In majority of the churches I am familiar with, the women speak on Sunday during the welcome, communion, etc -- anything except the actual sermon. Is this biblically acceptable (1 Corinthians 14:34-36, 1 Timothy 2:11-15)? -- Ryan Verost (Philadelphia)
Without repeating what I have written elsewhere on this subject, let me express my opinion that women were given considerable freedom in N.T. times to take part in the services. According to 1 Corinthians 11, they even prayed publicly.
In the past, they have often been excluded from ushering, song-leading, praying and so forth, because these things were felt to constitute an exercise of "authority." But I think that is debatable. (If they did, why would Paul allow the women in Corinth to pray in church, or to prophesy!) For more on this, please see my paper on this topic.
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