I remember several conversations in which I argued vehemently that women should not be in leadership positions in the church. I pondered the hypothetical dilemma of a presidential choice between a woman who represented biblical values vs. a man who did not. I was flummoxed by my husband’s mild criticisms of the traditions of men that kept women out of such roles but weren’t truly consistent with the reasons behind such a prohibition. He felt it was silly that a woman could speak on a topic behind a podium on a Sunday evening or a weekday, but to give the same message behind a pulpit on a Sunday morning was suddenly wrong.
I also remember the pain and frustration of having skills and abilities in an area that was off-limits to women while simultaneously lacking the skills and abilities in areas required of women. I keenly remember the life and energy that flowed into me when given an opportunity to teach publicly…as well as the life and energy that drained out of me when restricted to those areas required of women. This was not rebellion. I was not seeking or grasping for roles that were not mine. I was desperately trying to fit into this box women were supposed to remain in…and I was dying a slow death.
My husband was not on board with these attempts to fit into the required box. One reason was that he was watching his wife wither. He often commented how I had lost the twinkle in my eyes…the twinkle that attracted him to me. He thought it was his fault and sought for ways to encourage me. It wasn’t his fault. I was living my entire life…waking every single day….to a job I failed at. And, those things at which I excelled…that infused me with life…that I felt I was born for….were denied me…because of my gender.
I knew I had to wrestle with the way I was wired…and what I believed the Bible said. I was being irresistibly drawn to a field that had a sign posted, “No women allowed.” Yet, I also knew that what was inside me was God-given. I knew that He offered abundant life and that what He had placed within me was to bring life, not death. So…wrestle I did. I opened my Bible, shut out the voices I’d heard, and the took off the filter I had been wearing.
The first thing I saw was the numerous examples of women in leadership and ministry roles. The first was Deborah. She was a prophetess and a judge over Israel. She was a leader of Israel. We have often been told that she was a leader because no man would do it. Reading the text will not bring you to that conclusion. Barak sought her counsel and presence concerning matters of war. She was a judge…it was common for the people to seek her counsel. That was not indicative of unwillingness on the part of men to lead.
Phoebe is a women Paul refers to in the closing chapter of Romans.
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.” Rom. 16:1
This Phoebe is a deacon. She had leadership responsibilities in the early church. And Paul was commending her. But, there’s more to his commendation. In the historical context, when a letter was sent to a church, it was also the responsibility of the bearer to interpret its contents. Phoebe was not simply a mail carrier. Paul entrusted her to interpret and explain the letter, as well as assist the recipients in working out the implications of the letter. Phoebe taught Romans to a group of pastors, which most likely included men.
Junia is said to be an apostle, an outstanding apostle. Apostles provided leadership to churches, clarified doctrinal issues, assisted in settling disputes. When we look at Paul, we see the various responsibilities he had over the churches he started and with whom he corresponded. Junia, as an apostle would have had similar responsibilities and had similar authority.
John wrote his second letter to a woman, “the elect lady and her children.” He was not merely writing a letter to a woman and her biological children. The Greek word for “lady” is kyria. It is the feminine form of the Greek word, kurios. This word refers to a person in charge or in a position of authority. Furthermore, in all three letters, John refers to spiritual children as “my children” or “dear children”. John is writing to a person in a position of authority and to her spiritual children. Most likely, considering the historical context, it was a house church. The elect lady to whom John wrote was a pastor.
Priscilla. Priscilla and Aquila lived in Rome and led a church there until Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome. They traveled to Corinth and, together with Paul, founded and led another church. About 1 1/2 years later, Paul takes them with him on his journey to Ephesus where they found yet another church. When he leaves, he places them in charge of this church until Timothy arrives. Ephesus was the 3rd largest city in the ancient world, behind Rome and Alexandria, with a population of approximately 1/4 million people. It is here in Ephesus that they hear Apollos and teach him a greater understanding of the gospel.
In every mention of this couple except two(1 Cor. 16:19, Acts 18:2), Priscilla’s name in mentioned first. This is significant in the historical context. The name mentioned first was the leader or of greater influence. Priscilla was highly influential in the teaching of Apollos, and in the founding and leading of 3 churches in some of the most important cities of the New Testament world.
In Ephesians 4, Paul speaks of gifts that Jesus gave the church. These gifts were people…apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Why? To equip the saints for the work of ministry and for building up the body of Christ. Phoebe and Priscilla were teachers. Junia was an apostle. The elect lady was a pastor. Deborah was a prophet, as were the daughters of Philip. The woman at the well was the first evangelist. The Bible highlights women in these leadership roles, actively serving the Kingdom. Women who were committed to equipping the saints and building up the body of Christ.
I could feel myself breathe a sigh of relief as I read of these women serving in leadership positions and ministry roles that reverberated in my own heart and soul. God was using women in the same capacities that I was drawn to. Paul and other apostles commended these women for their service in the Kingdom. Maybe…just maybe…these roles were not off limits to women. Maybe…just maybe…the gifts that God had placed within me could have their expression in the church.