QUESTION: 'In your opinion and based on the Bible, what is the place of a woman in the pulpit and preaching or expounding on the word of God in a mixed audience?(that is, male and female present)"

ANSWER: This is a good question and I will be glad to give, not opinion, but an answer based on the Bible.

I Cor.14:34-35 "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.'

I Tim.2:12-14 "And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression."

I Cor.11:3 'But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman Is man, and the head of Christ Is God."

These passages give the answer to your question, and the answer is: A woman has no place "in the pulpit and preaching or expounding on the word of God in a mixed audience.'

There are many important responsibilities that women must fulfill (cf I Tim.5:9-10; Phil.4:2-3; Acts 9:36-9; Rom.16:1; Tit.2:4-5). Some of women's responsibilities involve teaching (cf. I Tim.5:2; Tit.2:1-4). However, the woman's teaching is not to be In the public assembly (mixed audience) as the above passages clearly teach. The word translated "teach" in 1 Tim. 2:12 means "to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses" (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T.).

Because of the demands of Women's Liberation in our society many denominations have installed women in positions for which there is no biblical authority. Men and women are equal in the sight of God. Gods promise of eternal inheritance is the same for both men and women (Gal.3:28; 1 Pet.3:8). However, equality does not negate the fact that God has set forth different roles that must be fulfilled by each. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equal in power, purpose, and deity. However, each has a different role to fulfill (cf I Cor.11:3). Likewise, men and women are equal in the sight of God, yet He has set forth different roles for each. This is God prerogative. He is Lord and we must submit to His will (Col.3:17). Whether a man or a woman, each has plenty to do in simply fulfilling the responsibilities of the role that God has set forth for each. For one to try to fulfill the role of the other Is not only futile, it is sinful.