| You have to ask yourself what signal are you sending by, for example, not letting girls collect the offering. Are you succeeding in stressing to the boys their duty to serve or may you be unintentionally sending the girls the signal that the areas of service open to them are minimal? We must be equally concerned that we not have women serve in ways that would violate the scriptural principles and that we do not hinder them from serving in ways which the Lord has left open for them. The position of acolyte might, for example, be seen as position that was used to encourage boys to consider becoming pastors. If so, this could be a valid "policy." But we also need to send a clear signal to women as our doctrinal statement does when it says, "All Christians, men and women, are to use their God-given gifts to serve each other (1 Pe 4:10). Women are encouraged to participate in offices and activities of the public ministry except where the work involves authority over men."
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