[LWC]

As a Pastor, I try to answer all spiritual questions that I can for the spiritual growth of the people I serve or those who have questions.

With that said, there are many hills that us in ministry have to climb, many struggles we agree to bear for the forwarding of the faith and many sacrifices and things we forgo to serve the will of God. That is why there are many smaller issues that divide us into separate denominations, churches, 'movements', etc... We tend to be so sure and so steadfast that we are unwilling to compromise. I believe that stubbornness has caused more division in the Christian faith than there needs to be.

I say all of that to say this: I used to be SOOOOO against this idea and concept. I wasn't the kind to protest or throw stones, but I would not have been comfortable with a woman as my pastor. Today, that doesn't bother me as much. Maybe it is because at this stage in my life I will always be the Senior Pastor of the church/churches that I serve, which means that a woman will never be "over me" I feel like this is one of those issues that divides churches too much.

I could understand a person or a church being upset about a woman pastor in the appointment-system of pastor search. (This is where a pastor is sent to the church, the church does not bring in their own. This is the system I am in.) I could understand because the church has no ultimate say in the process and their only choice is to accept it or go somewhere else. However, at least, in the current system I am in, women pastors are appointed. They are licensed, ordained and sent to be pastors of churches all across the world. I have known churches to grow with women as their pastor and I have known churches to crumble with a woman as their pastor. That is the same with men.

As a licensed pastor (soon to be ordained) in the United Methodist Church, I am appointed with the knowledge that I am to defend the beliefs and practices of the United Methodist Church. What I believe or not, as far as church practices go, is not as relevant. In all matters spiritual like faith, hope, Gospel, salvation, etc... I will not waiver from what I personally believe. But in church matters like women pastors, whether or not to watch certain movies, whether baptism should be in 3 forms or 1, who to vote for, what the churches political stance should be on capitol punishment, should we play instruments, etc... I leave those things to debate, they are not what I call, "untouchable matters."

I know I am being a little cryptic, but what it boils down to is, as a UMC pastor, I have to accept women as pastors, but I will never reveal my stance on that issue or other issues like politics, instruments, etc... because they get people's focus off of the big issues like the poverty of the world, the sin of mankind and the love that Jesus provides.