I disagree. I'm of the personal opinion that
if gender is indeed an issue, then not only is it an issue, it is an issue
worthy of open debate among the National Leadership. It is when people
continue to bring it up behind the backs of leadership, berating them for being
so closed minded that we go back to the submission issue, not the gender
issue.
Forgive me if I gave the wrong impression in my
previous post. I don't have a problem with women, I married one, and was
given birth and raised by one, among others. I also don't have a problem
with women in ministry and leadership positions. I do have a problem with
it if it occurs outside the policies set by any organization's
leadership.
The Boy Scouts have defended their standards, all
the way up to the Supreme Court about their leadership not having certain
lifestyles. I agree with their standards and support them
wholeheartedly. I just wonder why the Assemblies is not allowed their
standards just the same? While I do not expect people of that lifestyle
choice to be allowed leadership positions in Rangers, why is there so much
bickering behind the backs of leadership about gender? After all, as my
wife reminds me, Royal Rangers was intended to be a men MENTORING boys
ministry. While there is nothing wrong with boys learning from and being
ministered to by women, can we expect them to learn to be true MEN of God from
being mentored by women? I believe this issue has been answered very well
by James Dobson in his book "Bringing Up Boys." He lays it on the line
that boys need men, especially Godly men to set the example of what a Godly man
is.
When offenses occur, it is not necessarily
uninformed individuals acting out of ignorance. It very well may be
individuals who know the policies, yet choose to ignore them. That is not
ignorance, that is rebellion. Partial obedience is complete
disobedience. For clarification, see the story of Saul in the Old
Testament.
I am all in favor of women being in leadership
positions, as long as it is in compliance with national standards. If
those standards should change, then the issue will then become something else to
squabble and bicker about. <grin>
Just a reminder here, folks. We are Royal
Rangers, a ministry to boys. We are not Boy Scouts, an
organization for boys. To implement your personal beliefs
of standards and ignore national standards is to have a pick and choose
ministry, which I do not see anywhere in the manuals. Go ahead, let the
men step down from the role of authority God has given them, causing the women
to step in and pick up the slack. Just don't call it Royal Rangers,
because that is not the heart of this ministry.
I only refer to gender talk as a dead horse because
we can talk about it all we want, but unless we do something (within the
established guidelines) to change that, then it is just that, a dead
horse. Also, the topic of women in leadership positions is not outside my
"comfort zone" but the idea of men in blatant defiance of national standards and
calling it ministry is. I quote from the Ranger code: "A Royal
Ranger is . . . Obedient. He obeys his parents, leaders and those in
authority." (italics mine for emphasis) As long as "ethics need to
change" are we going to change the code to fit the way we choose to uphold (or
not) the standards? Royal Rangers is not a pick and choose ministry.
In the love of Christ,
DJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "EagleDad" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 1:02 PM
Subject: Re: [RR] Just a short
word
> *I'm of the personal opinion that gender is not an issue
> worthy of open debate, among the National Leadership but is a
> privet matter that is linked individual choices WE make,to
> approprate behavior in interpersonal RRanger relationships.
>
> It is no surprise that the "Rangernet Debate" was not mentioned..
> Among gentalmen, respect for all Rangers leaders is a given.
>
> When "Offences" occure.. It often is the result of un-informed
> individuals acting out of ignorance. This has been our history,
> and fortuneatly we can change that in an instant. No policy is
> needed. Only personal action is needed.
>
>
> Information is getting out in the field, from the grass roots that
> ethics need to change. Good men with wholesome intentions will carry
> the message and share the light. I hear this all the time backchannel.
>
> On Rangernet, there is a stream of repete messages along the lines that
> gender talk is a "dead horse" topic, and is un-welcome in your
> E-mail box..
>
> *But so is any topic that is outside your "comfort zone" and surely
> as you saw, in this transitional meeting, gender is not the issue some
> beleve. So! we see a light at the end of the tunnel. Respect is an
> attitude.. it raises MORALE and shows effective Leadership.
>
> *Later when it is common to see Women attending Training, such
> issues will not be remembered as worthy of mention. It will in
> time, and with God's help fade out.
>
> Praise God!
> -=D=-
>
>
>
>
> --- Shane Reidelberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > All,
> > It seems like the women in Rangers issue has been beat to death here in
> > the
> > past day or so, but here's a small bit of information from the flat land
> > of
> > Illinois.
> > I attended our district commanders conference this past saturday. Rick
> > Dostal and Mike Laliberty were on hand from the national office to teach
> > the
> > Ranger Basics/Program Transition Course to those of us who already have
> > our
> > LMA. From what I saw, there were about six or seven female commanders
> > in
> > the transition course. No mention whatsoever was made of this debate.
> > With
> > the Nat'l Training and Camps Coordinator and Deputy Nat'l Commander in
> > the
> > room, you would think that someone would have spoke up. No one did.
> >
> > I don't know about some of you, but I for one welcome any help that God
> >
> > sees fit to send me.
> >
> > GOD BLESS!
> >
> > Shane
> >
> > Cdr Shane A. Reidelberger
> > Outpost 90
> > Percy Assembly of God
> > Percy, Illinois
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
> >
> > _______
> > Let the Golden Rule be your daily rule.
> >
> > Please pray for your list sponsor: http://eBible.org/mpj/
> >
> > To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > or visit http://rangernet.org/subscribe.htm
> > http://rangernet.org
>
>
> =====
> *High MORALE is the Index of effective Leadership.
> --------------********+********--------------------
> Morale raises belief of the Leader in the follower,
> of the follower in the Leader, of each in themself,
> and both in the .....cause!
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax
> http://taxes.yahoo.com/
> _______
> Let the Golden Rule be your daily rule.
>
> Please pray for your list sponsor: http://eBible.org/mpj/
>
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe rangernet" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> or visit http://rangernet.org/subscribe.htm
> http://rangernet.org
