Women In Leadership part 3: Examples
Category: FaithblogsAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Subscribe: RSS Feed | iTunes | Zune | Google | FaceBook | My Yahoo | Download this Podcast
There are many denominations that do not believe women have a place in leadership in the church today, especially when it comes to positions such as elder, pastor, preacher, and ministering to men in any form. Although I respect their decision in this regard I tend not agree with it. I have a very hard time, in light of the contextual evidence, believing that the God of the universe, who created men and women equally in His image (Gen. 1:27), would stop women from serving him and ministering to others in an official capacity solely based on their gender.
I have personally had the honor of knowing several Godly women who have held leadership
positions in the church that have ministered to men as well as to other women, positions such as pastor, elder, deacon, adult Sunday school teacher, and Bible study leader. One such woman, a friend of mine back home in the UK, was the assistant pastor in my home church. I cannot think of many people, male or female, who possess as wholly as she does the criteria for a church leader (as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7) and I fully believe that it is these criteria that should be considered above all else when choosing a leader for the church, not their gender.
I have heard it said (by men) that women do not make good leaders because they tend to be more emotional than men and that these emotions often get in the way of much needed level headed decisions. I find this mindset disturbing as it makes the assumption that decisions made in a church setting must be void of emotion. I am also of the opinion that men are just as emotional as women, in some cases more so. I have sat on men only church boards and although they may not get emotional about the same things as women, or even in the same way as women, one has only to bring up the issue we’re looking at – women in church leadership – in a traditional all male governed church and you’ll see what I mean. To say that all women are incapable to make a decision that is not made through an emotional filter is to say that men make all their decisions void of any emotion.
One question I ask myself constantly is why have women been pushed to the background ministries, such as Sunday schools, cleaning, baking, hospitality, care and visitation, (not that these ministries aren’t important) while men get to do all the upfront ministries such as preaching, teaching, leading Bible study groups, and leading in the church. I’m not saying that all churches follow this hierarchal design to the letter, but it is a problem to different degrees in many of our churches.
And it all begins with how we view and interpret 1 Timothy 2:12 (for more on the contextual issues surrounding 1 Tim. 2:12 see part 2).
There are many in the church that are seeing more and more that women need to be involved in church leadership for the church to reach its maximum potential and effectiveness. With this in mind many in the church, both men and women alike, are likening the issue to that of women under the hierarchy rule of Islam. The following quote is taken from an article on ThePetitionSite.com: “Afghan women, in significant numbers, MUST play a key role in determining the future of their country. Women have been the most abused segment of Afghan society under the Taliban. Now they must be brought out of the darkness of their despair and be valued for the wisdom, humanity and balance they will bring to a new government. The participation of women in the coalition leadership group is absolutely vital to the success of any new administration.” (1) Granted, this may be an extreme example of how women are ruled over, and in no way am I suggesting that women in the church are treated anywhere near as bad as women in Afghanistan.
However, I believe that the above statement, if taken seriously, will help us if nothing else to focus on an important side of the issue at hand, that marginalizing women is not the answer but that the participation of women in church leadership is absolutely vital to the success, and the future of the church.
Some denominations have recognized this and as a result women are now partaking in all areas of ministry, including ministries that have them ministering to me. In these denominations women are now more widely accepted and are as respected as the men in the areas of pastor, preacher and teacher.
However, there still seems to be a pecking order within the body of Christ as a whole. Women are encouraged, and even empowered, into ministry but there is still the tendency to keep them from fulfilling their potential as leaders, as it is still widely believed that only men can be elders or sit on church boards.
Some women against the odds, and against much opposition, have taken up the challenge of becoming great teachers and leaders within the church. Some of the greatest teachers of the 20th century were women, teaching men as well as women.
A few examples include the following:
Henrietta Mears: Henrietta Mears accomplished many things in her day that likely hasn’t been matched since, and did it when almost exclusively men dominated the field of theology. Billy Graham, Bill Bright and Richard Halverson, count among those whom she mentored, trained and tutored on the Word. She has been called a remarkable woman of the faith.
Joyce Meyer: Joyce Meyer is a renowned Christian teacher, who has been teaching the Word of God since 1976 to both men and women. She has taught on hundreds of subjects in meetings all over the country, helping thousands of people deepen their faith in Christ. She also runs the multi million dollar ministry Joyce Meyer Ministries along with her husband and has written and produced many books and videos.
Anne Graham-Lotz: The daughter of preacher Billy Graham, Anne followed in her father’s footsteps to become a Bible teacher and preacher. She is also the founder and president of Angel Ministries and has passionately carried the Word of God to people around the world for the past 25 years. She has preached in seminary chapels, stadiums, death row prison cells, downtown arenas, and church sanctuaries. Graham said of his daughter that she was, “the best preacher in the family.’ (2)
Taking the example given of Henrietta Mears I ask myself the questions: What if she had listened to the male theologians of her time who said that women should not teach men. What would have happened to the 400+ young people who entered full-time Christian service after being taught by her – one of whom was Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ? Billy Graham once said of Mears: “I doubt if any other woman outside my wife and mother has had such a marked influence on my life. She is certainly one of the greatest Christian leaders I have ever known!” (3) Henrietta Mears not only taught, she also established Gospel Light Publications, one of the first publishers in the Christian education field.
The Christian world owes a lot to women like Henrietta Mears, Joyce Meyer, and Anne Graham Lotz, but how many other female teachers, preachers, and leaders have been held back by the male dominated and archaic rules and constitutions of our churches, and had their callings suppressed?
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
July, 2009
Picture by Alicja Stolarczyk
Quotes:
1. ThePetitionSite.com
2. prayerfoundation.org
3. www.intouch.org
Related Posts:
- Women In Leadership part 5: Challenging the Status Quo Part 5 of a 6 part series in which I look at the controversial issue...
- Women In Leadership part 4: The Modern Woman Part 4 of a 6 part series in which I look at the controversial issue...
- Women In Leadership part 1 – Introduction Part 1 of a 6 part series in which I look at the controversial issue...
- Women In Leadership part 2 – Contextual Issues Part 2 in this 6 part series in which I look at the controversial issue...
- Women In Leadership part 6: Where Do We Go From Here? The final part of a 6 part series in which I look at the controversial...
Yay Chris! You are my hero!! Your blog significantly cheered me up yesterday and I went around my house singing and smiling. I guess I needed to hear a male pastor say these things.
I was thinking that maybe, one of the problems Christians have is that we have viewed the church as a corporation headed by a CEO, and all the members of the congregation as workers for that corporation. This model tends to make our church services like spiritual business meetings with our focus on members signing up for an institution not unlike being employed by Chapters or Starbucks. It also makes us quite competitive and puts the weight of keeping the heavy machinery running on the pastor’s and elders’ shoulders. This is usually seen as a man’s job.
But if we looked at the church as a body, as a living organism that is intimately connected, where all the parts work together to support one another, we could ease up a bit more. Jesus is the Head of his body and everyone in that body grows together with Him. Seeing it this way might help men be less threatened by the inclusion of women leaders. (I’m probably a dreamer.)
Of course, it also might mean we would pay less attention to who’s the boss, either men or women, and give more attention to Jesus. That’s not to say that I don’t appreciate my pastor. Dave King is one of the finest men I know – an example of humility and servanthood. I feel privileged to know him.
Thanks again.
Ruth, keep dreaming. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream once and last year I had to smile when I saw two little girls, one white, one black, walking down the street together hand in hand.
You’re right we need to focus less on issues, bylaws, and keeping the status quo, and focus more on Jesus. I don;t mind rockin’ a few boats, after all Jesus rocked our world!
I also laugh when I think of examples in Scripture of Jesus telling people off… all men I might add
Hi Chris!
It has been very affirming to read. As someone at the beginning of my ministry career its been disheartening at times to see churches who are closed to me participating in leadership. The pastor I currently work with has said a couple times that though our denomination accepts women as pastors etc., the reality is that most churches will take a hit if they try to call a female as lead pastor.
I’ve really appreciated your series on women thus far
But there have also been some neat things that I’ve seen happen — and they have happened just because I’m me. For example, one of my friends is married to a guy who is a pastor who up until about a year ago believed very strongly that women should not be pastors. He would never say anything to me on the subject, but the way he would dance around that issue, out of respect for me and my friendship with is wife, I had no doubt where he stood on the issue. But last October he told me that he had something to tell me. Through more study and through observing me and hearing stuff from his wife that he actually came to the place that he now embraces women in ministry. I was speechless — because getting this man to change his mine on a theological issue is not simple one. So those moments are ones that are incredibly rewarding and affirming. He changed his course not because of arguments or debate — God worked in his heart and mind and happened to use me as a catalyst. That is a neat thing to be part of. I wonder sometimes if this “issue” could better solved by women doing their best to lead and serve as God has called them to and allow that to be a witness.
Hey Melissa, I agree that leading by example is what some women are doing now and that, like you said, is the best way for men to see past their own presuppositions to the core issue and hopefully the truth. No one has ever had their minds changed by argumentation but by the Spirits leading. I’m glad you’re enjoying this series and I pray that God will use you, not because you are a woman, but because you are a willing servant.