Women in Pastoral Leadership
I recently spoke to a pastor who made his case for not supporting women as senior pastors. “I’ve asked many men this question,” he said. “As a man, when you see a woman up front preaching or teaching, what’s the first thing you think about? The first thing that comes into your mind is if she is attractive or not. This distraction is one of the main reasons women should not be senior pastors or preach to men”, he said.
I was somewhat shocked by this argument. Not because he believed this, but because he said it out loud and so boldly. He stated it as if it were a biblical truth. To me, his statement was more about the sexism within evangelicalism connected to the sexism within the broader society, than some well thought out theological position on women in ministry leadership.
At least he was honest and pointed to the real issue at the foundation of why many men in evangelicalism struggle with women in ministry and pastoral leadership. Some try to cover up this truth by using the words of Paul in the New Testament. I’m not going to go into all the Scriptures which support women in ministry and pastoral leadership because this has already been done. I invite you to go to the website of the Evangelical Covenant Church (www.covchurch.org) to get information on some insightful resources.
What I will say is this-
Should the words of Paul, which could very well be situational and contextual, not universal and unconditional be used to argue the case for women in ministry? Shouldn’t the actions of Jesus with women and the equipping of women by God speak louder than the words of Paul? To the second question, I say yes.
I believe the bible is authoritative and central for living. Within this belief, I believe the works of God, which includes the works of Jesus, should speak louder than the words of Paul. I don’t in anyway negate the words of Paul or them being from God, but these word of Paul are put in its proper context when put up against and compared to the works and words of Jesus. Why is this important? Because Jesus is God and Paul is not. God speaks higher than God’s servants and God speaks thru God’s servants simultaneously. This understanding is important in dealing with the issue of women in ministry.
What does the actions of Jesus with women in the Gospels tell us about God’s empowerment of women and should this speak louder than Paul’s words, which I present were situational, not universal? Jesus transforms and empowers the life of the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus has a woman anoint and prepare him for the cross. Jesus answers the prayers of the Canaanite woman. Jesus heals the woman with the issue of blood. Jesus stands with the woman caught in adultery. Jesus gives life to a teenage girl left for dead. A woman is at the tomb first to acknowledge the resurrection of Jesus. All of this is not about women in pastoral leadership, but it’s about the bigger issue of God being mindful of the second-class citizenship of women and dealing with it as a kingdom agenda. Jesus challenges the place and role of women to the point that his own male disciples, were annoyed every time they witnessed His empowerment of women.
When it comes to women in ministry and pastoral leadership we should join the position of Jesus and also acknowledge our sexism.
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AMEN! Thank you so much for sharing this. We need more leaders in your position to be willing to take a strong outspoken stance on these issues.
Bigger than taking a strong outspoken stance (who hasn’t done that?)- AMEN to the honest man who was willing to voice what is central to being a man! Oh, that’s a God-created man!
Growing up in the church I never understood why leaders would allow women to become missionaries and lead churches overseas in dangerous parts of the world but not in our own church. Also, I never understood why women were allowed to teach Sunday School and children where the influence was perhaps greater in the long run than in an adult Sunday service. Thank you for speaking this out loud. As a woman I’ve felt as though I didn’t matter in my church. Why would God give me or other women certain gifts of leadership only to put us in American churches that want to hide it under a bushel just because of our gender?
hopefully the “argument” you are trying to debunk from the guy who talked about being distracted by physical appearances isn’t the only argument you have considered.
If you are looking for an avenue for some well thought through reasons for God’s design in men and women where some REAL and STRONG arguments are made for taking in the whole counsel of Scripture and forming solid biblical evidences you should check out http://www.cbmw.org (Biblical Counsel on Manhood and Womanhood). It is excellent work from leading men and women scholars on the importance of the God ordained roles that men and women can play as they serve the Lord. We are talking folks like Wayne Grudem, John Piper, etc…not theological light weights and men who care deeply about issues such as racism and sexism…but don’t land where you do Effrem.
Honestly, before you write something like this you should do some more research and be able to handle the Biblical arguments. The reasoning you use and the example you give are rather weak brother.
It’s so refreshing to hear a brother talk about this topic. It’s one thing for a woman to talk about this, but it gets exhausting always having to defend ourselves or speak up on the topic. Thanks for starting the conversation.
Thank you for this insight. I wholeheartedly agree and deeply appreciate your perspective that the citizenship of women is a kingdom agenda.
Thanks for your good news writing here Efrem!
Someday I want to hear your pull into advocating for this aspect of leadership and justice for the church – would be a good story I bet! peace – Liz
I think you can make an argument for women’s gifting in ministry from Scripture, even the writings of Paul. Look at women prophesying about Timothy, having equal rights in marriage in 1 Cor, being (divisive) leaders in Phillipi. You come across as dividing the Word of God and denigrating passages that are often being taken out of context. I agree this certain pastor has no Biblical basis, but a personal weakness that he’s using to deny others.
I agree with ap that you should check out the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. God gave men and women roles in life and the church. To say that the Bible does not teach that women are called to be pastors does not make women second class citizens.
From what I read it seems that you do have strong feelings that would allow women to be pastors. Yet I do not think you gave any Scriptural proof that would allow women to be pastors. Could it be there really is no Biblical text that would allow women to be pastors?
Maybe the heart of the issue is “pastor” vs. “teacher”? While I don’t claim to have thought out the issue, full biblical research and prayer, I would agree with you that preventing someone from sharing what God has taught them, only because they are the “wrong” sex seems arrogant, short sighted, and likely to deny “The Body” some wonderful tools for Spiritual growth and enrichment. Thanks for encouraging us to address this issue, which we often times ignore, because it is seems awkward.
Please send me a friend invite on facebook. It will not allow me to send you an invite! The message says that I do not know you and my invitation is spam.
I quite agree with you about the Word of Jesus speaking louder than that of Paul. Paul through the Holy Ghost in Galatians 3:28 said there is neither male nor female in Christ. I support women handling Churches of Christ.
IF JESUS WAS PRO WOMEN FOR PASTORAL LEADERSHIP THEN WHY DID HE CHOOSE 12 male DISCIPLES?
Well this is a good question and I do have an answer for you. Asking why Jesus started with males is like asking why God started with the Jews first. Your question implies that Gentiles, like me shouldn’t be preachers and teachers because I’m not a Jew. Well God started with Jews and then brought in Gentiles. In the same way Jesus started with men, but there is plenty of biblical evidence that he went on to include women. John 4 and the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman is an example. But even in the Old Testament we see examples of women as judges and prophets. The church’s take on women is more about culture than the bible in my opinion.
Efrem Smith