Why women cannot be pastors in the Church
The debate on whether women are allowed to serve pastoral roles keeps deepening. The hypothesis behind this interesting debate states that women cannot be pastors. Historically, a man is permitted to lead the Church. Although both genders are allowed to serve in the Church, men are universally accepted to serve as pastors. Contrariwise, women are discouraged from taking the top position in the Church. However, many people today believe that gender should not limit service in Church. They argue that the Church should be in the frontline in the fight for gender equality. With this, they claim that either men or women can become pastors. Throughout centuries, Christian theologians and philosophers have explored the topic. Most of them have reached to a conclusion that the pastoral role fits men. Indeed, the preponderance of theologians do not support women to serve in the pastoral roles. Drawing conclusions from the Biblical teachings and relating the Church to the society, the discussion explores why women should be excluded from pastoral roles.
In Biblical history, man is portrayed as more authoritative than a woman. From the creation story, man is positioned as a superior being to a woman. God created man and made a woman from the ribs of the man. A woman came to an existence sometime after the creation of man. Indeed, the plan to create a woman was God’s initiative to support the man with a companion. “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” Genesis 2:18). Such an aspect may reflect that God valued man over woman. However, God is an equal and fair God who saw all of His creation as “good.” God created woman from man’s ribs as an indication that a woman is an object of submission to man. In Genesis 2:23, the first parent, Adam, describes Eve as “bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh.” God accorded man with authority and power over the rest of the creation. The man was not only mandated to care for nature but also to name all the animals and birds. The Bible records that whatever name Adam gave to each creature has remained up to date. The authority over creation reflects the qualification of man to serve in the pastoral position (Myers 35). At no time has God raised woman over man, this woman cannot serve above the man. Since God did not accord women any power of service, then she is not supposed to serve as a pastor.
Apostle Paul in the Bible, excludes women from assuming pastoral roles in the Church. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul does not permit women to lead in Church. “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet,” (1 Timothy 2:12). People have different opinions in their interpretations of this verse. Some interpret that believe that Paul excludes women from all roles in the Church. However, others understand that women can undertake some tasks in the Church but not preaching. It is thus, essential to clarify the meaning of the verse. Primarily, the verse is clear that women should not have authority over men. Basically, Paul does not hinder women from serving God. In various other sermons, the Apostle permits women to preach the Gospel. In Philippians 4:3, Paul writes that Euodia and Syntyche supported him in the Gospel. Thus, Paul allows women to help in the spread of the Gospel. However, men should have authority over women. In this, women should not resume higher roles in the Church, like becoming pastors.
Just as Christ is the Head of the Church, the pastor should be a man. Christians emulate the example of Jesus Christ. Christ was a man, who sacrificed His life to save humanity from the slavery of sin. As the Messiah, Jesus came to preach the Gospel of God. He is also termed as the Lamb of God who came to reveal the will of His father. Christ is the most authoritative man in the ministry of Christianity. All believers submit to Christ as the Head. This male headship reflects in the leadership of the Church. In a direct reflection, a man should lead the Church as Christ is the Head. The male authority by Christ empowers men to become pastors in the Church. The man has more powers in service of the Christ. However, people debate over the real meaning of a ‘man’ in Biblical context. Narrowly, a man is accepted as any person of the male gender. However, the Bible has a deeper defining of a man as a spiritually mature person. Thus, only spiritually mature men should assume the pastorals roles in the Church (Cazarin 453). Both men and women in the Church should utilize their spiritual gifts to serve God. The headship of Christ calls all members of the Church to get devoted in the service to God.
The leadership in the family reveals the roles of the pastor. While the family leaders serve to meet the needs of the family members, the pastor is responsible for addressing the spiritual needs of the Church. The family head organizes the members and ensures order in the family matters. Similarly, it is the role of the pastor to ensure order in the church service. In the same manner, the man heads the family, so does the pastor chairs the Church of God whose Head is Christ. Interestingly, man has been mandated with the powers of leading the family. The Bible subjects the man to critical responsibilities of heading the family (Sakenfeld 43). Similarly, society defines man as the Head of the family. Women can only lead the family in the absentia of their husbands. Most of the leaders in the community are men. Although the society strives to uphold gender equality in leadership, researchers mention that men make better leaders than women. Indeed, most of the senior positions in the community are filled by men. In the light of family headship and society leadership, men fits better in the pastoral position than women (Myers 54). The same way women are restricted from heading the Church, so should they be limited from assuming pastoral roles. Women are defined to submit to men in authority. “Wives are called to loving submission to their husbands” (Ephesians 5:22). Despite the limitation from serving in pastoral roles, it is the responsibility of women to support men in authority.
The restriction of women from taking pastoral roles may strengthen the issue of gender inequality in society. Various researchers have explored the significance of Christianity in the fight against gender disparity. Lynn Japinga wrote to explain the role of Christianity in feminism. She points out that Christian feminists represent a range of positions” (Japinga, 2). She addresses the need for unity through assigning women and men equal rights of leadership in Church. Japinga believes that women can equally serve in pastoral roles. She dismisses the claims that women love their rights more than the Bible, claiming that women would have left the Church if this was the case. She claims that God might be using feminism to help reform the Church (Japinga 55). Gender roles play a vital role in the balance of men and women. In modern society, female activists argue that women can perform the functions of men. Indeed, women are resuming some of the roles that were defined to be for men. Women have become state leaders and occupied other top positions that were associated with males. It is no longer a surprise to see women pastoring in churches.
The church advocates for equality and unity despite disparities over leadership matters. God commands people to live in agreement with one another. According to Galatians 3:28, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for we are all one in Christ Jesus.” Regardless of the differences in church roles, the Church should remain united in Christ Jesus. Christ is the Head of the Church and calls for harmony and peace among the members. Every member of the Church is called to serve God. The primary call in Christianity is to serve God. The position of responsibilities should not hinder a believer from serving God and other people. As explored, both the Biblical context and societal setting places man in superiority to woman. Man is significantly allowed to undertake pastoral and different top roles in the Church. However, women are limited to serve in the Church. Women are called to help with submission and support men in authority. Above all, service to God with unity and harmony is the most satisfying.
Works Cited
Cazarin, Rafael, and Mar Griera. “Born a pastor, being a woman: biographical accounts on gendered religious gifts in the Diaspora.” Culture and Religion 19.4 (2018): 451-470.
The Holy Bible.
Japinga, Lynn. “Feminism and Christianity: An essential guide.” (2015).
Myers, Peter K. Authentic leadership and its relationship to ministerial effectiveness among pastors in the Church of the Nazarene. Indiana Wesleyan University, 2017.
Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob. “Feminist uses of biblical materials.” Feminist Interpretation of the Bible 56 (1985).