I've been speaking on a yahoo group called Patriarch's Wives and the question came up about women speaking in church ( 1Cor 14:34-35). Some women believed that they should not speak in sunday school class or bible studies in homes where the company is mixed.
I did some research and came up with this:
The previous verses talk about the types of teaching that may occur ( tongues, prophecy, revelation, psalm, interpretation) and the best way for it to be done. My commentary in my bible (NKJ) states that Paul allowed women to participate in worship and speak in the assembly (1Cor11:5) but here he may have been forbidding them from giving spoken criticisms of the prophecies that were made because he was concerned that the principle of headship be evidenced in the public assembly of believers.
34-35: Women shouldn't be judging prophecy or disrupting meetings.
a. Paul has already assumed the right of women to pray or prophecy publicly (11:1-16); here he is probably emphasizing the right of women to judge prophecy, something restricted to the male leadership of the church.
b. as well, women shouldn't be disrupting meetings with questions or chatter.
Chuck Smith commentary:
34-35 The men and women were separated and seated on either side of the assembly during services. The women were calling to their husbands to ask questions during the service so Paul asked the women to wait until they were home to discuss the message.
It is anyones choice to not speak at a bible study in someone's home but I don't think the bible is saying that we can't do this. I think taken in context that this verse is speaking to women challenging what the men are teaching in public through whatever means they are teaching (v26). I would not do this but would go home and ask my husband about the teaching. However I will make a comment in sunday school or bible study on what God has shown me through the passage that we are studying. This is not challenging my husbands authority or anyone elses. It also says in verse 35 ...for it is shameful for women to speak in church. I think this further supports my view on speaking in bible studies or sunday schools. I believe this to be a worship service in the sanctuary with the pastor doing the teaching.
I would love to hear comments or any other information that someone has studied.
Susan
PS_ my husband has read this and has approved it. Even though I am speaking to women I wanted to make sure he knew what I was saying. | 
