Women in Ministry - A Small Rant (or Hissy Fit!)

I'm on this message board for pastors' wives and there has been so much discussion lately about women in ministry. I have to confess that I haven't posted too much because I am not sure how much of my belief I'm willing to put out there. :) I really struggle with the idea that women are somehow less able or less called to ANY ministry than men are. I just don't believe that God gifts ALL of us and then says to SOME of us - "Okay, you have this gift, this ability, and this calling; but, since you are a woman you can't use it fully." To me, that's what we are saying when we say there are ministries or positions a woman cannot hold.

I know the reasoning - "Husband of one wife" - blah, blah, blah... by that standard, only a married man can serve in those positions and even the most conservative of theologians do not espouse that mindset. And, let's not even touch all the other "requirements" listed in that passage - you know, like having your family in order. Geez, if we actually applied that stipulation then any time a pastor's child was not obedient, etc., that MAN would have to give up his position. It's absolutely ridiculous to me that we choose to hold that ONE small part of the passage higher than any other. Basically, the church (especially the evangelical church) has chosen to interpret HUSBAND as MAN and, for the most part, ignore the rest of the guidelines.

I guess this is one of those "Hot Topics" for me. I have a daughter who is bright, intelligent, and articulate (for a seven-year-old). And, when I tell her that God can use her and wants to use her - I don't give any stipulations because I don't believe that there are any. If God calls her to pastor a church or to preach - I want her to fulfill that calling - regardless of what the mindset in our church or any other is. Following God's direction is the most important thing - and I don't ever want her to feel that she is less able or less useful because she is a "girl." I've been there - it's the worst feeling ever. That God has gifted you in an area and for no reason except your gender, the authority over you says, "Nope, you can't do that." It's appalling to me that it is done in the name of Christ - who was by far the most empowering leader for women in all of history.