Women, Called and Serving in Leadership

Pastorial office for men alone?

September 18, 2008 on 10:10 pm | In Women in Ministry | No Comments

“God has set aside the pastoral office and ministry for men only.”

This statement made conveys the either of two meanings – 1) “all ministry in the church, including the office of pastor, is for men only” or 2) “that the office and ministry of pastor belongs to men only”?

Each of the meanings of these statements place a different level of `service’ allowed women in the church.

The first excludes women from ALL ministry positions in the church, in effect allowing women to simply be `pew sitters’ or `pew warmers’ in the church.

The second excludes women only from serving in the office of pastor, while allowing them freedom to serve and minister elsewhere in the church.

One of the problems which faces the church concerning the issue of women and their ability to minister in the church is exactly this – how, when, and where are they allowed by Scripture to serve??

Different church denominations have allowed different levels for women’s service in the church. Each denomination claims to have based their determination upon Scriptural command.

If it is truly so “plainly written in English“, if it is so “plainly written in black and white” as you wrote in one of your later posts, why is there such great difference in what each church denomination has determined to be the correct Scriptural usage of women??

If the Scriptural truth is as you said “spelled out in plain English” than according to 1 Cor.14:34 all woman must be absolutely silent in the church; she is not allowed or permitted to speak one single word. It is improper for any woman to speak one single word in the church.

That is exactly what the “plain English” says of women’s ability to speak in the church.

If we are to apply this verse `exactly as it says” as you would say we must, then women must NOT open their mouths in church ever – not one word are they permitted to speak.

Not only can they not speak in the church, they can not sing and they can not teach Sunday school in the church. Each of these requires a woman opening her mouth and uttering words.

If we take this verse “exactly as it reads” all women must NEVER utter a word in the church. A woman must be absolutely silent in the church at all times.

Almost all church denominations have put aside such a literal interpretation of this Scripture as nonsense. They have done so because of clear Scriptural indications made in the Bible through other Scriptures of women being allowed to speak in the church.

Now comes the question: if women are allowed to speak, just where, how much, and to whom can they speak?

Which leads us to an “exactly as it says” “in plain English” look at 1 Tim 2:12.

If we are to apply this verse `exactly as it says” as you would say we must, then women must Never teach or exercise authority over any one who is of the male gender and not only must she never teach of exercise authority over a male she is commanded once again to be silent.

An `exactly as it says” interpretation of this Scripture would command a woman to not teach any male – no matter his age!! An `exactly as it says” interpretation of this Scripture would command a woman to NEVER have any authority over a male – again no matter his age!!! An “exactly as it says” interpretation of this Scripture commands a woman again to be in total silence!!!

These Scriptures can ABSOLUTELY NOT be interpreted exactly as written. To do so is in direct violation of other scripture.

A quick case in point is Phoebe who is called by Paul a servant / minister. The Greek word for `servant / minister’ is diakonos and means according to the Strong’s Greek Dictionary “specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess)”

As a deaconess Phoebe would operate in authority over many who were male in gender.

Paul who supposedly wrote women were to have no authority over the male gender COMMENDS Phoebe to the Roman church and orders them to help her in whatever she has need of.

Paul would have to be a “double minded man” for us to translate 2 Timothy 2: 12 “exactly as it says.”

By the one Scriptural and unarguable example of Phoebe we must expel the first meaning of your statement. Phoebe was allowed ministry in the church.

By the one Scriptural and unarguable example of Phoebe called by Paul as a diakonos – which means SPEFICALLY a Christian TEACHER and PASTOR and technically a deacon or deaconess – we have Scriptural evidence to build upon to expel the second meaning of your statement. By Paul’s usage of this Greek Word we have a woman in a position of authority over man and who was quite possible a pastor, a teacher, and at the very least a deaconess.

I pray that you at the very least understand that these verses can not be interpreted “exactly as they say.” The result would be devastating to the church as many of the labors would be disqualified for service!!!