For most of the history of the institutional Christian church, women were not eligible for leadership, especially for ordination. There are many sociological reasons. But be aware that, properly understood, Paul’s prohibitions at his time are not a reason for excluding women from church leadership today.
A grace-focused ministry should have a lot to do with the role of women in church life. That role has been limited for a variety of historical reasons. We have assumed the negative; rules for what they can’t do. But shouldn’t we be emphasizing the positive of what they can do? A full understanding of God’s grace should lead us to see the role of women in the church as the same for men.
Paul’s two passages cited for the limited role of women are 1 Timothy 2:12-14 (“I do not permit a woman to teach.”) and 1 Corinthians 14: 34-35 (“women should remain silent in the churches”). Were these statements meant for all times or were they Paul’s principles for the culture he faced at his time? The culture he faced was very different than our culture now.
To set the context, go to 1 Corinthians 7:10-12. There he is addressing those who are married. “To the married, I give this command (not I, but the Lord).” Several verses later he wrote, “To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord).” Paul was very comfortable distinguishing between what God expects for all time and what he, Paul, expected of church participants living in the culture of his times.
Now go back to his statement in his first letter to Timothy, “I also want women to dress modestly, not with pearls and expensive clothes.” “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”
Again, whose expectations are these for the role of women in the church? A clue would be his second expectation that women should dress with modesty, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes. Who today insists that women in the church not braid their hair nor dress with pearls nor wear expensive clothing? This is Paul’s expectation, not God’s. Isn’t the inconsistency apparent between, on the one hand, insisting that women remain silent in church yet, on the other hand, not prohibiting pearls or expensive clothing? Paul was setting out his own (not God’s) principles for ministering to conventional society. He was not a radical. He clearly did not want to offend people in the culture at that time.
State Paul’s principle in the positive. Women were very evident as leaders in those first house churches. Is there any persuading evidence to the contrary? These two passages certainly do not meet that high standard.
Paul was the apostle for the heart set free by the Holy Spirit. Such grace-bestowed freedom should be true for women as well as men. Why insist on following rules that no longer fit current times? Why deprive churches of the leadership potential present in half the population? Our challenge is to be lovingly Evangelical rather than freedom-denying Legalistic.
It makes sense for women to exercise the full range of gifts for ministry given by the Holy Spirit, as stated so clearly in 1 Corinthians 12: 7, “Now to each (not excluding women), is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Perhaps there are other reasons for excluding women from leadership in churches. But they won’t be found in Scriptures.
In our culture today the number of women CEOs increases every year. Company boards search for the best they can find. They look for leaders who have proven their abilities. In their search, they don’t exclude women right from the start as many churches have done in the past. Churches, too, should start with positive assumptions, not with negatives appropriate 2,000 years ago.
What leadership roles do women have in your congregation? Are their limitations? Why?
Paul was mainly interested in sharing the gospel. If it gave offense in a culture to have women preach, he avoided that. In today’s culture it gives offense not to allow women preach of hold any position. I’m quite sure a Paul would have ten supported women in any role, for the sake of the gospel.
I agree fully.
I agree completely!
Amen
We do have a female pastor – which is new for our church. She is our Operations Pastor. Unfortunately, we do not have any female elders yet. I hope that will change.
Great! Evangelicals have tended to take Paul’s statements literally. Operations Pastor looks like a good role to start with. Has your pastor done any work with the distinction between I-not-God and God-not-I in 1 Corinthians 7. It opens up the larger issue of interpretation of Scriptures. How does what was true then and there apply to here and now twenty centuries later. A good place to dig in is the book by Gordon Fee and James Stuart How to Read the Bible For All It’s Worth. They remain conservative in their interpretation.
I agree 100%!
We are one body and one Spirit all united in Jesus by the grace of God.
The body has many parts to be used to glorify Him.
Scripture does not state male or female parts: One body untied in God by His Spirit!
How can anything united in God separate us from His Love.
What you say is true. But for conservatives I don’t think that is the way to start discussion of women in ministry. Take Paul’s statements seriously and work the distinction between I-Not-God and God-Not I in 1 Corinthians 7.
But Paul gave the reason for his prohibition and it wasn’t his culture. He was basing his argument on principles that transcended both time and culture – 1) Adam was created first. 2) Whereas Adam and Eve both disobeyed, Adam did so with his eyes wide open. That serpent was able to deceive Eve. Those two truths are at the root of all of human history. Culture doesn’t change that. You commented that women have showed their worth as CEO’s so it must be okay for them to take over the leadership in churches. Nobody is questioning their abilities. Who would I be without the wisdom and street smarts of my wife? What Paul is referring to is the nature of God’s design in societal structure. In the same way we never see Jesus try to take leadership from God the Father though He is completely equal as God, as a reflection of that Trinity, we never see the women being told to lead the men. We actually read the opposite, even though women are completely equal. You know this, it’s dangerous to try to interpret Scripture with cultural considerations as the starting point – when referring to any doctrine.
You state well the issue. And the issue is whether Paul in relation to women in ministry is making statements true for all time or was he addressing the culture of his time. He does both in his letters. Focus on his distinction between I-not-God and God-not-I in 1 Corinthians 7: 10-12. Then go to his statements in 1 Timothy 2:8-15. Three times he states “I” before announcing his principles. Incidentally, he also wants men to lift up their hands in prayer. Where is that done in church life today?
Thank you for this wisdom, David. We allow women to lead, teach, and preach on the mission field. Why prohibit them when they return home? Besides, this same Paul said “In Christ there is neither male nor female,” which I interpret to mean that whomever wants to serve God, God will use to get the job done!
The mission field is a good testing ground. Where there are so few natural leaders, women have to take on ministry leadership roles. Increasingly that is true today in old congregations. Women gifted with leadership skills get called on to take more leadership. For those insisting on the old (culturally bound) rules, women’s teaching in a sermon can be done under supervision of an ordained male. The issue is speaking truth and calling out false teaching. This is a supervisory role. The responsibility can be delegated but accountability remains with the supervisor.
I whole heartedly agree with the above comments that women should have leadership positions in the church. However, is that really happening? There seems to be agreement that times have changed and women are deserved of leadership roles. But what is the Missouri Synod Church actively doing to promote women? Perhaps I am unaware.
Years ago, I personally felt a calling to leadership and was serving in the capacity of drama director along with worship planning, praise team and even some worship leading. I decided to go back to school to help me in these roles. It wasn’t easy while also raising a family and working in the healthcare field. But I clearly felt the Lord leading me to pursue my degree. Not finding any program within the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church for women through distance learning, I went elsewhere. However, once I graduated, instead of being given opportunities, my role was diminished or taken away under the new leadership. Instead of being valued, I was pushed aside. Needless to say, I was hurt, crushed and even thought of leaving the church. But I realized God must have other plans for me. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if I was a man, would the results have been the same?
Change needs to happen so young women coming up in the church can be valued and become future ministry leaders.
Lori, unfortunately what you described happened. I am sorry I could not help you more. Yes, you did finish your degree, and I commend you. You did take the Ministry Specialist course on preaching. While the professor did not encourage a sermon but he did encourage a drama. You wrote on the bread of life. It was excellent.
This is the problem with today’s Lutheran Churches. ELCA serves those that want a feel good Lutheran church . If your gay male or female you can preach. Same sex marriages are ok , abortion is fine . These are all abominations toGod. Repent of your sins!!
I gather you are supporting Lori. I know the situation. What happened was not related to her gender. It was a new pastor who wanted to do drama himself. The LCMS position on ordination will remain for years to come.
I would not be comfortable preaching in a worship service, but I have taught men in the Bethel Bible Series and had no complaints. In fact, they were quite complimentary regarding my knowledge and teaching ability.
We had a woman teach Bethel twice. It was not an issue for anybody. In the LCMS I could see a woman’s message could be done as a big part of the pastor’s message. The role of the pastor is to supervise the messages presented and taught. He is still accountable.
Let’s go back to the old testament and look at the example God gave us, men only as Priest.
No, don’t go back to the OT. It does not have equal status with the New Deal God initiated centered on Christ.
David, Thank you for the reassurace on the issue of women in ministry, as our daughter is ready to be ordained in ministry for ELCA. Have you been able to read any of Dick Gahl’s resesarch on the topic?
Hi Faith. No, I have not read this research. But ordination of women is hardly the most pressing problem traditional Protestants face, as their numbers decline. I am glad women have an option in the ELCA/NALC. I am glad she has chosen that path into ministry.