Women Pastors?

Women Pastors?

1 Tim. 2:12-15 (ESV)  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, then Eve; ¹⁴ and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. ¹⁵ Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Over the past several decades we’ve seen a growing controversy over whether women should be pastors or even teach men.  The above passage seems to tell us they can’t, but are there conditions on this?

For a few years, we attended a church where the pastor’s wife would teach women’s groups and was a wonderful teacher, but if a man entered the room while she was teaching, she would politely stop until he left.  I’m thinking that might be a little extreme, but it was how she felt, and most conservative Christians prefer to err on the conservative side rather than not. Some, though, will take this to the extreme. I belonged to a church which would not allow women ushers.

Missionaries are usually asked to speak to at the churches who support them financially on the mission field when they come home on furlough.  I was a driver for a woman missionary who did this.  We arrived at a very conservative church, and since the pastor had not yet arrived when she was supposed to speak, she began her report from the pulpit to those in attendance.  Now I’m a pretty conservative guy, but I saw no problem with this.  She was simply telling of her adventures on the mission field, but the pastor told me afterward he would not have allowed her in the pulpit had he arrived before her talk.  I think that’s taking it a bit far.

Another passage that seems to apply is just after the one above where Paul gives Timothy a list of qualifications for elder/overseer:

1 Tim. 3:1-7 (ESV)  The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. ² Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, ⁵ for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷ Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

There is no mention of women as elders here or anywhere else in Scripture.  The entire passage is masculine and even refers to “the husband of one wife” as a qualification.  So, it is generally accepted by conservative Bible churches that women cannot be elders.  Since pastors are elders, it follows women cannot be pastors either.

“But then what is the role of women in the church?” you might ask.  Well, right after this passage comes Paul’s qualifications for deacon:

1 Tim. 3:8-13 (ESV)  Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. ⁹ They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. ¹¹ Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. ¹² Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. ¹³ For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The interesting thing here is that verse 11 mentions wives.  The Greek word for wives here is the same as the word for women.  The verse could read “The women, likewise must be dignified . . . .” and many scholars believe it does mean women.  In fact, the NASB translates the verse this way.  The “husband of one wife” qualification here, of course, would apply to men deacons.

Another passage which points to women deacons is found in Romans 16:1 (ESV)  I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.

The word for servant here (diakonos) describing our sister Phoebe is also the Greek word for deacon.  So, many churches are recognizing this and are fine with women entering the ranks of deacons in their body.

Why is this important?

I believe Scripture says women can hold any leadership office except pastor/elder.  I’ve heard many women who are excellent teachers, but I just can’t go against what I believe is clearly taught in the Bible and shouldn’t do so.  My stand has always been that 1 Tim. 2 is speaking of doctrinal teaching, typical Sunday morning teaching.

Women are clearly encouraged to teach each other and children.  There is no limitation there.  This is simply a role issue for men and women.  God has assigned functions in the body of Christ for each of us and limits us or promotes us as He wills.