Center for Informed Faith

Church history used to be the subject seminary students dreaded most, because it seemed the least relevant to practical ministry. That was before the denominational era ended and people began visiting and joining churches from completely different faith traditions. Now more than ever, understanding where we come from is crucial to knowing where we're going together.

A Baptist pastor was inviting people in his neighborhood to visit his church. An elderly lady said, "No thank you, young man, I'm a Methodist." "If you don't mind telling me," he asked, "Why are you a Methodist?" "Well," she replied, "you see, my parents were Methodist, my grandparents were Methodist, and my great-grandparents were Methodist." The frustrated young pastor responded, "That's no reason, just because all your relatives are Methodists. What would you do if all your relatives were idiots?" "In that case," she smiled, "I'd probably be a member of your church."

Years ago, a machinist at Ford Motor Company in Detroit became a Christian and was baptized. He took his baptism seriously. He had been stealing parts and tools from Ford for years. The morning after his baptism he took all the stolen parts and tools back to his boss. He explained his situation and his recent conversion and baptism, and asked for forgiveness.

One of the most obvious differences between Christian denominations regards the various leadership roles which churches recognize. Most Baptist churches have deacons but no elders. Presbyterian and Bible churches have both. Catholic and Methodist churches recognize "bishops." Why the differences? What difference do they make?

This is either a very easy or very difficult question. Some think that women have no leadership role in the church, while others believe in equal rights for both genders regardless of what the Bible might teach on the subject. But many churches and believers struggle with this issue and want to know what Scripture says. This essay is for them.