significant number are serving multi -staffed churches (is That what they mean by “senior”?). I know there is still a stained glass ceiling in many churches, but it is cracking and giving way, simply because there are more women in the ministry of many denominations.
ck wrote,
” I don’t care about mainline churches anymore than Jesus did,”
ck, you need to re-read the gospels again. In many instances Jesus made positive reference to the Temple and its system. He had higher expectations of the priests than the Saducees were willing to allow (and he had a low opinion of them as a result). He used the bride/groom metaphor a couple of times, all positive OT metaphors for Israel’s/God’s relationship. But he also directed some of the people he healed to show themselves to the priest, so they could regain their role in the sanctified community. Jesus did not automatically dismiss anyone. But he did expect them to live as fully as God created them – women and men. He denied NO ONE access or entrance to his gatherings. I truly doubt he would have excluded women from preaching, teaching, healing, or officiating over the sacraments.

Men aren’t going to Church because Women are Ministers? Would never have thought of this, ck, if it weren’t for you. I’ve read recently why Fundamentalist Churches discount Mainline Christian Churches, it’s because we don’t worship and think the same as you, and you far right people are positively sure that you have the one and only way to understand Christianity. You don’t. You sound disconnected to us, also.

Welcome back Jesterfyl! Sounds like you had fun. How’s the health debate going in the eastern states?

j, welcome back! I was hoping you’d show up on this one.
cknuck: “nnmns if you are referring o me you are wrong, I never once voted for Bush”
Good for you! I’d have assumed you did. But I wasn’t just talking about you by any means.

jest as usual another lawyer building a case and leaving out key facts, Jesus rebuked the mainstream more than almost anything else He did He literally called them vipers and snakes because they made it hard for the regular folk. Many of he mainline churches are doing the same they are so far removed they are missing the point. And yes H22 men are leaving the church in droves my friend and women leadership is stepping into place, the causes are too many to mention here as well as the affects. One of the affects I can mention is weaker and misdirected churches. jest Jesus did His most quoted sermon far away from any mainline church and it was in the end the mainline church that set Him up for His death, just as the mainline church is today denying His very deity in many cases. It is good to see you back safe and sound, blessings.

jestrfyl, Glad you had a great visit to my part of the US. As I said on another site (prayer before love)…Good to have your insignt again…as well as your humor.