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Women & the church

An exploration of the Bible’s teaching on the public role of women in church, particularly in relation to prayer.

  1. An Introduction
  2. Patriarchy and the Bible
  3. Patriarchy in Practice
  4. Women in Ministry
  5. Principal Texts
  6. A Conclusion
  7. Some Implications

An Introduction

The well-known prayer of a C1 rabbi was, 'Lord I thank you that you did not make me a gentile, a slave or a woman' (Cf. Gal 3:28). In C1 Judaism women were not at all highly valued, they were little more than possessions.

This abuse of women has featured regularly in history. It is in part this abuse that has fuelled the present feminist drive for equality. It is, however, only in part the shameful exploitation that women have experienced that drives the feminist agenda; it is fuelled also by the basic belief that society should be egalitarian. Egalitarianism is the belief that people are equal and should be treated as equal; and to be treated equally means having equal opportunities. With the first two statements (all are equal and should be treated as equal) no Christian disagrees. The controversy arises with the third conclusion, namely, to be treated equally means having the same opportunities.

Here Christians find themselves divided. Should women in the church be given the same opportunities in ministry as men? Some say yes, others say no.

The debate is heated. The role of women in the church is a hot potato that tends to burn most churches that try to grapple with it. Yet grapple with it we must. It is an issue that will not go away. To bury our head in the sand (to change the metaphor) will lead to suffocation, not sanctification and is certainly no lasting solution.

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About John

Hi there - I am a member of Greenview and have been for over 20 years. For a number of these years I functioned as an elder, however, indifferent health forced me to take more of a back seat. I see this as an opportunity to do a little writing, often focussing on issues that are a matter of evangelical debate today. Naturally the views expressed are my own and may not reflect the views of the elders or church at large, though differences are likely to be in the detail and not the substance.

These articles and sermons were written partly to clarify my own thoughts and partly with the intention of provoking thought in others who may read them. If you read one I hope you find it stimulating. Please feel free to give me feedback or discuss my articles in the forums.

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