FORT WORTH, Texas — A former president of the Southern Baptist Convention ridiculed the denomination’s mandate that wives should submit to their husbands and doesn’t support the denomination’s ban on female pastors, according to a Texas newspaper.
Charles Stanley’s comments were reported in an Oct. 18 Fort Worth Star Telegram article. The story, written by veteran religion writer Jim Jones, was based on an interview given during Stanley’s visit to Texas to promote his latest book.
The section of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message on women being submissive to their husbands is based on a misreading of Scripture, and the topic should not have been dealt with in a general statement of doctrine, Stanley told the Star-Telegram.
Even though SBC leaders have said the statement is not intended to make women “doormats,” that is the impression it gives, Stanley said. “They should never have discussed the issue.”
A proper reading of the New Testament book of Ephesians — the main text SBC leaders used to justify their statement — leans more toward mutual submission, said Stanley. “Jesus said we are to honor one another. Submission means you should submit yourself one to another.”
The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message ignores the fact that in some places around the world, men are not taking responsibility for leading churches while women are, Stanley said. “You can go to India, Japan and other countries and find women are preaching the gospel. People are being saved. Are we going to tell these women, ‘You can’t do that’?”
(TAB)
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