Teacher Fired

[DOXXP29 5]

In Watertown, New York, a teacher was fired because she was a woman. According to the pastor that runs the bible school, there is some verbage in the first epistle to Timothy that says a woman shall not teach men. Based on that interpretation, the woman was fired. Now, I'll be the first to admit that I'm by no means a bible scholar, but this sounds more like like something out of the Taliban than typical Christian teachings. When I was young, most of the Sunday school teachers were women. I'm wondering if this is a sex discrimination lawsuit or if they can actually get away with this under the pretext of religious beliefs.

[callagrafx 3]

Some guy writes a letter 2000 years ago and it becomes employment policy? Since boys do not become "men" until the age of 18 (or sometimes a lot longer) then the reasoning is flawed....another very good reason for the separation of Church and State.

[Equilibria 16]

Well, the chruch is a private entity and cannot be regulated by more reasonable souls. On the other hand, the woman would probably win if she sued, seeing as the pastor has clearly violated quite a few equality laws. On the other hand, NY might not want to go there (separation of church and state and all...)

In my experience, translations and traditions are such that the Bible is never recounted the same way twice. The language this pastor claims to have seen is problably entirely different in half the Bibles on Earth, meaning that his claims might not even hold water from a religious standpoint.

[Abc987 3]

Wow. That's just sad.

Jason

[Duke87 1,070]

If the pastor has an objection to woman teachers, why was she hired in the first place?

Stil, it's wrong. And Illegal.

[spa 968]

Was it a paid position? That might mean the difference in whether or not she has a legal case.

[Micah 16]

Well, tell me the exact verse in Timothy where it says that.

Also, this sounds more like a sexist issue, however, this is also a doctrinal issue (that only one denomination believes in...) and not all of the church believes this.

This is truly wrong what this pastor did.

[DOXXP29 5]

The First Baptist Church dismissed Mary Lambert on Aug. 9 with a letter explaining that the church had adopted an interpretation that prohibits women from teaching men. She had taught there for 54 years.

The letter quoted the first epistle to Timothy: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent."

The above are two paragraphs from the article (AP) that I read. Micah, this is as specific as I've seen regarding the exact verse. You may be able to figure out exactly where it is from the wording, and also if the above is a correct statement or if it has been paraphrased. I think the interpretation is somewhat odd, and, though I don't pretend to be knowledgable regarding all the bible verses, I have read the bible in it's entirety (albiet long ago) and do not recall anything like this.

Funny, she seemed to be doing a decent job for FIFTY-FOUR YEARS!!! Couldn't have been a performance issue or she'd've been canned long before, one would think.

Things like this really feed my cynicism for religions and the individual interpretations of scripture to meet the given agenda or needs of a pastor/church/etc. Seems like religion has strayed so far from what God really meant or intended for man to know from the scriptures.

[Micah 16]

HUH?!?! That scripture isn't in my Bible!

[DOXXP29 5]

Maybe the pastor should've attended her classes! He might have learned something. I'd never heard of anything along those lines as far as men being the only teachers. I realize the apostles were all men and I know the Catholic church has some interpretation for priests being men, but I was never aware of women being "lesser teachers" noted anywhere in scripture.

[Easy Bakes 253]

After 54 years i think she got a good case for unwarrented fireing. After 54 years i would guess the lady is in her 70s, mabey they didnt want to pay her pension.

They should have quitely allowed her to retire if they wanted her out.

[paperboy15 4]

That is absolutely ridiculous, but I am not surprised and never will be. If it was a paid position I would think she has legal recourse. I am a Christian btw, I wish this crap would stop, but Murphy dictates that it won't. lol

[Micah 16]

Ohh, ok. This is in Timothy, but this is being taken out of context. I talked to my English teacher today named Mr. Hightower and he told me he knows about 3 pastors who take it out of context all the time. Read through Timothy and you'll understand what the verse is truly talking about.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Since the basis of the firing is in a letter to Timothy, and not the word of God (or Christ) we have to assume this is some kind of rule made for that time, and is not literally the requirement of the Diety.

If this lady was being paid, I think they owe her 54 weeks salary as a minimal settlement.  If it was a volunteer position, the minister should be dismissed by the parish council, and the lady should receive a profuse apology in public.

Also, who are these parishoners who so liberally change their minds on the interpretation of scriptures.  Especially after 54 years.

[DOXXP29 5]

Agreed, N_O_Body!

Micah, would you be kind enough to enlighten us as to what the verse DOES say and what it means. I don't have any scripture at hand.

[DOXXP29 5]

Agreed, N_O_Body! Micah, would you be kind enough to enlighten us as to what the verse DOES say and what it means. I don't have any scripture at hand. Thanx.

[Odainsaker 2,133]

Certainly tells you the pitfalls of interpretive doctrine and literalism. Interpretation and individual politics go hand-in-hand, and it can be fun to see how conveniently selective some can be in choosing which parts of the doctrine to read literally and which to take figuratively.

The church board has now tentatively suggested that other mysterious and unspecified reasons not revealed to her may have been involved (pay perhaps?), but pulling this nonsense I guess makes their false pretext to fire her a divine mandate. I say sue!

[justanotherhiddennow 0]

Uggggggggggggggghhhhhhh sexist is about as bad as you can get with culture.

[justanotherhiddennow 0]

Uggggggggggggggghhhhhhh sexist is about as bad as you can get with culture.

Andrew

[Ratieya455 1]

Originally posted by: Odainsaker Certainly tells you the pitfalls of interpretive doctrine and literalism. Interpretation and individual politics go hand-in-hand, and it can be fun to see how conveniently selective some can be in choosing which parts of the doctrine to read literally and which to take figuratively.

quote>

I agree with you and N_O_Body. Some people need to wake up and realize that it is 2006 and that this kind of thing is not supposed to happen anymore.

[truth_andrew_ 0]

yeah retieya wasn't it like... 1908? when women started voting and gaining rights. I believe this is a terrible thing that happened. Especially here in America. What a shame on you sexist men.

Andrew, formerly justanotherhiddennow