Women in Ministry

Right now, I am the Lead Pastor at a church that allows and encourages women in roles that some other churches do not.  Women can serve as deacons, as teachers in a co-ed Life Group, members of the Leadership Board (the main decision making board of the church), can be licensed as a minister, and could hold the title “pastor”.

Sometimes we get questions about these decisions and so I thought I would write an article to show why I believe that these are biblically acceptable options.

I want to note that language – biblically acceptable– is very intentional.  I do NOT think that the decisions this church has come to are biblically necessary.

I have worked in other churches that had very different conclusions on these issues. Immediately before coming be on staff at this church, I was an elder at a church that would have said none of these were allowed, and I think that is a biblically acceptable option too!

I have no intention for this to be an in depth article about women in the church or home in general.  Heck, it isn’t even a very in depth conversation in women’s roles in ministry – that takes books.  This is just a simple explanation of why I think the options chosen by the church where I am are biblically within the margin of error, so to speak.

So, given so much margin in how to interpret the biblical teachings on the roles of women in the church, what are some of the complicating factors and how do I feel comfortable with the direction that our church has gone?

Here are some complicating factors:

The Greek word for “man” (aner) (see Romans 4:8) is also the Greek word for “husband” (see Romans 7:2).  There are times when this creates uncertainty in the language as to which is being emphasized (the sex or the role).

To further complicate matters, the Greek word for “woman” (gune)is also the Greek word for “wife”.  The meaning is based on the context entirely.

Go check out I Corinthians 11:3-16 and imagine how important this distinction would be.

How about the idea that women are to be silent in church from 1 Cor 14?

“…the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. ³⁵ If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” (ESV)

I think this passage is clearly intended to be translated “wife” each time.  Paul seems to think that wives (not women as a whole sex) should be asking their questions of their husbands instead of their teacher… and this makes sense in the understanding that Paul thought of the husband as the spiritual leader of his wife. But anyone can see how this can be confusing given the Greek language!  It is easy to see why there is a lot of room for interpretation of passages like this.

So, what about the roles in the church?