[MR] Women and the Early Church

[Costello53 at aol.com]

Actually the early Christen Church drew much of its financial support from 
wealthy women.  And women could and did achieve the rank of bishop.  This 
situation arose from the fact that the early Church met in private homes and 
in the Greco-Roman cultural tradition, women had authority over what happened 
in the home, i.e the private sphere, while men exercised authority outside 
the home, in the farm and the law courts for example, i.e. the public arena. 

It was only when Christianity "caught on" so to speak and moved from the 
private arena of the home to the public arena that women lost influence.  It 
was no accident
that early church designs were based on the Roman basilica or law court.  
This was public space in bold capital letters and one where women had no 
direct influence.
For a better overview of the history of the early Church see When Women Were 
Priests.  It is fascinating reading.

Lady Maire