Final answer:
Initially, the first General Council maintained a traditional view that women should not be ordained and were to simply act as helpers in the gospel. Over time, some churches experienced internal transformations advocating for equal treatment and access to the pulpit, but such changes were met with resistance, reflecting societal norms on gender roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The position of the first General Council with regard to the ordination of women was quite traditional and restrictive. History shows that during these times, women's roles were largely defined by their relationship to men and their duty to contribute to the needs of the society. Women were usually not considered for ministerial roles within religious settings. In fact, the more traditional stance was that women could not be ordained and were to serve rather as helpers in the gospel. Although there were some regions and denominations where women gained greater freedom of expression in the church, leadership roles and authority were far less commonly granted to them compared to men.
Throughout history, many churches underwent internal transformation regarding women's roles, leading to advocacy for equal treatment and access to the pulpit. However, these changes often faced significant resistance, and the early positions on women’s ordination remained conservative, reflecting broader societal norms about gender roles and the position of women within the church and society at large. The dynamic of pushing for gender equality in religious leadership has continued to evolve over time, with various denominations taking different stances on the matter.