The Role of Women in the Church

Some Christian denominations refuse to allow women to be ordained as priests, pastors, or ministers, while other denominations have no such prohibitions—and some are divided on the issue.[1]

Those who refuse ordination to women point to scriptures such as 1 Timothy 2:11-12[2] and 1 Corinthians 14:33-35,[3] in which the apostle Paul seems to make clear his opposition to leadership roles for women. In addition, when Jesus selected his twelve apostles, all were men.

Those who permit ordination of women point to the leadership roles assumed by many women in the first century Church, such as Phoebe, whom Paul describes as a “deacon” (or “servant”) in the Church;[4] Nympha who hosted a Christian church in her house;[5] the mother of John Mark, who similarly hosted a gathering of early Christians, including Peter, in her home;[6] Priscilla, who, along with her husband Aquila, helped explain the “way of God” to Apollos;[7] and Junia, whom Paul described as “outstanding in the view of the apostles.”[8] Denominations which permit women to be ordained could also argue (and probably do argue) that Paul’s opposition may have been grounded in the circumstances of women in first century Rome, when most women were uneducated and their primary role in society was to bear children, while the circumstances of most women today is often much different (as I pointed out in last week’s blog entry). And while Jesus chose twelve men as his apostles, the subjugation or subordination of women was completely foreign to his theology of love toward all people.

As with so many theological disputes, each Christian must decide for themselves which path they will choose to follow. However, since there are good faith arguments on both sides of this question, we should always consider the opposing viewpoint with humility and tolerance, recognizing the possibility that we could be wrong—or that there may simply be no “right” answer.

And despite our differences, we must always obey the last commandment Jesus left us with: “love one another.”[9]

[1]. For example, the Roman Catholics and the Southern Baptists do not permit ordination of women, while the Methodists and Disciples of Christ do. Some denominations are divided on the question, such as the Presbyterians and Anglicans.

[2].  1 Timothy 2:11-12: A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.

[3]. 1 Corhtinians 14:33-35: As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

[4]. See Romans 16:1: “I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea. . . .” The word “servant” can also be translated as “deacon,” which is how the New International Version (NIV) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV) translate it.

[5]. See Colossians 4:15: “Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.”

[6]. See Acts 12:11-12:

When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

[7]. See Acts 18:24-26:

Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was proficient in the Scriptures. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was accurately speaking and teaching things about Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; and he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him.

[8]. See Romans 16:7: “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsfolk and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding in the view of the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”

[9]. John 13:34, 15:12, and 15:17