Women in Leadership
One of the more controversial issues in the church today is the subject of women in leadership. I was recently asked what my view on this subject is. I believe that women are gifted by God to be leaders within the Body of Christ. The leadership roles that women can hold are vast and wide, depending upon the giftings and talents that God has given to them.
When looking through Scripture, we see that the Bible mentions women serving in the church of God on several occasions.
- We know that Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, taught the great preacher Apollos (Acts 18:26).
- Phoebe was a servant of the church in Cenchrea, and a helper of many saints, which seems to indicate her being in some type of leadership role (Rom. 16:1-2).
- Paul tells us that he had women who did the same work as he did, by “sharing” in his struggle in the cause of the gospel at Philippi (Phi. 4:3).
- We hear about a disciple named “Tabitha” who seems to have been a leader of her people, and who abounded with deeds of kindness and charity continually (Acts 9:36-43).
- We know that Lydia had great leadership skills (Acts 16:14), so much that once she received Christ, her entire household followed her in the faith (Acts 16:15), even persuading Paul to stay with them a bit longer (v.15), and eventually using her house as a gathering for fellowship of the believers (Acts 16:40).
- We can also see woman demonstrating leadership within the church by being the first to preach the gospel (John 4:28-30), the last at the cross (Mark 15:47), the first at the tomb (John 20:1), and being equally a part of the first church meeting (Acts 1:14).
There are a couple of
limitations as to the type of leadership women can exercise within the Body of
Christ. When examining the Bible, we find that the one area of leadership God
has not permitted women to hold is the office of elder. Elders are called to be
overseers of the church (Acts 20:28), and must be godly, qualified men (1
Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-6), whose lives exemplify what it means to follow
Christ (Hebrews 13:7).
The Bible also teaches us
that woman cannot have authority over men (1 Timothy 2:12). Some would argue
this was a cultural issue Paul was addressing. However, I believe when Paul
used Adam and Eve as his example (1 Timothy 2:13-14), he was not dealing with a
cultural issue at the time, but instead, he was crossing back over all cultures
throughout the history of the world, in order to show that this was how God
intended for authority to look within the family and the church, from the
beginning of time.
At the same time, I believe
if there are churches that have women in places of leadership (which I am in
full support of), and there are men serving within that ministry (i.e.
Children’s Ministry, Worship Ministry, Care Ministries, etc.), her authority
over the men in those particular areas of ministry, is an extension of the
Lead Pastor/Elder Board’s authority, and is not in conflict with God’s Word.
Meaning, she is representing the greater leadership of the church, and she has
been entrusted with the support and authority of the Lead Pastor/Elders of
the church to lead that particular ministry. Her leadership, as is all other
leadership positions within the church, is simply under the umbrella of the
greater leadership structure within the church that has been passed down from
the Lead Pastor/Elder Board.
