This survey is to help you consider where you stand. Most questions require a simple “yes” or “no” answer. Depending on those answers an occasional scriptural reference may be required.
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman using her voice to:
a) Read scripture with her family at home?b) Pray for her family at home?
c) Sing in an informal Bible class?
d) Read scripture in an informal Bible class?
e) Ask a question at an informal Bible class?
f) Make a comment at an informal Bible class?
g) Pray at an informal Bible class?
h) Sing at an informal memorial meeting? i
) Correct an announcement at an informal memorial meeting?
j) Give an announcement at an informal memorial meeting?
k) Read scripture at an informal memorial meeting?
l) Ask a question at an informal memorial meeting?
m) Make a comment at an informal memorial meeting?
n) Pray at an informal memorial meeting?
o) Give an exhortation at an informal memorial meeting p) Sing at a formal memorial meeting?
q) Correct an announcement at a formal memorial meeting?
r) Give an announcement at a formal memorial meeting?
s) Read scripture at a formal memorial meeting?
t) Pray at a formal memorial meeting?
u) Give an exhortation at a formal memorial meeting?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture clearly differentiates between what is acceptable and not acceptable when it comes to a woman using her voice?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman’s spiritual insights:
a) If shared at home?b) If shared in a private discussion?
c) If shared at a gathering of women?
d) If shared in a written article published by a magazine edited by men?
e) If shared in a written article published by a magazine per se?
f) If shared at an informal Bible class through the voice of a man?
g) If shared at an informal Bible class having been first vetted by a man?
h) If shared at an informal Bible class per se?
i) If shared at a formal Bible class provided no microphone was used?
j) If shared at a formal Bible class provided it was not given from a platform?
k) If shared at a formal Bible Class through the voice of a man?
l) If shared at a formal Bible Class having been first vetted by a man?
m) If shared at a formal Bible class per se?
n) If shared at an informal memorial meeting through the voice of a man?
o) If shared at an informal memorial meeting having been first vetted by a man?
p) If shared at an informal memorial meeting per se?
q) If shared at a formal memorial meeting provided no microphone was used?
r) If shared at a formal memorial meeting provided it was not given from a platform?
s) If shared at a formal memorial meeting through the voice of a man?
t) If shared at a formal memorial meeting having been first vetted by a man?
u) If shared at a formal memorial meeting per se?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to enable you to draw the line between when and where a woman can share her spiritual insights? If you differentiated between written material and the spoken word, what passage of scripture did you use to make such a distinction? If you would allow a woman to share her insights if first approved by a man, what passage of scripture did you use to determine that a man is better equipped with spiritual insight than a woman?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman teaching: (what)
a) How to play or sing a new song?b) Matters related to parenting, health or welfare?
c) Matters related to spiritual welfare?
d) Scriptural information, principles or arguments?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to differentiate between what subject of teaching is acceptable and what is not?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman teaching: (how)
a) Through poems?b) Through songs?
c) Through written articles?
d) Through group discussions?
e) Through a Bible class presentation?
f) Through a prepared study?
g) Through an exhortation?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture differentiates between what method of teaching is acceptable and what is not?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman teaching: (who)
a) Children in her family?b) Children in her ecclesia?
c) Unbaptized teenagers in her family?
d) Unbaptized teenagers in her ecclesia?
e) Baptized teenage girls in her family?
f) Baptized teenage girls in her ecclesia?
g) Baptized teenage boys in her family?
h) Baptized teenage boys in her ecclesia?
i) Unbaptized women?
j) Unbaptized men if there was no available man to do so?
k) Unbaptized men per se?
l) Baptized women if there was no available man to do so?
m) Baptized women per se?
n) Baptized men if there was no available man to do so
o) Baptized men per se?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to draw the line with regards to who a woman can or cannot teach? If you differentiated between those baptized and unbaptized, what passage of scripture suggests something changes with regards to male/female roles at baptism?
Do you think God would be more approving of an absence of teaching or sound teaching occurring through a sister? Does a teacher have authority over its students? If yes, what scriptural passage states this?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman preaching the gospel if:
a) Done privately to women?b) Done privately to women or men?
c) Done in conjunction with her husband or a brother?
d) Done publicly at a lecture/seminar only if a suitable brother is not available?
e) Done publicly at a lecture/seminar per se?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to draw the line with regards to when a woman can or cannot preach? Do you think God would be more approving of an inarticulate, unknowledgeable man teaching his gospel or an articulate, knowledgeable woman?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman if she exercises leadership in the ecclesia by:
a) Attending an ecclesial committee meetingb) Accepting an ecclesial committee position
c) Undertaking work for an ecclesial committee
d) Commenting at an ecclesial committee meeting
e) Putting forward a proposal at an ecclesial committee
f) Voting at an ecclesial committee meeting
g) Acting as chairperson of an ecclesial committee meeting
h) Attending an ecclesial business meeting
i) Commenting at an ecclesial business meeting
j) Putting forward a proposal at an ecclesial business meeting
k) Voting at an ecclesial business meeting
l) Acting as chairperson of an ecclesial business meeting
m) Attending an arranging committee meeting
n) Commenting at an arranging committee meeting
o) Undertaking work for an arranging committee
p) Accepting an arranging committee position
q) Voting at an arranging committee meeting
r) Putting forward a proposal at an arranging committee meeting
s) Acting as chairperson at an arranging committee meeting
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to determine what is an acceptable level of leadership for a woman to undertake?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman if her head is uncovered when:
a) She is at home?b) She is at home and a prayer is being offered?
c) She is at home and she is offering the prayer?
d) She is at home and the Bible is being read?
e) She is at home and she is reading the Bible aloud?
f) She is attending an informal gathering of believers?
g) She is offering a prayer at an informal gathering of believers?
h) She is reading the Bible aloud at an informal gathering of believers?
i) She is sharing her spiritual insights at an informal gathering of believers?
j) She is attending an informal memorial meeting?
k) She is taking the bread and wine at an in-home informal memorial meeting?
l) She is reading the Bible aloud at an informal memorial meeting?
m) She is offering a prayer at an informal memorial meeting?
n) She is at a formal bible class?
o) She is reading the Bible aloud at a formal Bible class?
p) She is sharing her spiritual insights at a formal Bible class?
q) She is offering a prayer at a formal Bible class?
r) She is attending a formal memorial meeting?
s) She is taking the bread and wine at a formal memorial meeting?
t) She is offering a prayer at a formal memorial meeting?
u) She is reading the Bible aloud at a formal memorial meeting?
v) She is sharing her spiritual insights at a formal memorial meeting?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to determine when and where a woman should cover her head?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman’s head covering if:
a) Some of her face is showing?b) Some of her hair is showing?
c) Some of her head is showing?
d) Most of her face is showing?
e) Most of her hair is showing?
f) Most of her head is showing?
g) All of her face is showing?
h) All of her hair is showing?
i) All of her head is showing?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to determine how much of a woman’s face, head or hair showing is permissible?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman accepting a confession of faith:
a) If no brother is available to do so?b) If done in tandem with a brother?
c) If done with the approval of a brother?
d) If done regardless of whether any brother has input?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture did you use to determine that a sister is unable to decide on such matters?
Does God DISAPPROVE of a woman baptizing a believer:
a) If no brother is available to do so?b) If she has the approval of brothers to do so?
c) If it is undertaken in the mission fields?
d) If the convert has specifically asked her to do so?
e) If it is done outside the formal setting of an ecclesial hall?
f) If done in an ecclesial hall with brothers present?
If yes to any of the above, what passage of scripture instructs either gender to do the baptizing?
Was this survey tedious and difficult to complete? If yes, then maybe it’s time to re-assess the foundational principle (golden rule) of the Lord Jesus Christ to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’. If yes, perhaps it is worth considering how much the spread of the gospel message is being hindered and misrepresented to women of the 21st century.
