7 MY RESPONSE TO THE PRINCIPALS LETTER

25 is look at the cultural background at the time for when Paul was writing to Timothy in the Scriptures you are quoting from Paul was talking to Timothy about the Church in Ephesus and it was a Jewish culture he was talking about and in the Jewish and Greek culture at that time men did have positions of authority and leadership but women seldom did.

There are many instances as you can see from Barbara’s notes where women have been Church leaders and house group leaders and God has used them mightily. My personal opinion is if God anoints and calls someone then it is not up to us to judge and be divisive. It caused a great split in the Anglican Church but as far as l am concerned what is more important is not whether someone is male or female but rather their character and whether they are people of integrity or not? If you look at the qualifications of leadership in every part of the Bible what God is looking for is people whose heart is towards Him and that they obey what He is calling them to do. The Church I attend, The Vine Christian Fellowship actually has women Elders as well and I personally do not have a problem with that providing that as with men Elders they are people under authority: i.e. Submitted one to another.

I say these things are down to the individuals and in any Church situation if you belong to a Church and the leadership is doing things, which you feel, are not Scriptural and not right then obviously it is your choice to find a Church where you do fit and you are content and happy. In the broader context of The Body of Christ we should not judge one another and as I have said before as Christ For The Nations is not a Church we do not have to take a view on this other than try to give a balanced overall picture and various denominations and Churches come to their own conclusions.

I hope this has been helpful and if you would like to come and chat with me I would be more than pleased to do that.

Every blessing and hope to see you soon.

Kevin Swadling

Principal/Director CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS UK DODSELY LANE EASTBOURNE MIDHURST WEST SUSSEX GU29 OAD TEL: 01730 817775 FAX: 01730 817992 E-MAIL cfnuk@aol.com

CHRIST FOR THE NATIONS UK IS A REGISTERED CHARITY TRUST No. 1064962 7 MY RESPONSE TO THE PRINCIPALS LETTER

The Principal acknowledged that the bible college has no official position