WOMEN IN THE MINISTRY

by Ron Wood

"And many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him" Mt. 27:55. (see Mark 15:40-41, Luke 8:2-3)

Women played a vital role in the ministry team that surrounded Jesus. They also were valuable members of the apostolic company that traveled with the apostle Paul. Half of our church membership is women. We can’t keep half of our membership sidelined. This frustrates the women and hurts the work. We need to consider how we should relate to women in ministry.

Two variables affect the way we view this topic–our biblical world view and our cultural traditions. Both of these shape our opinion. These viewpoints give us a framework by which we pre-judge situations and adopt certain positions. Sometimes we have not thought out our position completely, we just feel that our way is right. We may resent women doing certain things but can’t say why we feel that way. God is requiring us to think through the way we do things, to become Christ-like in our attitudes and clear in our theology. Our behavior needs a biblical basis. Many of us have already faced issues of racial prejudice or class envy. Now, we need to admit to our prejudices and examine our gender bias.

Examining our preconceived notions is not easy. I grew up with southern traditions. My childhood frame of reference was that the man worked outside the home, the woman kept house and raised the kids, and women participated in church but did not lead. During my life, I have watched American culture change. After World War II, many women entered the work force.

Today women share equal rights in civil law and have greater economic power. For instance, the number of female-owned businesses in the U.S. has gone up 78% in the last nine years so that one-third of all businesses are now owned by women, employing 26% of all workers. Women’s roles have changed in American society. Most families are now dependent on two incomes. Child-rearing has become a complex issue and the increase of fatherless families has produced grave social ills.

We believe the church has the answers for how men and women should relate to one another and how parents are to handle the responsibilities of raising children. These answers are found in the Bible. These answers transcend culture and they are timeless. We also believe the Bible has answers for the proper roles for women serving God in the ministry.

A common phrase that is often repeated is "Women in ministry, but not in government." This cliche is an effort to capsule a teaching about male headship in the home and the church. As such, it is inadequate. Often the delineations between ministry (serving) and leading (headship) are blurred, both in the Bible and in real life.

In Genesis, God created Adam and Eve and entrusted them with the responsibility of procreation and dominion. It is quite clear that the image of God is completed in both male and female, but not in either one alone (Gen. 1:27). It is also clear that the command to be fruitful, to multiply, to subdue the earth, was given to both sexes, not just to the male (Gen. 1:28). The pronoun is "them," which implies their dominion over the earth was to occur as a team. They jointly shared authority. This concept is illustrated in the family by parents having government together over children. To use the analogy of a body, if the husband is the head, then the wife is the shoulders. Government is always broader than just a single head. In families or in churches, God uses teams of men and women. In our own experience, my wife and I view ourselves as full partners, as a ministry team.

In analyzing the concept of "team," we see two important features: unity and headship. Sports teams or business teams must have unity. They stay on track because they have a common goal, to succeed. That motivation keeps them united despite their diversity. In the case of husband and wife, their unity is safeguarded by a covenant. Another quality a team must have is headship. Unlike a committee, a team has a leader, a head, someone who embodies the team’s vision. That head (coach, captain, supervisor) has authority to lead. They gather the resources or the people to get the job done. They take responsibility for the team’s success or failure. In the case of Adam and Eve, the husband’s headship was established by God when He created Adam first and gave Eve to him as his wife. (I Tim. 2:13). Headship is a part of everything God creates in His kingdom. This is God’s idea, not a cultural accommodation. Headship must be honored wherever we see God establish it. This concept of headship is repeated in the New Testament. (1 Cor. 11:3) The Greek word for "man" and "husband" are the same. Therefore, we understand that not all men are head over all women, but rather, a woman submits to her husband as her head when she marries him. Headship is a function of a divinely ordered relationship. It is not due to inherent male superiority. Domination is always wrong..

In ministry teams, it seems clear that God delights to include women, but always in the context of being accountable to and associated with headship (a senior pastor or an apostle). There were no female apostles appointed by Jesus. Not that God cannot do this or has not done it in the history of the church, but in the Scriptures, our examples of headship over ministry teams (apostolic companies or local presbyteries) are predominately male. God may depart from this pattern, but we may not force it for cultural reasons. This pattern preserves the doctrine of headship and preserves the equality of women in ministry. (Galatians 3:28)

How much room does this leave for women in the ministry? In view of the Holy Spirit’s outpouring, a woman can do anything God anoints her to do. (Acts 2:18) The Holy Spirit doesn’t discriminate. For us male leaders, our task is to respect the anointing and the calling of God and make room for it. A woman’s task is also to honor the place of her husband and her apostolic covering in their supervising roles. This preserves biblical order. Proper headship liberates women to fulfill their ministry in Christ without fear.

Paul’s apostolic team included many women. These women traveled with Paul on his apostolic team. When local churches emerged, some members of the mobile team settled down and became leaders in the local church. (Acts 18:19) Scripture references include Romans 16:1, 3, 5, 7, Philippians 2:25 and 4:1-3. Paul called Phoebe a deacon. One couple, Priscilla and Aquila, were key players on his team. Of the several times they were named, the wife was listed first most of the time, giving her preeminence. Paul says that Priscilla and Aquila had a church in their house, meaning that she was likely the pastor. He also says that this couple are his "fellow workers," a term which he specifically used for partners on his apostolic team, like Epaphroditus, an apostle. (Phil. 2:25)

He lists another woman, Junias, as "outstanding among the apostles." (Rom. 16:7) He says "older women" (the feminine form of presbuteros, elder) should teach younger women. (Titus 2:3)

We also see where Paul depended on a woman, Lydia, a dealer of purple cloth, to anchor a developing church in Phillipi (Acts 16:11-40). The pattern of starting a church in a city in one home was the same pattern Jesus had taught (see Mt. 10:11). Here, the worthy individual happened to be a woman. The word worthy is the Greek word axios meaning "suitable, or drawing praise." Like an axle, things revolved around this person. They can bear weight and be respected as a role model in the community for the seedling church. Lydia fit this pattern.

The pattern for male-female roles seems clear as long as we remove artificial restrictions and keep fatherhood in view. From the Trinity, we have the Father’s ultimate authority, all the way down to the microcosm of God’s kingdom, the family. We also have the church, with the same pattern of unity, covenant love, and fatherly care. In the context of having a father in the house, women have true liberty in Christ.

(For a more complete examination of this topic, see my book entitled, Women on the Team, which analyzes this issue from the perspective of the restoration of apostolic teams which include women.)

© 1996 by Ron Wood. Ron and his wife, Lana, have been pastors more than 30 years. He has served as a State Coordinator for the U. S. Strategic Prayer Network. Ron is best known for his prophetic writing ministry. Ron & Lana are a ministry team. They are members of Reconciliation Ministries International led by Bishop Joseph Garlington. Ron & Lana were sent to Africa to help equip emerging apostolic leaders in the developing church. If you wish to copy this article for free distribution, permission is hereby granted to duplicate it provided there are no changes or omissions made to this article and this byline is included. The author asserts his moral rights of ownership. For more information or helpful literature, visit our web site at touchedbygrace.org, or e-mail us at ron@touchedbygrace.org.