Can (And Should) A Woman Be a Pastor

 As I have listened to and watched this debate rage, there are lots of areas of ambiguity, so I want to be clear to define things. I want to avoid false equivocations and make sure we are clear on definitions and roles. Let me begin by saying that I do not object to women having leadership roles in general. I have worked with and for some wonderful leaders who are women. In this post, we are not talking about the ability of women to lead, or the value of women, but the role in leading in a spiritual sense in the church.

The next area we are to be clear on is the role of Pastor. We have made up some stuff in the modern church. The idea of associate pastor (which I have been and would like to be again) is not a New Testament church role. The role of Pastor as defined by the scripture is the lead, overseer, shepherd of the local church. The Pastor in the Bible is the Lead Pastor, not a worship leader, youth leader, education leader, etc. Those roles are not invalid, but it is not what we are talking about, we are talking about the person who leads the local church. Not a missionary or a para-church leader, but the lead or senior pastor of a church.

Now, my personal feelings is, I would like to be able to say a woman can be a pastor. I feel like that would be ok with me. My feelings however, don’t matter. What matters is what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that woman should not be in charge of the church. 1 Timothy 2:11-14. “Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

Now my feelings about this verse is irrelevant, the fact this verse exists is what matters. Paul instructs that women are not to hold that spiritual authority, it is reserved for men. Why does Paul bring up Adam and Eve? This is important, and it has to do with the curse given to Eve. We know that she will have pain amplified in childbirth, which Paul talks about in the latter verses, but part of the curse we skip is important.

Your desire shall be for your husband,

and he shall rule over you. Genesis 3:16

That verse isn’t talking about the wife having desire to be with her husband, but to control, to usurp, to take authority, yet he is to rule over her. Paul brings up Adam and Eve, because part of the curse, God establishes that man is to be ruler and the head and have authority. This is most true in the church, that a man is to be in charge, not a woman. Again, it doesn’t matter how we feel about this verse or this arrangement, what matters is what God said about it. A woman who desires the role of pastor does so out of her curse, to be the one in charge and rule, yet men are to stand in the way and be the ones in charge.

In issues outside the church, I am fine with a woman in a leadership role, because those institutions are not putting themselves under the authority of scripture. If a woman should be in charge outside the church is not for me to judge. In spiritual issues inside the church, if a church is not willing to submit to the authority of scripture, then I don’t want to be part of that church. The scripture is the authority on all things spiritual, and how we are to conduct ourselves inside of our relationship with Christ. If we are unwilling to submit to scripture because of our feelings or because of societal pressure, we are no better than pagans who do as they please.

Bottom line, if you are a church that follows the Bible, a woman should not be a senior pastor. They can tell people about Jesus, they can be missionaries, they can serve and minister, and serve a lot of roles, just like they did in the New Testament. They can work alongside a pastor, but they cannot take the role, position, or authority of pastor, because the Bible says so.