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I am taking a group of youth from my presbytery to a week-long youth conference --- FR withdrawal :-0 next week. Today I am running around like a whacked out goat. Before I leave to fetch our van, let me comment: It is easy to say 'no sale.' I respect that position. It is not simply a matter of verse-slinging and vying with 'proof-texts.' It is an issue of taking a number of examples from the ministry of Jesus; the marks and meaning of 'apostle' in the NT; the fact that elder/deacon/bishop overlap in function in the NT; looking at the gender of names - the role and designation of various 'officers' in the NT, whether you regard those 'officers' as more functional/charismatic or more institutional. However, the evidence is there, I am not going to engage in trying to overwhelm 'your proof-texts' with 'my proof-texts.' The answer is in Scripture, in the Greek and in evidences from the first century or two of the Church. Yet, when I have some more time this afternoon, I'll jump back in and offer up the exegetical reasons supporting the ordination of women, as well as men, to all the offices and ministries of the Church. Again - check out Christians for Biblical Equality and order Aida Spencer Besacon's "Beyond the Curse." It's a good introductory text and offered by a scholar affirming the infallibility of Scripture, a conservative evangelical.