Our View on the Role of Women 
in the Ministry.

by David R. Cox

We must first of all restate our firm belief in the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. God has given them to us as a guide, a set of rules, a set of restrictions, and as a pattern for our lives and ministries. We cannot simply discard something which God commands without a good reason. Some things can be limited to a certain age or period, such as the sacrifice of animals in the temple, or yearly presentation of males in the temple. But even behind these "set aside" practices and commands, there are principles that are still as valid as today. Animal sacrifices - God wants all believers to regularly sacrifice things of great cost to us in order to show our love and devotion to God, and our pain at our sins. Yearly presentation of males in the temple - God desires that believing men sacrifice of their time and resources in order to intensively learn the will of God through study of the word of God in an organized method in a congregation in the meeting place of the believers.

To understand our position on women in the ministry, you must first understand our understanding of God's teaching on women in the Scriptures. I recommend that you study our page on Women in the Scriptures.

Simply put, God has restricted much of the ministry to only males. In the Old Testament, God restricted non-Jewish men, Jewish men which had physical defects, and all women to the outer court of the temple. Whatever you might think of this command of God, we must never insult or blaspheme God. After all, it is His world, His temple, His rules, His "game". He makes the rules by which all play. Nobody (especially created beings, which owe their existence to God) is above God so that they may judge God. If this is what God has commanded, we accept it, we are not in a position to judge God, or sit in judgment on God's decrees.

Some Pertinent Verses on the Subject

Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The first point we must conclude is that women are not to be in leadership over men. This is a general rule of God resulting from God's curse on Eve and all women after her, because Eve left her place of supporting her husband and took the role of dominating and judging what was best for her family and making her husband submissive to her will. This is the curse of God, to set it aside is to rebel against God.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Here we see the Genesis 3:16 principle reiterated by Paul in his teaching to Timothy about how to conduct himself in the churches. Simply put, God again makes it clear that women are not to be vocal in the church. Here Paul specifies not "to teach" nor "to usurp authority over the man". This broadens and clarifies what God demands in two key areas: Speaking ministries, and leadership.

Speaking Ministries - Women are not to be involved in any kind of speaking ministry, specifically related to the teaching, explaining, exhorting, or rebuking of God's word. Although some may want to split hairs and say that they (women) are "pastor" and not teachers, the bottom line is that they are not to "speak" in the church services.

We must clarify that when the congregation sings, we all sing and that is a different kind of "speaking" that a teaching, preaching, or directing of a service. That is okay for women to participate in.

Leadership - This would involve any kind of activity or official position whereby the woman is "over" the man, in a position of authority, leadership, or otherwise directing his affairs. This would exclude women from directing a church service (except where there are only other women or children), teaching a Bible story, relating a spiritual meaning from a verse, etc. This also would exclude a woman from holding a position in the church that would be authoritative, that is, where she would have the possibility of having a man under her, such as Sunday School director, bus captain, or treasurer (where she would direct or give directions to men being under her). This principle of God would not be violated if she holds a church office as secretary, or note taker, or some such thing.

Presiding - Another point of this principle is that of presiding. Part of leadership is the directing of others, such as in a church worship service. Another part of this is official spokesman. This is when somebody speaks for the rest of the group they are representing. Women would be excluded from officially representing and speaking for a group when men would be part of that group. The chairwoman of the ladies missionary society is okay, but a woman cannot be chairwoman of a mixed group. This also should be clearly understood of families. Women should not be the spokeswoman for their family, but rather the man of the family should undertake that chore.

Simply put, "it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church".

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

In the matter of church conduct in the public worship services, Paul instructs the Corinthian church. Women are to be in a position of submission to their husbands. This is visually, externally seen by their silence, and forcing their husbands to speak for them. It is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

Asking questions in church - This touches on two key points, first the matter of unclear or doubtful questions that people have after a teaching or preaching (sermon). When this happens, the woman is not even to ask the question in church. She is to ask her husband at home, and if he cannot answer it, he should ask it in church. Some people become expert at manipulating situations and conversations by the questions they ask. Women are not even to indulge in that. The second key point this involves is asking questions in a church business meeting. In our modern society, most churches have set aside the law of God in favor for popular acceptance of things. Women are not to be participating in church business affairs, speaking and asking questions about the affairs of the church. This is the matter for men.

But what if my "man" is not bold enough to speak or he is not called to do so - This has been the excuse used many a time for women to assume leadership roles over men. Quite frankly this does not shake either. The men have to learn to be leaders if they are to be obedient to God. It is no worse of a sin for a man NOT to take the leadership than it is for a woman to take it inappropriately. In other words, we do not change the rules because the people don't like them, we change to the people to satisfy the rules.

Conclusion: Therefore on the basis of these clear Bible verses, we conclude . . .

1. It is wrong and a sin for a woman to preach, teach, preside, or have a position of leadership when men will be present, under the hearing of her teaching or preaching or presiding, or under her leadership.
2. It is wrong and a sin for a woman to be a pastor, assistant pastor, or to be a missionary if that ministry involves any men under her, or hearing her. It is theoretically okay for a woman to be a teacher or "to pastor" if the subjects of her ministry are EXCLUSIVELY women and children. For example, a woman teacher of a woman's Sunday School Class, a church service held in a woman's prison, etc. Although theoretically it is correct, practically a man is needed in most of these cases in time.
3. Women Missionaries - Although it is conceivable that a woman may be a single missionary, she must not teach or preach when men are present. If she works alone, this becomes a problem as men get converted and wish to learn more (be grounded in the word). She must not give in to the practical in this case. This brings up the question of whether it is wise for her to go off evangelizing alone in the first place. Under a national pastor or a foreign missionary, a single missionary woman does not come into this problem.
4. Women speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, or in other wise speaking in the local church is a sin.
5. Woman may singing in the church both in congregational songs as well as specials, but simply put, it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church. She should restrict herself from any preachy or devotional type comments she may have.
6. Likewise this principle would teach that it is a shame for women to be asking questions in the church (services or business meetings). Women should ask their questions of their husbands at home. If they have no husband or father to field the question in the church for them, then they should ask the pastor outside of church to explain whatever question they may have.

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