Originally posted by Cincy'sMom
I was with you up to this statement. Obviously, this goes against your personal beliefs, and may mean nothing to you, but that does not mean it means nothing.

When child is baptised, their parents are dedicating their child to God and promising to raise their child in the church. They are asking God to accept their child into his family.

I was raised Roman Catholic, so I can not speak for other religions that baptise children, but in the Catholic faith, Baptisim is reaffirmed in Confirmation. This is when the "child" can now speak for themselves and makes an adult decision to be part of the church. When I was in school, this was done in the 8th grade (too early to make an adult decision in my opinion) and now many churches are doing it even earlier. I think that confirmation should happen when and if the "child" chooses, not at the age the church dictates. Just my opinion.
I'm Baptist. We do have a ceremony in which parents dedicate their baby to the Lord and vow to love and raise them in his name. However baptism is totally different we don't baptize a person until they are saved. I didn't mean to offend you or any one, that is just the way and beliefs of a baptist.

I am curious as to which faith you belong? you have certainly opened up a can of worms for discussion here, I have to say I could not disagree with you more , especially on your last statement about men making the final decisions and women not holding positions in any church, and women submitting to their husbands, this is 2004, regardless of your faith surely you can see this is wrong to have women still treated as second class citizens, however I respect your beliefs and you have a right to them, I just feel completely the opposite to you in most of the things you said, except that people can be christians without going to church, that one I agree with 100 per cent.
I don't want to turn this into a big thing, this is just what I believe, which is what this thread is about. I never said that a woman shouldn't or couldn't hold a position in any church. What I said was I don't believe that a woman should be a pastor. I understand that this is 2004 but I think there is a lot wrong in 2004.