Who can be a Pastor? Embracing God’s Design for Leadership in the Church

On Last Weeks Tuesday’s Truth, we discussed that Gender was created by God and a part of what it means to be created in his image. As men and women, we both reflect God’s image, and at the same time, we reflect that image differently as God has designed men and women differently.

I have chosen to explore this theme briefly due to what is being discussed in our denomination’s annual meeting this week. A high profile church within the SBC has embraced the ordination of women to the pastorate.

However, our statement of faith reads:

While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.

As you can imagine, given this point of reference in The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, and a high profile church within our denomination being opposed to that, it has caused quite a stir. More importantly than what a statement of faith expresses, or what a particular church embraces, is “What does the Bible say?”

This ought to be our authority on everything. What does the Bible say ought to have authority over any creed, confession, or statement of faith, and ought to have authority over any personal convictions of a pastor of any size.

The most debated passage is 1 Timothy 2:12, where Paul says, “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”

Many want to say this reference is cultural. Perhaps there was a reason in Timothy’s day for this kind of prohibition. But the argument that Paul gives is not a cultural argument, but a creation principle. The reason for this prohibition is found in the next verses.

For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 2 Timothy 2:13-14

I can understand why people would make the cultural argument, because there are cultural aspects before it. In verse 9, Paul encourages women to adorn themselves in such a way that is fitting with a woman who claims to be godly. Apparently in that culture wearing an expensive dress, certain types of jewelry, or braided hair said something different about a woman than godliness. Although there is a cultural issue here, there is a greater principle, that a woman ought to dress or adorn herself in such away that fits her claim to godliness within her culture. This is a principle that transcends culture, and who God has designed for leadership in the church is rooted in the created order, not what was going on in the culture.

God clearly reserves the role of preaching and the office of pastor/elder to men. Women are extraordinary gifted in many ways, and there giftedness ought to be utilized in the service of the church, in the way God designed them. I love my wife. Today is our 14 year wedding anniversary. She is gifted in many ways. She is a great one on one discipler, and encourager to younger women in the Word. But she is not a pastor. She is not my co pastor. She will never stand behind a pulpit, because she was not created, nor called to such a task. God’s Word says otherwise. No matter what we may think about an issue, God’s Word is our ultimate authority, and we must submit our beliefs and opinions to the Word of God.