What’s the Big Deal in the UCC About Women and Men Having Equal Authority?

This wouldn’t have to be a “big deal” except for the fact that there are so many Christian denominations that don’t grant equal authority to women. The Catholic Church does not ordain women to the priesthood, and many literal-minded Protestant groups will not allow women even to hold office or to teach classes when men are present. This is based on an unnecessarily strict interpretation of passages such as I Timothy 2:8-15. In the UCC we are proud that women are active in every aspect of church leadership, including ordained ministry.