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This brief study has been included in response to request
THE MINISTRY OF MEN AND WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
“Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.”
Joel 2:28 - quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17 who went on to re-emphaise in verse 18 that God’s Spirit was poured out on both men and women. Peter was speaking to people of a male-dominated culture and there, right at the beginning of the Christian Church on the day of Pentecost, he found it necessary to stress that this new power was for women as well as men. That was the sermon which set the Church in motion.
Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied - Acts 21:8-9
Old Testament prophetesses included Deborah (Judges 4) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14 & 2 Chronicles 34:22).
Aquilla and Priscilla were a husband and wife team who personally mentored the preacher Apollos (Acts 18:24-26).
Although not an absolutely certain interpretation, Romans 16:7 appears to name another husband and wife team, Andronicus and Junia, as Apostles.
“The Lord gave the word - and a great company of women proclaimed it.” Literal translation of Psalm 68:11
These scriptures, taken together, give a clear picture that God’s servants may be male or female and serve Him without distinction.
TWO OTHER PASSAGES.
But there are two scriptures (and only two) which appear to give a different message. Both are in St Paul’s letters and both were written to troubled and troublesome gentile churches which were Greek in language and culture and situated in major cities. They are 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12 (when Timothy was a leader in Ephesus).
When scriptures appear to disagree the first question is whether we have interpreted them rightly, and the second is whether we should be applying them to different situations.
In those ancient cities, most women were illiterate. Unlike Jews, Greeks did not normally educate women. The few exceptions were probably patricians - rich aristocrats - and it may be that these were using their social status to dominate the church. There were also feminine-dominated cults which may have influenced society. Whatever the exact situation, there was evidently a possibility that women could rule and impose their ideas to the exclusion of men. This is what Paul objected to.
In modern society, there are feminine-dominated churches in Britain and America where men are constantly overshadowed and marginalised by the dominant women. In masculine-dominated cultures, such as many African ones, the opposite is the danger.
Churches which object to any kind of ministry by women are, in effect, disregarding many scriptures in order to follow two.
BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP
Nearly all leaders in the Bible were men. But what is leadership?
Church growth has been hindered for centuries because leaders - whether called clergy, pastors, priests, ministers or missionaries - have all too often been expected to do the work of the church themselves. Their true role should be to train and lead others into action. It is right for leaders to set an example of humble service, but not to take all the tasks upon themselves.
A church may include several people who can preach, teach, evangelise, pastor and care for others. The leader’s role is to lead them; so that they fulfil the ministry according to their gifts and abilities and according to the needs around them. The leader should not be doing it all himself. If he does, he is wasting the talents of the ordinary Christians - whether men or women
The role of the male leaders is to encourage both male and female followers to fulfil their ministries - which may include preaching, evangelism, shepherding and caring for converts, even church planting.
MISSION.
Down the centuries, more women have gone out as missionaries than men. If women had not done the work, it would not have been done.
Many women today are as well trained and competent as their male colleagues, and also demonstrate clearly in their life and ministry that they have The Holy Spirit’s anointing. Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them” and their fruit is clearly good.
Round the world both men and women have been called by God into service for Him and He has confirmed His calling by blessing and using them.
THE SPECIAL VOCATION OF MEN.
Some churches have undervalued women and suppressed their role. There is, however, a greater danger in modern society - suppressing the role of men. Because whether men like it or not (and whether women like it or not) the fact is that young people look to adult men to set them an example. And the special role of men is to give strength and stability to communities, to families and to churches.
Isaiah 32:2 says, “A MAN shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.”
Adult men in a community have the special role of protecting and providing for the young and the weak, for women, children and aged. Men bear the hardships and face the dangers so that others need not. Men gently carry the injured. Men gently encourage those who feel they can go no further. There is nothing unmanly about gentleness, it requires strength.
If men cease to be reliable, the community weakens. Women cannot carry the burdens alone. Children are left insecure and without a clear example to follow.
Finally, both men and women are human and failing, each needs the other and children need both.