Female Adults Praying In The Company of Male Children (page 2)

Homerovah the Almighty

Quite humorous to think that there are people today trying to follow 2000 year old social and spiritual pracitices.....dam funny

Perhaps I understood this wrong. I thought a baptised woman would be called upon to say a prayer when a bapstised male was not present and she was required to wear a head covering, regardless of whether or not male children were present.

White Dove

OMFG!

serotonin_wraith

Anyone in that cult who can clear this up? Call Bethel!

Justitia Themis

*** w603/15pp.191-192QuestionsFromReaders***

Questions

FromReaders

Is it necessary for a sister to cover her head when praying in the presence of a dedicated brother other husband?Is it necessary for her to do so when conducting a Bible study under such a circumstance, as in the presence of a servant of the congregation who is training her or when the circuit servant accompanies her?—M.S.,U.S.A.

There appears to be no reason why a dedicated woman should ever lead in prayer in the presence of adult dedicated males. (1 Cor. 11:3) At the Brooklyn Bethel home no sisters are ever called on to lead the family in prayer. So long as an adult dedicated male is present, in the congregation or in the home, he should represent the rest in petition to Jehovah God. If an undedicated husband wishes his wife to lead in audible prayer, she may do so, but then out of respect for his headship she should have her head covered. (1 Cor. 11:5, 10) When the husband is absent but dedicated male minors, sons, are present, the mother should also have her head covered if she prays. At such times it would be at her discretion either to offer the prayer herself or ask one of her dedicated sons to offer it. But never should an unbaptized son represent dedicated members of the family in prayer. When only dedicated mother and dedicated daughters are present in the home, the mother may call on one of her dedicated daughters to pray if she so desires. In such cases none need cover her head.

There may be instances, however, when it is advisable for a sister to conduct a home Bible study in the presence of a dedicated brother, such as those mentioned in the question; or she may be conducting a home Bible study with a brother newly baptized and who still needs help. What then? In such cases the dedicated brother should offer the prayer, and the sister may conduct the study with her head covered. This she does out of respect for theocratic order because he, as well as she, is a member of the congregation of God, and in the congregation the man should do the teaching. (1 Tim. 2:11, 12) If a dedicated sister is conducting a study with her undedicated husband or with another person but in the presence of her undedicated husband, she should also have her head covered. This would be in recognition of the fact that the husband ought to be the one giving Bible education in the presence of his family as represented by his wife.

The Law of Moses in various ways reminded Israelite women of the preferred position that men occupied before Jehovah so that they would not lose sight of man’s headship and fall into the error made by Eve. Thus the identifying physical mark that distinguished Jehovah’s covenant people was one that applied only to the male, namely, circumcision. Then again, the period of a mother’s uncleanness for giving birth to a baby girl was twice as long as for a baby boy. When Jesus miraculously fed the multitudes his apostles counted only the men present: "Those eating comprised about five thousand men, besides women and young children." "Those eating comprised four thousand men, besides women and young children."—Ex. 12:48; Lev. 12:2, 5; Matt. 14:21; 15:38.

Likewise in the Christian congregation, by means of the head-covering provision the theocratic position of the woman in relation to the man is stressed. In addition to its rich symbolic significance, it works in the interest of harmony and peace. It also serves to caution Christian women against exerting undue female influence and alerts Christian men against succumbing to it as did Adam, Samson, King Solomon and those in the congregation of Thyatira.—Rev. 2:20-23.

tula

and suppose the female adult comes unprepared and has nothing to cover her head?

Is it permissible to skip the prayer, or should she pull the back of her dress up over her head?

LaniB

I've seen a few sister unprepared who ended up putting the following on their heads.... and yes, they did look a little silly

Doily

handkerchief

face washer (dry of course)

and once

a tea towel.....

blondie

Women cover their heads even if there are only women present, no male children. The issue is not that an unbaptized male child has any status over the women. Women only cover their head if they are taking the place of a baptized jw.

*** w51 9/1 p. 543 Questions From Readers ***If the sister praying at mealtime is unmarried, having no husband as her head, she need wear no head-covering, whether she is in her own home or a friend’s home or a missionary home. Of course, in all instances if a brother is present he should pray.

Sisters don't have to wear head-covering when conducting a home bible study even if an unbaptized male is present.

*** w51 9/1 p. 543 Questions From Readers ***But when a sister finds interest in the field, follows it up and establishes a home Bible study of her own, she does not thereby become a conductor of a congregational meeting.

*** w60 3/15 p. 191 Questions From Readers ***When the husband is absent but dedicated male minors, sons, are present, the mother should also have her head covered if she prays. At such times it would be at her discretion either to offer the prayer herself or ask one of her dedicated sons to offer it. But never should an unbaptized son represent dedicated members of the family in prayer. When only dedicated mother and dedicated daughters are present in the home, the mother may call on one of her dedicated daughters to pray if she so desires. In such cases none need cover her head.

dinah

Tula,

I amost wet my pants. That was toooooo funny.

nelly136

most inventive head covering i ever saw was a pair of Y fronts, ( fortunately they were off a clean washing pile)

Female Adults Praying In The Company of Male Children