From: gerwitz@sulu.kodak.com (Paul F Gerwitz)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Spiritual Headship
Date: 6 Oct 92 04:08:05 GMT
Reply-To: gerwitz@kodak.com
Organization: Eastman Kodak Co.

In article <Oct.3.02.40.29.1992.3734@geneva.rutgers.edu>, munns@cae.wisc.edu (Scott Munns) writes:
|> Hi everybody!
|> 
|> I have been keeping up with this group for about the past six months
|> but hadn't had a real issue to bring up until now (although I sure
|> enjoy reading submissions by others!).  I am looking for information
|> (especially scriptural) either for or against the idea of spiritual
|> headship exercised by the male in a husband-wife relationship.
|> In addition, please try to define what spiritual headship really is,
|> since the term is not very descriptive.
|> 

I'll take a stab at this, from both sides of the fence (Charismatic renewal
and husband/wife/family).  Pardon my rather simplisitic descriptions, this
thread is very difficult to explain in a way that is understandable.

Spiritual headship is a role that is established to bring order and growth.
In the charismatic renewal we speak of spiritual headship as the role
given to the leadership of a prayer group, diocesian leadership or national
service team.  What it speaks of is "giving up" AUTHORITY and RESPONSIBILITY
for the spiritual growth of the group to the selected leadership while
requiring these leaders to also be ACCOUNTABLE.  The process 
for selection of the leaders varies considerably.  In general, it is not a
process to be entered into lightly, but it involves many hours of discernment 
and prayer.  Once the leadership has been selected, the authority and
responsibility is now in their hands, the individual members are now
committed to assent to their leadership.  The leaders are not home free
here as they typically have some responsibility and accountablilty to another 
level of "headship".  For example, our prayer group was organized around our 
parish, therfore, I as a leader looked to my pastor for headship and was
accoutable to him for my leadership.

As far as Deb's and my marraige is concerned, the principle is similar.
As the husband and father, I am called to exercise spiritual headship
within my family.  That means that I have been given the responsibility and
authority (by God and my wife) in spiritual matters within our family.  I
must now assume that responsibility willingly knowing that the spirit will
empower and guide me in exercising the responsibility.   I am accountable
to both my wife and family, but also to God.  I fully expect to stand
before the Lord, to give an accounting of my this role (amoung others).
In order to ensure I am able to meet this challenge, I look to
Jesus first for my personal spiritual headship, while utilizing the wisdom and
fellowship of other husbands as well as a spiritual guide (or director if
you will) to help me.


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