A hot button issue that churches and Christian organizations have to deal with is the role of women in leadership positions in the church. Today, it is not uncommon to see churches ordaining women as pastors. But those issues predate the 1960’s feminist movement by a number of decades. The International Association of Women Preachers was launched in 1919 in St. Louis, MO.
Our Biblical Resources Group produced three papers dealing with some of those issues.
Complementarianism and egalitarianism are two different views on the roles of women in leadership both in the home and in the church.
Complementarianism is a belief that men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage and in the church. This view generally holds that men are called to be the leaders and decision-makers in these contexts, while women are called to support them in their leadership roles and submit to their husbands’ authority.
Egalitarianism holds that men and women should be treated as equals in all areas of life, including marriage and the church. Egalitarians reject the idea that men are inherently called to be leaders and decision-makers and believe that women should have equal opportunities to exercise their gifts and talents in all leadership roles.
Complementarianism emphasizes distinct gender roles and responsibilities. In contrast, Egalitarianism emphasizes the full participation of both men and women in all aspects of life including serving as elders and pastors within the church.
Our papers reflect the complementarian position. We feel that women can be in leadership positions if they are not usurping the leadership roles of men. Dr. Constable reflects our thinking on this topic: “I do not think he [the apostle Paul] would have objected to women teaching or leading some groups within the church that we commonly recognize as sub-groups provided they do so with the approval of the male leadership of the church.”
Blessings,
Bob
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STORMS OF LIFE
John A. Owston
The problems of life have the potential of being either bane or blessing to us. Even though we may sometimes be like Habakkuk – not completely understanding God’s purposes – difficulties can be the means of developing and maturing our faith. An untested faith may be genuine, but it can never be equal to a faith that has gone through the storms of life.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:28
