A CLOSER LOOK AT WOMEN'S ORDINATION #06: Can a Woman Pastor a Local Church?

by Ty Gibson

At this point, most advocates of male-only ordination, because the exegetical evidence demands it, will concede that 1 Timothy, after all, does not constitute a case against women being in the pastoral role. But then they insist on a condition: “Okay,” they say, “yes, women may be pastors, but they cannot be ordained as such, and they cannot be in leadership/administrative/management positions to the local church.” They hold out for this restriction because they cannot accept a woman in a leadership role to a congregation, because, of course, any given congregation will consist of both men and women.

Apparently, Ellen White was of the opinion that leading a local church was more a matter of actual character qualification than gender:

“It is not always men who are best adapted to the successful management of a church. If faithful women have more deep piety and true devotion than men, they could indeed by their prayers and their labors do more than men who are unconsecrated in heart and life” (Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, p. 56).

Again, we encounter balance. This statement rules out the possibility of operating on the assumption that a woman cannot lead a church. The statement does not negate the need for godly male leadership of local churches, but it reaches further and insists that sometimes women are the better choice for the job. It is character and giftedness that qualify.

Now take this in:

The word “bishop” in 1 Timothy 3:2 is episkopos, and literally means “overseer” (ESV). Paul tells us that “the overseer (episkopos) manages (oikonomos) God’s household” (Titus 1:7, NIV). In other words, part of the biblical job description of theepiskopos is the management of the church, and Ellen White clearly sees women, as well as men, in the church management role.

So we are faced with the biblical allowance that women can preach and teach, and we are faced with Ellen White’s statement that sometimes women are better adapted to the successful management of a church. At this point, some attempt to maneuver around the obvious and say that it is permissible for a woman to teach and preach, or it is permissible for a woman to manage a local church, but it is not permissible for a woman to occupy both roles at the same time, because that would acknowledge in a woman the two primary gifts that equate to a local pastor. Of course none of this reasoning exists anywhere in the Bible or the writings of Ellen White. At this point we’re just making up angles and arguments as we go in order to get around the clear implications of the inspired material before us.

But now, lest there be any doubt, consider one more point that allows us to achieve perfect clarity regarding whether or not women are eligible to occupy the ordained role of “overseer” (episkopos). Follow carefully:
Both sides of the debate agree that all the spiritual gifts are gender inclusive (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
All acknowledge, as well, that one of the gifts is that of “pastor” (poimēn), as listed in Ephesians 4:11, and therefore all agree that women, as well as men, may be “pastors.”
But in order to restrict the women “pastor” (poimēn) from the ordained “overseer” (episkopos) role, those opposed to women’s ordination have insisted that there must be a distinction between spiritual gifts and offices, the reasoning being that a woman may receive and exercise the spiritual gift of “pastor,” but she cannot be ordained in that role as an office equivalent to the “overseer” (episkopos) role.

Got that so far?

Now notice what 1 Peter 5:2 says to the local church leader:

“Shepherd (poimainō, the same word as “pastor” in Ephesians 4:11) the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers (episkopeō, the same word as “bishop/overseer” in 1 Timothy 3:2).”

The following is, therefore, evident:

One of the spiritual gifts for both men and women is that of “pastor.”
And Peter says that the “pastor” is one and the same position as the “overseer.”
Therefore, to concede that a women can receive the spiritual gift of “pastor” is to concede, if we allow all of Scripture to inform us, that a woman can be in the ordained office of “overseer” to a local church.





Originally published: https://lightbearers.org/blog/a-closer-look-at-womens-ordination/