LETTERS: NO EXCLUSION FROM SERVING THE LORD

To the editor:

Baptist churches and Baptist associations share equal rights. Neither is superior or inferior to the other. Baptist churches are autonomous, but so are the associations.

Either can seek to join the other, and either can withdraw from that agreement.

The Cape Girardeau Baptist Association withdrew from a church deemed to be in serious variance with the Bible, whose teachings most Baptists tend to value seriously as the errant Word of God.

No matter how hard she tries, a woman cannot meet the first Biblical requirement for a deacon, that is, to be the husband of one wife as specified in I Timothy 3:12.

No matter how hard she tires or how pure her motives, a woman cannot be a husband.

In the minds of certain people, the exclusion of women from being a deacon or pastor is chauvinism. It does not matter. God does not have to account to man (or women). Man cannot question God or his motives. Man must obey God.

This is not to say women are excluded from serving the Lord through their churches. They can and do serve in many ways: singers, teachers, committee members or any other role except pastor or deacon.

DON BOYD

Cape Girardeau