But I believe these biblical instructions, intended for a first century culture, were not meant to be normative or authoritative for the church in future generations and cultures. What is normative is that those in leadership are to be persons of impeccable integrity, wisdom and compassion. What is essential is not the gender, age, status or even title of the leader, but the character and commitment of the person who is the leader. I find this kind of closed-mindedness to be contrary to Scripture and to the spirit of Jesus. God is increasingly using women in ways that even a hundred years ago were unthinkable.
Women are now surgeons, scientists, prime ministers and presidents.
They are leaders in government and business, in public and in private, in the church and in culture. God is calling women to ministry. They are responding. Churches are recognizing it and inviting women to exercise their gifts at all levels of leadership in the congregation. Then I was challenged on several fronts.