Corpus-Paul

["Sheila E. McGinn, Ph.D." <smcginn AT jcu.edu>]

I find this equation of egalitarian with "unstructured" ubiquitous, and 
highly problematic. To say that there is reciprocity in a leadership 
structure and/or that the leadership structure is egalitarian (i.e., 
that anyone with the gifts for a task is permitted to do it, rather than 
excluding people on grounds of race, sex, class, etc.) is not the same 
thing as saying there is NO leadership structure. With the possible 
exception of Philippi, I see the Pauline churches exhibiting this kind 
of leadership that is confirmed by and accountable to the community. 
Sheila McGinn

Jeff Peterson wrote:
> Where the argument can be faulted is in its characterization of the 
> Pauline churches as unstructured and egalitarian.