Women as Teachers, Leaders, and Pastors
What We Believe at Reality Church
The question of women in church leadership and/or teaching in the church is an important one. The following are some of our thoughts about this issue, the conclusions we came to, and why we came to these conclusions. It is far from comprehensive, but it will give you an overview.
Reality Church sees the question of women in leadership as a secondary matter. This term does not mean a matter is not important. It is a shorthand way of referring to biblical questions that are important but do not rise to the level of changing the nature of salvation or the identity of God. Secondary matters are issues on which Christians through the ages have disagreed, but still view one another as brothers and sisters in the family of God. Secondary matters are also not issues of moral practice. These issues have multiple conclusions amongst the body of Christ which are accepted with goodwill. Lastly, secondary matters are not essential to the Great Commission.
Reality Church fully respects people who conclude differently than us in regards to women in ministry, women pastors, and women teaching in the church. We all hold Scripture in the highest regard in matters of life and godliness.
Scriptural Foundation
There are two passages that we will briefly grapple with, which highlight the question of women in elder positions/teaching in the church; I Timothy 2:11-15 and I Corinthians 14:34-35.
We keep the following principles in view as we approach these passages:
Paul was given authority over these matters to guide the church in his particular situation, just like church elders are given authority over these matters today. There are many matters that we gain guidance from in scripture that aren't clearly directive instructions in how church leadership should function or be governed in all places and at all times. This could be due to specific situations in those churches or the specific culture at that time. When reading these passages, wider scriptural context, specific situations, and cultural context help guide the interpretation of these texts.
The majority of leaders at the time of Paul's writings were likely men. However, upon further study, we see Paul did not, in practice, exclude women from all forms of eldership/teaching in a church. There are many women leaders identified and commended in Scripture: Miriam, Deborah, Esther, Phoebe, Junia, Priscilla, Eudia, and Syntyche, to name a few. This observation does bring up the question, “If Paul does not believe women should lead, why does he so clearly commend many specific women for their leadership in the church, their preaching of the Gospel, and their teaching of men?”
Here are two examples of how we have interpreted scripture passages regarding women.
1 Corinthians 14:34-45
Throughout the letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul is found repeatedly quoting questions the members of the Corinthian church had sent to him either in writing or through messengers. The whole book includes statements where Paul reflects back to the church their own words or questions, and then he responds with answers. We believe Paul is quoting what the Corinthians were saying in 14:34-35, not giving a command from himself. Paul is not saying, “Women should remain silent,” rather he is quoting to the Corinthians their own statement and then responding with scriptural truth. In response to “women should remain silent, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 includes the Greek word meaning, "What, no way!" which builds our view that Paul is not commanding women to be silent, but quoting the Corinthians in order to contradict this false way of thinking. So, to be clear, verses 34-35 are Paul quoting the words of the Corinthian church back to them in order to correct them and tell them, “this is not true.” Paul further responds in verse 36, “did the word of God originate with you?” as a statement of shock that they would believe women should be silent. Paul spends the whole chapter teaching that the church gatherings should be done in an orderly way and for all (both men and women) to prophesy and speak in public church gatherings in a way that blesses all.
It is indisputable that the New Testament affirms that women are called by God to prophesy (a function of teaching throughout the Bible) and would have been part of his admonishment to do so in an orderly way. He is telling women NOT to be silent, but definitely to do everything in an orderly way.
1 Timothy 2:11-15
This passage has some interesting and challenging language for any student of the Bible. The Greek word for “authority” in this passage is unique. In fact, the word is so unique that this passage is the only place in all of Scripture where it is used. In addition, it is rarely used in extra-biblical texts. The Greek word is authentein.
When teaching on authority in regards to church structure, Paul consistently uses the Greek word exousia, not authentein.
So what is the meaning of “authentein” in this passage? We must look to other Greek texts to get an idea. In almost every use of authentein in Greek literature, the word is associated with aggression in an act of violence, suicide, or murder. There is almost no use of it in a positive sense in all Greek literature.
Additionally, in the Greek, Paul is using the singular and not plural when saying “a woman”. It does not read as, “I do not permit women.” Instead, he is speaking to “a woman”.
It is actually very difficult to conclude that Paul is saying, “I do not permit all women to have authority over a man in church leadership or structure.”
We conclude Paul is dealing with a woman leader who was acting in a way that was not in accordance with Christ. She was using authority in a way that was violent or had ungodly aggression. It is not wrong for a woman to exercise leadership, particularly when she is given authority for a particular function, including those that may give direction and influence the way men are to function in the situation.
There is a much more historical contexts which further builds our view, but that gives us a peek into some of the study of this passage.
As a reminder, looking at these passages in the context of the original language and culture does not diminish a high regard for scripture. In fact, we believe it shows our high regard for scripture. Most Christians already consider the culture when looking at verses 8-10 in 1 Timothy 2. Almost no Christians believe it is a sin for women to wear pearls or gold today, nor do they believe men sin if they pray without lifting “holy hands.” We consider the cultural context when interpreting verses 8-10, so we are consistent to consider cultural context when interpreting verses 11-15.
The Story of the Bible
We must ground our view of women in leadership in the whole story of Scripture. Our interpretation of the particulars must be consistent with God’s redemptive work in human history. From the beginning, we see a created order of mutuality. Men and women have a mutual call to rule and steward their authority, together, over creation. The curse of sin brought a result where men and women began to rule over one another (Genesis 3). This was not in accordance with God’s original intention. He wants us to be co-laborers together.
Christ came to redeem and restore the original commission for male and female to rule over the creation side by side. Matthew 28 shows Jesus commissioning us again as God first commissioned humanity in Genesis. He gave the great commission in which we are all, both men and women, called to preach the Gospel to the whole world, teaching them to obey everything Christ has taught us and baptizing in His name. Partnership, instead of hierarchical status based on gender, is an expression of the restoration Jesus brought. We believe our vision for leadership should be based on God’s created intention in Genesis 1 and 2. We are co-rulers and stewards over creation. We are to be co-laborers in God’s call to fill the whole earth with the Glory of God.
Do We Stand Alone?
While scripture is our foundation, we as Reality Church take seriously the wisdom and study of others. When coming to conclusions on important matters, it is important to seek input and guidance. If our conclusions and interpretation of scripture are so unique that no one else in the Christian community holds them… this should and would cause us to pause!
Therefore, we find further confidence that our belief in the full release of women into leadership, pastoral, and teaching ministry is a position held by many Godly, wise, and respected theologians, pastors, and teachers. These people are some of the most respected scholars or Pastors in the church, past and present. Examples include N.T. Wright, John Wesley, Rick Warren, Loren Cunningham, F.F. Bruce, Dr. Lynn Cohick, Gordon D. Fee, Craig Keener, Carmen Joy Imes, John Stott, Michael Bird, Scot McKnight, John Stackhouse, and Dallas Willard just to name a few. These men and women are all considered some of the most admired Bible scholars in the Christian church who hold to the highest view of scripture.
Conclusion
We, as Reality Church, through much study of Scripture, conclude that women are called to be co-laborers in the ministry of the Gospel to the world. We gladly work towards the full release of Godly women, along with Godly men, into all positions of ministry, to serve God’s people and make Jesus known.
Any questions?
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