How the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Impoverishes Itself

Because the RPCNA does not permit women to be either pastors or elders these are the situations that can arise:

1) A woman with a Ph.D. can chair an academic department at Geneva College, be a spiritual mentor to her students, be a member of an RP church, but cannot be on the session of the congregation to which she belongs.

2) A woman with a Master of Theological Studies from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary cannot be an elder; a man who does not have such a degree can be an elder just because he is a man.

3) A woman with a Missionary Training Certificate from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary cannot be an elder; a man with no formal theological training can be an elder just because he is a man.

4) A woman with a Servant of the Church Certificate from the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary cannot be an elder; a man with no formal theological training can be an elder just because he is a man.

5) A woman who spent years on the mission field, who taught and probably 'preached' to both believers and non-believers, could not be an elder once she returned from the mission field; a man with no such experience could be an elder just because he was a man.

6) A woman with a Ph.D. or M.D. cannot be an elder; a man with a G. E. D. can

7) A woman with a M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Seminary or Calvin Seminary cannot be an elder; a man who has not finished high school can.

8) A woman who is a spiritual director and who has led spiritual retreats for both men and women and who belongs to a RP church cannot be an elder; a man who has no knowledge of spiritual formation and who may not be a good public speaker can.

9) A woman who has a M. Div. from one of the most respected divinity schools in the country, who has become one of the most respected preachers in the country, and who has authored several books on homiletics (Barbara Brown Taylor) could not even be a guest preacher in a RP pulpit; a second year male student from the RP seminary could preach just because he is a man.