Women in Leadership

Every generation is accountable for "injustices" which are allowed to continue and are often sanctioned by religious institutions. My grandparents and parents (and me to some degree) are accountable for the way our country fell woefully short of the notion that"all men are created equal with certain inalienable rights." "All men" meant "white men who owned property."


It is easy for me to look back and ask older folks, "Where were you when Dr. King was doing his prophetic and ordained work? How could you have missed that opportunity to represent the liberating work of God's kingdom?"

Each time I ask that question, I hear the voices of young children asking me "where were you during the discussion of women being treated as second class citizens and as inferior or unfit for public leadership in the church?"

By public leadership I mean serving as "pastor, minister" or playing the occasional role of preacher and teacher.

I always make it clear that the role of women in the church is far different than the discussion of acapella and/or instrumental worship--a topic of some interest in Churches of Christ.

Women's role is a justice issue because it involves women. The case of “Instruments vs. acapella”, though important, is about style of worship, preference, exegesis and interpretation.
One is about drums, guitars, and forms—the other is about women who equally reflect the image of God.

I should also note that I do not believe that every church in every culture is called to allow for women in public leadership. Some churches would implode were they to alter their current position. Some cultures are still predominantly patriarchal (c.f. most Middle Eastern) and are not in a place to hear the liberating words of Jesus and Paul. At least not yet...

Our community of faith wrestled through this discussion for four years before coming the conclusion that a women could serve in any capacity save senior minister and elder. We have two women on our ministry staff and we have women who use their teaching gifts during our Sunday and Wednesday gatherings. They provide great insight and wisdom and have led us to greater depths of insight and reflection on the nature of faith.

For an outstanding presentation of the egalitarian perspective (by a mostly conservative world-class scholar), click here. Our senior minister gave two oustanding classes on this subject last fall. Click on the link and select one of the teachings on "Women, Worship, and Ministry".