Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

Firstly: Just what is the office of a pastor? Is it the same, or different than it was in the early church?

Elders of the early church were appointed among the local men to decide issues and send missives to other elders in other cities. (Titus 1:5, Acts 14:21-23) There were slight crossovers with modern pastors, such as teaching and some authority over the church (I Tim 5:17), but also pointed differences. These elders were not bound to one house or group. Not all teachers were elders, and not all elders taught. The primary duty of the elders was to shepherd the flock of God, such as teaching, deciding controversies, guarding against false teachings, etc. This was over their smaller local groups, or in coming together to shepherd the whole church. 

It seems strongly implied in scripture that all of these elders be men (Titus 1:5-7). 

On whether woman can fill the role of a 'modern' pastor is a bit trickier:

Women could teach alongside their husbands, even other men or teachers (Acts 18:18-28)
Women could teach their own family (II Tim 1:5, Prov 31:1, Prov 31:26) 
Women could testify to Christ to men (John 20:18, Luke 2:36-38, Luke 19:37-40)
Women could prophesy (II Kings 22:15-20, Acts 2:17-18, Luke 1:16-55, I Cor 11:5)
Women could evangelize (Acts 8:4, Matt 13:31-33) 
Women and widows could have various manners of authority in the church (Judges 4-5, Micah 6:4, Rom 16:1-2) [Paul says Phoebe is a 'woman set before many', vs. Benefactor as often errantly translated without basis in the greek or in scripture].
Women could host a church or gathering (Rom 16:3-4, Col 4:15, Acts 12:12)
Women could be apostles (Rom 16:7)
Women could lead a hymn in worship (I Cor 14:26) [Though this is to build up the assembly, not usurp authority over it].
Women could pray in the assembly (Acts 1:14, Acts 2:41-42)
Women could judge in disputes (Judges 4)
Women could be disciple making disciples for Christ (Acts 19:33)
Women could be deacons (again different than our modern use): Rom 16:1-3, I Cor 3:5-9
Women could be co-workers with the apostles in the work of the gospel (I Cor 3:5-15, Rom 16:3)
Women could work hard for the sake of the Lord (Rom 16:6, Rom 16:12)
Women could participate in the assembly even with words of instruction (I Cor 14:26)

However:

- Wives could *not* teach in a manner that took authority -over- their husband. (I Tim 2:12) [This a greek hendiady, a form of expression, that conjoins two terms. In this case, it groups teaching with the violent seizing of authority. Neither are independent of the other, though it is clear from further context that it is the reversal in authority that makes the teaching bad (I Tim 2:13)].

- Wives could not interrupt the assembly with questions to their husbands
Women were to be peaceful and not gossip/distract during the assembly. They were to be silent and keep peace (I Cor 14:34-35) [this not being the silence of non-participation, as that would contradict the verses sandwiching it I Cor 14:26-28 and I Cor 14:36-40, but the silence of temperance, good order, not interrupting others, submission, etc.

What of women pastors, then, in today's society?

Keeping these principles; male and female both participate in the church, wives should be subject to their husbands, and everything in good order; some basic guidelines can be proposed:

- A wife should not be pastor over her husband.

- A women could possibly be an associate pastor on the finance board or over youth ministry, women's ministry, worship, etc [going by modern use].

- A wife could be a pastor alongside her husband, but he must have the higher authority

- Widows could possibly be pastors whether at home or abroad in other countries.

- All women can prophesy and evangelize, though with due respect to their husbands or fathers if they have them.

August 13 2014 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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