15 years ago, I was president of the board of elders at our former church. One day, a prominent member approached the board demanding that she be scheduled to preach on Sundays. She claimed she was a better teacher than our senior pastor.
The issue was further complicated because her husband was also on the elder board and surprisingly supported her request to be approved. After a contentious meeting that lasted until nearly midnight, we voted 5-1 to refuse her request. Not to be denied, she and her husband continued to vigorously disagree with our position. It became such a major distraction within the church body that we had to ask them to leave the church.
In stark contrast to the last 2000 years of church history, her request was nothing new... women have been openly trying to enter both pastoral and congregational preaching roles for well over 50 years.
In another case, Saddleback Church was expelled from the Southern Baptist Convention last year over this same issue after Rick Warren’s church foolishly ordained three women as pastors.
But these two cases are no longer the rule these days. Increasing numbers of women are being elevated to the roles of pastor and preacher in Christian “churches”. It seems that those dedicated to honoring God's plan for church leadership are fighting a losing battle.
What’s changed?
Two things... Gen Z women (ages 15-27) are leaving traditional churches in droves and LGBTQ advocates have connived to install more church “leaders” sympathetic to their cause.
According to the Survey Center on American Life, there is a growing divide between traditional churches and many young women who have grown increasingly liberal.
The survey also reveals that this exodus has coincided with the rise in LGBTQ identity among young women. Nearly three in ten women under the age of 30 now identify as something other than straight. Many of those leaving traditional churches indicate that “negative treatment of gay and lesbian people” was an important reason.
Many of these young women have serious reservations about what they regard as unequal treatment of women in churches that still uphold biblical values. If they do seek to attend church they favor those with women pastors who typically tend to be more affirming of LGBTQ persons.
The Survey Center also notes that 61% of Gen Z women now identify as feminists... consequently, they are more likely to reject those male church leaders they see as “paternalistic” that subjugate women.
What is driving this?
A lot of this twisted mindset is coming out of that cesspool also known as American colleges and universities. In recent years, women have become more college-educated than men of the same age. Because of this, increasing numbers of them believe the feminist lie that they'll find complete fulfillment in childless careers rather than God, church, and family.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Cheryl Summer, (a former Southern Baptist churchgoer), says, “There is a tremendous cognitive dissonance for a woman of faith who is leading professionally or through volunteer efforts when she experiences the glass ceiling and walls in her place of worship.”
Sadly, the response of many churches to this exodus of young women is to cave into the whims of culture by elevating women to positions of pastoral authority to keep the seats filled. As a result, there has been a significant rise in the number of women pastors who tell young women what they want to hear.
At the same time, there are increasing numbers of spinless millennials and other progressive types in church leadership these days who will happily greenlight the idea of women leading their churches. Those who approve of women pastors list “gender equality” baloney as their justification. At the same time, those who disagree are labeled as racists and women haters.
So, what’s the problem?
Why not have women as pastors?
The answer, as always, is found in the careful and accurate interpretation of scripture. When it comes to women pastors, there is one thing that stands out from everything else… God has assigned different roles to men and women in the church. With that understanding, there is no biblical case that can be made for women pastors. This is not my opinion… it is the pronouncement of scripture.
God has established a divine order of things when it comes to the role of women in the church. (Complementarianism). Anything else is allowing secular culture to shape their churches to keep the collection plates full of cash. Instead of rejecting worldly marketing methods and adhering to the biblical mandate that churches should shape the culture around them, they let worldliness shape their church.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote this…
33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 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. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way. (1 Corinthians 14:33-40)
This passage of scripture offends a lot of people as it instructs women to remain silent (not preaching) and submit themselves to God’s plan of male authority in the church. Again, not my opinion or feelings, but God’s orderly Word.
Churches must not cave into worldly wisdom and strive instead to teach the whole counsel of God... including His intended roles for men and women.
Paul wrote this in his farewell letter to the Ephesian elders,
“I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27)
Anything less silently supports the destruction of the family.
And that silence is deafening these days.
It’s time to man up boys...
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I am not interested in a great debate but there seems to be a single side of the debate in evidence here. I wonder if it is that those with the single opinion are unaware of the other side of the equation. Or is it that they have looked at both sides and chosen the one with the best evidence?
Case in point, how do they interpret Colossians 4:15, knowing that the translators of the KJV were forced to use “Nymphus” and “his” instead of the proper words in the earliest manuscripts that said, “Nympha” and “her?”
Very brave Jim. I tip my hat to you. All our seminaries accept female students. The fish rots from the head.