Should Bible colleges have women serve as chapel speakers?

Thanks for the link. Is there an audio file that accompanies it?

I don’t know, Brenda.

In my opinion preaching isn’t necessarily using a text. (good preaching is) but based off of a sermonic proposition such as God says this so therefore you MUST do this. Teaching about God would be using texts and teaching about them.

I don’t want to get this too far off track, but can you defend this notion from Scripture?

The pdf of the slides appears to accompany this audio

http://seminary.wcts1030.com/resources/mp3-audio/203-evangelical-femini…

Along this line of thought, what is the dividing line for women in the church then. Someone has mentioned missionaries, but what about music? We have women sing music individually and in groups. Since this isn’t for entertainment purposes, doesn’t it fall under the “leading in worship” umbrella? What about having a woman give testimony? If this is for edification of the gathered saints, is it substantially different from presenting a lesson? What about “leading” in prayer?

The dividing line is authority. If something is authoritative it is wrong. I don’t think missionary presentations are using the Word of God authoritatively, I would say that is true for music as well as giving testimonies.

The dividing line is authority. If something is authoritative it is wrong. I don’t think missionary presentations are using the Word of God authoritatively, I would say that is true for music as well as giving testimonies.

I don’t know if this is an answer to me or not, but if it is, it is a non-starter. Can you defend the notion that preaching is authoritative and teaching is not from Scripture? In other words, can you use Scripture to show that preaching is authoritative and teaching isn’t?

The Zichtermans must find this direction so ironic and affirming of the some of the issues they expressed disagreement with so many years ago.

Just watched about 10 minutes of this chapel speaker. I’ve never heard of her before.

Sure looked/sounded like preaching to me. Doesn’t matter if it is in a church setting or not, i.e. a church retreat or at Bible camp.

If she had simply given her testimony and a presentation of her ministry with a bible verse that was an encouragement to her - no problem.

But that was not at all what she was doing. She sounded/acted/spoke just like any other regular chapel or church preacher I’ve ever heard.

NIU, what are you doing? What’s next, a student body dance? As long as the music is Christian and we are celebrating Jesus, it’s ok, right?

Well, things were going better earlier in the thread. I think there are some entirely legit. theological and philosophical questions. I had several female profs at BJU back in the day and of course they used Scripture in the classroom occasionally… and maybe even got a little ‘preachy’ now and then. There is a difference between the authority of an instructor and that of a local church pastor/teacher. Chapel isn’t quite classroom but it isn’t Sunday morning worship either.

I’m for letting folks do what they believe is right in this area and let the Judge of All the Earth do the judging.

(Lately, I feel like I have bigger problems to handle than getting worked up about what one school or another does w/its chapel hour)

But this story is two things:

1. It is news about NIU
2. It is a matter of significant debate in evangelicalism, has not really been a matter of debate in fundamentalism, with possible gray areas being the “missionary testimonies” and classroom instruction as you mention

I’m not particularly worked up about this story, but it is interesting. The ensuing debate shows, I think, that it isn’t a slam dunk among us like it used to be.

I reached out to some highly placed people at Northland and they are going to get back to me. I’m not sure that this is a clear case of NIU deciding to have a “woman preacher” speak during chapel and would be floored - floored - if that was the decision they made. NIU does not hold to an egalitarian position on headship and theological leadership.

Some of you may not be as…forgiving…as I am, but I do think this is a huge PR problem at a minimum and don’t want to assume the worst without getting their side of the story first.

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. - Proverbs 18:17

[Larry]

The dividing line is authority. If something is authoritative it is wrong. I don’t think missionary presentations are using the Word of God authoritatively, I would say that is true for music as well as giving testimonies.

I’m sorry but that is not what I meant. I do believe teaching is authoritative. What I was saying is that preaching isn’t defined by using a Scripture passage in a response to a post above.

I don’t know if this is an answer to me or not, but if it is, it is a non-starter. Can you defend the notion that preaching is authoritative and teaching is not from Scripture? In other words, can you use Scripture to show that preaching is authoritative and teaching isn’t?

Daniel Patz put this on his blog (reproduced in full):

College Chapel and “Women Preachers”

Posted on April 23 in Northland, Theology

I shared a version of the following statement to Northland’s Faculty and Staff this morning. I also shared this with Dr. Lina AbuJamra, and she is supportive of me sharing this with you.

Earlier this semester, I asked Dr. Lina AbuJamra to share her testimony for the benefit of our students; she did so on Tuesday, April 22. Dr. AbuJamra has an incredible story. Her family emigrated from Lebanon when she was a child, and her life was powerfully impacted by Northland Camp both as a camper and as a staff member. She is a brilliant and godly woman. She is a pediatric ER doctor in Chicago, a Christian author, a popular women’s speaker and a Northland board member. Dr. AbuJamra is both fiery and passionate and serves as an outstanding role model for our students as a disciple of Jesus. I shared with Dr. AbuJamra my position on women and preaching; she agreed and told me that she would not preach. I trust Dr. AbuJamra’s heart. She is a godly woman, and I have much respect for her. She has a great message to share, and she shared some very needed things with our students and staff yesterday.

Apart from being personally jealous of how good of a communicator she is, I do agree that the tone and direction of her testimony was more than I anticipated and expected. I am not referring to its rich biblical content, but that it was closer to what we call preaching or heralding the Word than I was comfortable with in that setting. This is true especially given how we have traditionally used chapel in the history of Northland.

While the Lord used this to bless many students and staff (they have shared this with me), I also know that there have been some concerns. Are we embracing a form of egalitarianism? Are we going to encourage our lady students to be preachers? No. We are, however, wanting to teach all of our students, including women, to think well, to love God’s Word, to serve others, and to connect with others in all types of settings.

The college chapel setting is not the church; this is different than a local church congregational gathering. Often we consider chapel as a type of convocation. This was communicated in the introduction (not on livestream) to students on Monday and Tuesday morning.

However, I am concerned that we don’t practice or communicate something that we most certainly do not believe. I do not believe God has called women to the primary teaching and preaching ministry of the church as elders/pastors. I believe this, because I believe everything that Paul taught in the NT on this subject. I am strongly complementarian in conviction, and I do not believe women should preach in Northland chapel. I do believe that God does brilliantly gift women to know God’s Word and to communicate it effectively in so many ways.

Dr. AbuJamra wanted to minister to students from the testimony of her life and the Word of God. I think she blessed many, many people. Dr. AbuJamra shares my complementarian conviction as well. If there is anyone to blame, it would be me for not better considering the setting and context – both to her, as well as to the students and staff. I am grateful for God’s faithful and patient teaching as I strive to lead for His glory.

Well that should clear things up!