Women Pastors

Can a woman be a Pastor of a church?

Here is my thoughts on the matter. It is rather long, preachers seem to do things long sometimes. If it seems like I am getting off topic, be patient, it deals with the subject or one of the topics. If it seems that I am trying to argue, please understand that I am not. Just stating my opinion according to my interpretation of scripture.


Many today have not understood the roles of women according to the scriptures. And like many other things in the churches today, it has become decided upon according to the world and what is acceptable to the world.

I do not want to be accused of being a chauvinist or being sexist in what I am writing. And is not just things that I haven't said before to others in churches and in classes. I feel that women are the glory of a man and through the wife a mans character can be assessed and his nature can be seen. A women’s place is a place of honor because through marriage she completes a man when the two become one flesh. A wife should be shown the utmost respect by the husband and not be placed in a position where she feels threatened or like she is a slave to her husband. I have been married 28 years and our marriage has lasted, first because of God being first in our lives and also because even though I am the head of the home I understand how she is to be treated. She also understands her role as she ministers with me, and my role in the ministry and the home.

First as we discuss the word of God on this, as Christians, we have to keep in mind that we are in two different worlds; one spiritual and the other secular. We have to live in the secular world but we have to abide in the spiritual one. The bible is a collection of spiritual writings that have been conveyed to man through the Holy Spirit by God. Many times we get the two confused and try to interpret the word of God according to today’s society. People may not see it but the world is on a downhill run out of control and headed for a tree. We have lost the morals that were in place for so long because we have ignored the word of God, and now we try to fit God and His word in our lives instead of placing our lives in it. Is it the women's fault? no, the blame can't be placed on the woman. Society has taken the women out of the home and placed her in the work force. Now it takes more than one salary to make it. Now a new pickup costs what a house would cost 20 years ago. Many women work because that is what they have to do to make the family survive. Do the children suffer? yes, they also suffer because their dad goes fishing when he's off work, or when he gets home he's watching TV instead of being with his children.

In the secular world I have worked for women as my boss. I have sat in seminars and conferences where there were women speakers. If a women ran for president that held the same views I do and I felt would be a good choice according to the issues, I would vote for her. But this is in the secular world and not in the church. The scriptures deal with the church and the spiritual part of our lives as well as how we should live our lives in the secular world.

Galatians 3:28-29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

According to the scriptures, man and woman were created in the image of God. Not man after the image of God and woman after the image of man. We have the same worth to God because we were both created in the image of God. Because of that we both are equal as heirs of salvation. Neither receives anything different because of their gender but are both the same in the eyes of God in that respect. Just as the Jews didn't receive a better type of salvation that the gentiles, they are equal in Gods eyes as heirs of the promise.

1 Corinthians 14:33-35
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

1 Timothy 2
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

I once heard a women televangelist say that this shouldn't be in the bible and should be ignored because Paul was a crusty old bachelor and didn't like women. But we have to look at it for what it says and what it means. Even Peter said that Paul's writing should be held as scripture. (2 Peter 3:15-16)

From what it states in 1 Corinthians, which is taken by many to mean asking questions in the church, Paul refers to the law which had to be a reference to the Mosaic law. No matter the reason the verse still stands today. Does this mean a women is to remain quite in church. No, but her role is to be modeled after scripture and she is to be under obedience while in the service. Paul himself has even said that women can prophesy in the church, but the verse deals with confusion in the congregation that can be from their actions, speech, manner, or even against the scriptures or the law. If something may cause confusion or trouble it is best, in the church, to avoid it altogether.

The verse in 1 Timothy relates to spiritual things and the church. And gives the reason why, because woman was deceived and transgressed. Because of this women are restricted in their role in the church. Women are not to teach men or to be in authority over a man. This includes pastors, and teachers of groups that puts them in a authorative position over men. To say that this doesn't apply to the church today because times have changed, is invalid because Paul went to creation and the fall of man to show the reason why.

We must remember that more than a few of the cults have been started by women:

“It is one of the strange historical peculiarities of the saga of cultism that some cults were either started by women or were influences in a major way by the allegedly weaker sex: Christian Science, Mary Bakker Eddy; the Unity School of Christianity, Myrtle Fillmore; Spiritism, the Fox sisters; Jehovah's Witness, Maria Russell; Theosophy, Helena Blavatsky and Annie Besant; the Peace Mission Movement (Father Divine), Sister Penny and Faithful Mary (Viola Wilson)
Walter Martin   -   Kingdom of the Cults  -  (p. 284)


Where is a women’s place in the ministry of the church?

Titus 2:3-5
The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Women have a role of teaching in the ministry of the church as well as in life. To teach women and children. Women can minister to others according to what the bible says. In teaching the bible all the things above will come into play in their lives. Teaching children the word of God will develop morals and character in them that they will also teach others. And carry into their future in the secular world and as Christians. Women have a very important role in the ministry because through them people are shaped and their lives are formed. Women are taught how to be biblical wives that will enhance a marriage and will make it last. Boys are taught what is expected of them as men of God and how they are to treat their wives and how to perform the work of the ministry. Pr 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This training is provided by the women that care for not only the child but also the future. Am I saying that women can't ever minister to a man? no, many times a women can be the only one that can effectively minister to a man. But it is not in a position of authority, and can't include doctrine or other topics that lead the woman into a teaching role during the ministering. But advice and other topics that are affecting them in life. Women can spread the gospel message to others; men and women. But this is not a position, but is commanded for all to do so. Women did have roles in the bible where they heard from God and did relay a message to men, this was in the role of prophetesses, which can't be denied because of scripture but that was not an authoritive role in any ministerial calling. Even Phoebe in the NT was active in the ministry but in a servant position as many men were, as other women were also.

What about the role of a wife?

Proverbs 31 describes the model for a perfect wife. The first place a woman should be able to minister is to her husband.

Ephesians 5:21-33
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

1 Peter 3:1-7
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

This is the woman’s role as a wife according to the scriptures. It gives specific guidelines to women on how they should be in the homes, and with their husbands. Submit and be in subjection, to your husbands. But if we look into the verses even further we see that men or the husbands are to be to their wives as Christ was to the church. The main responsibility in the wives behavior to the husband is not due to her actions alone but according to the husbands actions toward her. He is to love her so much to be willing to give himself for her. He is to cherish, nourish her and honor her. He is to treat her with respect and dignity befitting the position she is in. But it starts with the two of them placing God first in their lives, then all else comes into place. But one thing that is important to remember this is about Christ and believers. Non-believers can't be subject to or understand the way a believer understands the scriptures, but can act in the same respect.

The largest amount of blame can't be placed on women alone. Many have been forced into a position of leadership in the homes and the churches by the lack of men participating actively. The economy and 6 day work weeks are a partial reason, as well as many men placing other interests ahead of God. Men have been falling out of attendance and out of the ministry because of not just confusion of what God expects. But goes back to bass boats and campers, Sunday football and other sports games, being the only time to rest after a long week. These have placed women into positions that they were not to be scripturally. What of men sitting under women pastors and teachers? Many men have placed themselves willingly under a woman's authority, it wasn't forced on them. that they will be held accountable for. I myself have never sat under a woman’s teaching, even under any of my wife’s teachings.