Source: https://dogscupoftea.com/2018/07/31/devo-what-the-bible-says-about-women-in-church-leadership/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 20:56:43+00:00

Document:
Good morning and Happy Tuesday! Today, I am going to be talking about a topic that is quite controversial, especially in today’s society in the church. That topic is women leadership within the church. Although, it is more conservatively known to be wrong for women to lead, it has become a much more common thing with the rise of women rights and equality within the American society. As a young woman who absolutely loves to lead worship for my youth group, there was a part of me that wondered if it would be okay to become a “big church” full time worship leader. So I started asking pastors I trusted and I got different answers. One pastor encouraged me to do my own Bible study and see where it lead me, which is what I did. Today, I am going to take you along my studying journey and how I received my conclusion. So let’s get into it!
As I previously stated, I decided to start with contacting three pastors whom I trusted asking them all the same question, which was, “Would it be biblically ok if I were to become a full time worship leader, or would it be wrong since the Bible mentions women to not preach or have leadership in the church?” One believed it was fine for women to have leadership within the church, because the verse that I was thinking of was taken out of context and it was specific to a church in Corinth (I think). Another pastor said that again, it was taken out of context, but that women are allowed to lead as long as a man ordains it and has the leadership over them. An example of this would be a woman being allowed to lead worship, or a couple songs, because a man had given her the permission to do so. The last pastor said it was not okay to have women be in a place of leadership in a church, because the church and the family are supposed to submit to one another like we are supposed to submit to Christ (women to men as us to Christ, but also in submission to each other).
After taking all of this into account, I jumped into my Bible (+ the internet to help get started). As a starting point, I used this website (click HERE). Using the verses listed, I started going through every position of leadership (Pastors, elders, deacons, ushers, communion leaders, and worship leaders) and this is what I ended up finding (along with the verses in use)….
My Question: Can women, can I, be a worship leader full time (or a worship pastor), but not preach?
Broader Question: Can women hold a place of leadership in the church?
v. 1-7: A man must be in place of an overseer (or pastor), not a women.
v. 8-13: Deacons must be male as well.
v. 6: Must be male (same reason as above).
v. 3: Christ -> Man -> Woman (The church is in submission to Christ, as women are to men).
v. 11: Men and women are dependent, or need to be in submission, to each other.
v. 6: Some were called “apostles”, or messengers.
Abigail directs David to not commit murder with non-directive leadership and authority, but also with submission.
Miriam lead worship among other women.
Deborah lead worship WITH a man.
Women are told they are supposed to stay quiet within the church.
Basically, women have their role in the church, however, speaking, or preaching (roles of leadership) alone are not allowed. Example: Leading worship is fine as long as it is with, or with the ordainment, of a man.
Egalitarian: Men and woman have equal rights in the church, therefore women can hold any place of leadership.
Women went with men to pray about who would replace Judas Iscariot, the apostle.
Women corrected teaching of a man.
Woman as deaconesses, or women deacons.
Complementarian: Focuses on the verses 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 that states that women are supposed to be submitted to men as the church is to Christ, which means women must submit to the leadership of men. Therefore, women cannot be in a place of leadership.
Women are to be silent.
Women are told not to teach.
The pastor who believes that women are allowed to be leaders in the church sent me this article (click HERE) that helped him come to this conclusion.
My thoughts about this article: This article was focused on the women of the early church and it gave a ton of historical evidence and Biblical evidence on women who were active in their faith and played important roles within the church. These roles included being deacons, elders, missionaries, and prophets. However, the thing that concerned me about this is that there was very little biblical scripture to back this up. Yes, much historical evidence was used, but there included none of the verses I had previously used and explained them in a way that would conclude that women could hold a place of leadership over men. Therefore, this article did not change or challenge what I had previously read in the Bible, which were pretty clear.
Conclusion: Women cannot hold leadership (over men) in a church.
Now… you may be thinking, “Maddie, you’re a woman… how do you feel about this or accept this? Is this not offensive to you?” Well, let me be completely honest…. I was quite disappointed when I came to this conclusion, however, I did not want to put myself in a position where God so clearly states as not okay. I would be doing the exact opposite of His will. You may have noticed that it didn’t seem like my study was very intense or that I spent a lot of time at it, and honestly, I didn’t need to. Going into this with an open mind, I knew that I needed to be okay without whatever answer that was given, because it’s God’s answer. A part of me, after my studying, wanted to dig deeper and try to find the answer I wanted, however, that was me just trying to find a way to bend the Bible or maybe find a grey area so that my answer didn’t have to be wrong. Right then, I knew that was a warning flag and I needed to stop or else I would be looking too hard for an answer that I couldn’t find and I would just be making up the answer I wanted, stretching the truth.
Many would just assume that God is sexist… however, He really isn’t when you think about it. God specifically designed men and women to have specific roles and to compliment each other. However, in no way did God design men to dictate over women. Many assume that submission means, in a sense, becoming a slave to that person. However, what it really means, is yes, submitting yourself (or coming under one’s leadership), but it also means a co-dependent relationship. In a marriage, and in the church, the the man is called to love, take care of, and respect his wife and the wife is supposed to submit to him and love him, just as God loves and takes care of the church and the church submits to Him. The man is in no way supposed to harass his wife, to put her down, or subject her as his slave. Again, he is supposed to love her and care for her. They do live together, not alone. They are dependent of each other. Their relationship and their own selves are bettered, because of the other. A women’s role is just as important as a man’s, but they are different and that’s okay. God is in no way being sexist. He established very important roles that need to be filled by each position according to His design. When done in and through His will, marriages and the church succeed and are glorified.
What are your thoughts? If you have studied this at all, let me know where your studies took you on this topic.
Me too!! You as well!
Same here! I always enjoy a good conversation on scripture like this! Have a great day!!
Yes, I definitely agree to this. God will use men or women in the way He has designed. Thank you for the conversation. It’s been great communicating with you on this!
But to your conclusion, I totally agree. Women have their position, men have theirs. And God will use us where we plants us for his glory. Maybe where the line is drawn has some grey areas that we could discuss based upon various passages and get specific direction from the Holy Spirit, but in general God has given women and men their own unique glory in how they manifest the image of his own glory and we reflect him best when we are where he intended us to be.
Of course! Thank you for the response. I love discussing these things! Deborah is a really good example. But how did she get into leadership anyway? I just read that part in Judges 4…I can’t find it saying that no man was willing to be the leader. Just that she became the judge. And she was married too…how come Lappidoth wasnt the judge instead? That would be interesting to find out. I read that passage as saying its ok for a woman to lead men – she was leading Israel spiritually and she told Barak on behalf of God where to go (though I guess that arguably could not be leadership. I’m a big JRR Tolkien fan and I would almost like her role to a Gandalf rather than an Aragorn, to use a nerdy Lord of the Rings analogy) – unless I’m missing something which happens haha!!
It is a difficult subject. I definitely give you props though for willing to be completely open and seeing what God has as his answer regardless of how you feel. That’s great wisdom!! Everyone could use that aporoach more often!
Thank you for your comment! I really appreciate it.(: Something I don’t think I made clear in this passage is that it’s wrong (from what I researched) when a woman is in leadership over a man. HOWEVER, I didn’t mention this, because it came up in later research after this blog post was written, if a man is unwilling to lead, a woman should take leadership. A biblical example of this would be Deborah. I’ve known an amazing children’s pastor who is a woman. She’s incredible, but she’s not in leadership over grown men. I’m / was a worship leader for my youth group. This is kinda iffy because I was a leader over men, however, there were no men willing to step up.
I really wish it was more okay for women to be leaders, because I looooove leading worship. Really, point being, women have their specific place in the church, same with men, but God will use people in whatever was He needs them or sees fit. So yes, I totally understand what you’re saying and agree. Yes, very difficult subject, especially with today’s society and church.
Really good summation of passages on the subject. I can’t disagree with your analysis…honestly deep down I’m kinda rooting for women to be in leadership. But I do have to agree with what you wrote here.
On the flip side…I know a lot of women pastors. I don’t think they are in sin. But they are associate pastors (kids min, small groups, etc). I dont get the vibe from the Spirit that it is wrong, but that’s just me. But I. Not sure I think its right for a woman pastor to be the head pastor? Maybe that’s where the line is drawn in today’s church? Idk.
Btw I am a deeply involved in our kids min and we have several women pastors that are friends and very strong believers. This is a hard subject for sure! Great post!

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