>Again I wonder if all preachers comply with all the conditions that Paul speaks about in 1 Timothy.... If or when I don't I will step down >Would you quit preaching because you are not patient.... I can grow in grace and knowledge and become more patient...I would still be divorced. Besides patience is a relative word...what you might define as patience and what I may define as patient might be too different things... Divorce means one thing...kinda like pregnant I understand your"argument"...however, the condition is only on Pastoring and not Preaching, Evangelism, Teaching, Working ministry, Family miinistry, Jail ministry...etc The only "situations" that I have ever come across is divorced men wanting to Pastor and when asked why or given ideas abouut different ministry opportunities they get angry and throw a fit and say "If I can't Pastor I won't do anything"...BTW One of the men I am talking about was our SS Supt....one day he asked me to pray for a co-worker and I told him I would go to his job site and witness to him...his response...."I don't think that is a good idea...they don't know I am a Christian" I said "What? Why?" his response " I smoke and cuss". This is one "specific" there have been 15 just like this. Having said that...I preach what I am convicted that the Bible teaches...if a man is divorced and remarried and wants to Pastor, feels called etc...ultimately that's between him and God whether I like it or not. Another interesting observation...in our denomination I am aware and know personally, some that have been divorced and remarried and pastor churches...their churches are small and spiritually dead and have never done anything for the Lord...like I said just an observation of personal knowledge...not saying it is happening where you are and I know that many will write back and chastise me and tell me of the dozens that they know that are doing great....I am telling you what I have seen. This has helped to "solidify" my understanding. In Him JT ----- Original Message ----- From: Charlie Carroll Jr. To: pastorsforum@... Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 8:54 AM Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Women Preachers If a preacher is divorced he most definitely knows the pain that divorce comes with. Also the stigma that precedes it. Again I wonder if all preachers comply with all the conditions that Paul speaks about in 1 Timothy, is divorce more important than any other condition. How about patient, hospitable. Would you quit preaching because you are not patient. My brother asked how can you counsel someone about staying faithful to one wife if you are divorced. Now I am not saying that you have to be divorced to talk about divorce. But a divorced person can tell you first hand what happens how much pain you feel how alone you feel. You see I know what happens when you fail in a marriage I don't want anyone to go through divorce. Yes I am divorced and I still don't believe in it. Again would not want anybody to go through it. But God still uses me, and when He tells me (and believe me He will let me know ) to stop preaching I will stop. Because not being in God's will is the worst possible place to be. I know a lot of you will have a lot of criticism for me, but I had rather do what God called me to do than what man tells me. Sometimes it would be so much easier to just quit rather that have to listen to so much criticism. But that's when I remember the cross and what my Jesus did for me and it seems to make it a little easier. I have heard this said "the Christian army is the only army that shoots their wounded" maybe we ought to start reaching our hands out to lift someone up rather than push them back down. Here because of Jesus Charlie ----- Original Message ----- From: Warren Webster To: pastorsforum@... Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 3:18 PM Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Women Preachers Your bible must read differently than mine. For the life of me, I cannot find where she was a Deacon--it does NOT say that! Being a servant does not make you a deacon--have met a few in my lifetime who for sure were not servants! I have noticed that everyone that says that I Timothy 3:12 does not refer just having one wife, are almost always without exception divorced themselves. An interesting thot, how do you counsel with someone about divorce and staying faithful to one wife when you are divorced? Women are certainly not second class citizens and without them it would be impossible to run a church, but contrarywise, God never called them to preach and/or be deacons. I do not think that it is too difficult to understand what is very plain in the Scriptures. By the way, women are happiest when they are in subjection to a man who takes care of them and protects them and loves them and treats them as the Queen of the home. Have a good day. Warren D. Webster Ind. Baptist Preacher in Japan ----- Original Message ----- From: J To: pastorsforum@... Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 2:10 AM Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Women Preachers Brother Cecil, Please do not tear the page with Romans 16:1 out of your Bible. It is still the Word of God that declares a WOMAN, Phoebe, was a DEACON in the church. 2 Tim. 3 12 MUST be interpreted in light of Romans 16:1. Paul was not contradicting himself. The meaning of 2 Tim 3:12 has to be in regard to plural marriage and not divorce and remarriage or even that only a married man can be a deacon. Jerry L. Southside Baptist ----- Original Message ----- From: Cecil Tiller To: pastorsforum@... Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 4:09 PM Subject: Re: [PastorsForum] Women Preachers You must have a "problem" interpreting 2 Tim.3:1,12 "If a man...", vs 12 "Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife....." Cecil ***************** john okeefe <jxpxus@...> wrote: jerry - i have zero problem with a women pastor :) i think God calls heart, not gender :) Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online