Teaching the Word

I am dismayed by the actions of the Baptist church in Watertown, N.Y., in which the pastor and deacons board dismissed an 81-year-old Sunday School teacher from her class (Sept. 7 issue of The Alabama Baptist), citing Paul’s comment in his first letter to Timothy: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent” (1 Tim. 2:12). The pastor claimed this action to be “based on the consistent teaching of Scripture.” I assume, therefore, that the women of his church also are not allowed to “braid their hair, or wear gold, pearls or expensive clothes” (1 Tim. 2:9). This is clearly a misinterpretation and misapplication of the Word. Any authority that a teacher in the church may have, male or female, is based in the Word of God they teach, not in the teacher. I would suggest that this pastor and deacons board consider Paul’s wise counsel to Timothy in his second letter: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Doug Green
Coffee Springs, Ala.