Women Office-Bearers and the PCI
This article argues against women serving as office-bearers in the church, particularly critiquing the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's approval of female ministers, elders, and deacons. The author grounds his position in biblical passages (1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:12), contending that the PCI's policy of 'accommodating both points of view' compromises biblical authority and Christ's headship of the church.
(including Letters to the N. Ireland Press) On 25 December, 2007, “Rev.” Christina Bradley of Armagh Road (Portadown Presbyterian) Church did not preach in First Portadown Church. First Portadown’s minister, Rev. Stafford Carson, (rightly) refused his “colleague” in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) ministry permission to preach in his congregation. PCI moderator, Dr. John Finlay, stepped in to seek to “resolve” the issue of women ministers in his denomination: “We have to accommodate...