new church life: september / october 2013
goodness and truth is applicable to the external, organized church. In the
external, organized church the Lord is again the supreme priest, but a human
priesthood stands as His representatives. Nor is there any union here – not
between the Lord and His priests in their role as governors of the church, nor
between the priests and their congregations.
In short, no doctrinal argument for women in the priesthood has been
found that is applicable, at least not as formulated so far. Moreover, wittingly
or not, they all end up dismissing the teaching that in marriage the church is
formed in the wife through the husband.
Does It Matter?
One may argue that admission of women into the priesthood is not a central
issue in the Doctrines, and may therefore be an acceptable accommodation
to those who wish it. After all, the fundamental teachings of the church are to
acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the one God of heaven and earth, and to
keep His commandments as found in His Word.
But in addition to these fundamental teachings, we find a host of others in
the Heavenly Doctrines. Which ones shall we hold to, and which ones shall we
adapt and reinterpret to suit present circumst [