Women and the Priesthood

by Kallistos Ware

The authors search for explanations and reasons why the Orthodox Church has never in its history ordained women to serve as bishops and priests. All agree that the Church had women deacons, and that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881411469
• ISBN13: 9780881411461
• Release Date: December 1983
• Publisher: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Women and the priesthood

A collection of essays about a non-question - should Eastern Orthodoxy ordain women to the priesthood? The essays make for fascinating reading however, especially those that challenge the received wisdom in Western Christianity. The data from history contradicts Roman Catholicism's opposition to women's ordination while maintaining a clear vision of what the real issue is - power. Since ministerial priesthood in Eastern Christianity is not about power there is no question. The essays are an Eastern response to a secular conundrum of mild interest to the East.

Expanded Review of a Needed Discussion

The welcome second edition of Women and the Priesthood has been of great help in beginning to articulate an Orthodox response to the question of bishops and priestesses in the Church. What follows is taken from the jacket of the text:"More than fifteen years have passed since the original publication of Women and the Priesthood. This new edition presents us with essays of the authors who are no longer with us, Father Alexander Schmemann and Nicholas Afanasiev, and Prof. Georges Barrois, together with the editor's reflection at that time. The living contributors to the first edition have all written new essays. An article by Dr. Nonna Verna Harrison is also now included."The authors search for explanations and reasons why the Orthodox Church has never in its history ordained women to serve as bishops and priests. All agree that the Church had women deacons, and that careful consideration must be given to this office as it existed in the past and as it may once again exist in the Orthodox Church."No author in the present volume calls for the ordination of women as bishops and priests. All authors agree, however, that the greatest care must be exercised in dealing with this complicated and delicate issue. The Orthodox Church has no infallible magisterium. Church theologians and leaders may be wrong. The Holy Spirit acts within the whole body of believers bringing to remembrance what Christ teaches and guiding the faithful into all truth. If but one member of the Church is inspired to argue from the Bible and Church Tradition that certain women may be qualified to serve as bishops and priests, he or she must be heard with dignity and respect. Those who believe that only certain believing men are qualified for these ordained ministries must be heard in the same manner and spirit. Whatever one thinks of the thoughts of the contributors, this new edition of Women and the Priesthood serves as a model for the debate among Orthodox."Contributors include Father Thomas Hopko and Bishop Kallistos Ware. And let me add something now before you say that just because the authors address the issue they are somehow automatically in favor of women priests. Fr. Meyendorff, an amazing scholar of the early Church, remarked that the most pressing issues are such because the society at large is looking to find answers to questions for which we do not always have clear reasons. This does NOT mean that the Church is wrong, but only that the mission of the Church is to bear witness to truth and putting our heads in the sand is not a proper response. And no, Bp Kallistos is not in favor of women's ordination, although he is trying to prompt us Orthodox to have a genuine response that doesn't just parrot the western critiques. What is wrong with that? Other books of interest may include two by Manfred Hauke, "God or Goddess?" and "Women in the Priesthood?"; the latter being perhaps the most thorough treatment of the subject. "Deaconesses", by Martimort is very detailed as wel

New edition is relevant, scholarly, and respectful of all.

The welcome second edition of Women and the Priesthood has been of great help in beginning to articulate an Orthodox response to the question of bishops and priestesses in the Church. What follows is taken from the jacket of the text: "More than fifteen years have passed since the original publication of Women and the Priesthood. This new edition presents us with essays of the authors who are no longer with us, Father Alexander Schmemann and Nicholas Afanasiev, and Prof. Georges Barrois, together with the editor's reflection at that time. The living contributors to the first edition have all written new essays . An article by Dr. Nonna Verna Harrison is also now included. "The authors search for explinations and resons why the Orthodox Church has never in its history ordained women to serve as bishops and priests. All agree that the Church had women deacons, and that careful consideration must be given to this office as it existed in the past and as it may once again exist in the Orthodox Church. "No author in the present volume calls for the ordination of women as bishops and priests. All authors agree, however, that the greatest care must be exercised in dealing with this complicated and delicate issue. The Orthodox Church has no infallible magisterium. Church theologians and leaders may be wrong. The Holy Spirit acts within the whole body of believers bringing to remembrance what Christ teaches and guiding the faithful into all truth. If but one member of the Church is inspired to argue from the Bible and Church Tradition that certain women may be qualified to serve as bishops and priests, he or she must be heard with dignity and respect. Those who believe that only certain believing men are qualified for these ordained ministries must be heard in the same manner and spirit. Whatever one thinks of the thoughts of the contributors, this new edition of Women and the Priesthood serves as a model for the debate among Orthodox."Contributors include Father Thomas Hopko and Bishop Kallistos Ware. Other books of interest may include two by Manfred Hauke, "God or Goddess?" and "Women in the Priesthood?"; the latter being perhaps the most thorough treatment of the subject. "Deaconesses", by Martimort is very detailed as well. "Women and the Priesthood" by von Hildebrand and Kreeft is short but interesting. Louis Bouyer's "Women in the Church" is older, but not dated. It includes the excellent esaay on the subject by C.S. Lewis, which is also found in Lewis' "God in the Dock". "The Church and Women: A Compendium" which includes von Balthasar, Ratzinger, Kasper, Hauke, Fessio, and many more. This book is great! Concerning feminism in general in relation to Christianity, "Speaking the Christian God", ed. Alvin Kimel, Jr. is a great place to start and end. Hopko has an excellent article in it. For a critique of radical feminism in the Roman Catholic Church, Donna Steichen's "Ungodly Rage" is both inform