What Role are Women to Play in the Church?

I know, I know...This is starting to become a bit of a habit, but I just had to post another paper I wrote for my theology class =)

This time, the article I had the pleasure of reading was entitled, The Role of Women in the Church: A Survey of Current Approaches. Some of you can probably imagine the look on my face when I saw this assignment, maybe something like this: “8D”. Anyhow, the author of this particular article presents 3 views of the role women are to play in the church: the “Non-Evangelical Egalitarian View,” “Evangelical Egalitarian View,” and the “Hierarchicalist View.”

Just so you can have a little bit of background information, here is the author’s brief definition of each view:

Non-Evangelical Egalitarian - “This viewpoint rejects the Bible as an absolute, timeless revelation. The biblical texts are sexist and thoroughly androcentric, requiring a ‘hermeneutics of suspicion.’”

Evangelical Egalitarian – “The Bible does not, according to this approach, teach a man/woman hierarchy nor a submission of women/wives to men/husbands. The true biblical picture, especially from the perspective of the NT, is complete equality between male and female and mutual submission of male and female in Christ. There is a strong emphasis on giving full weight to the cultural conditioning of parts of Scripture and on paying close attention to the historically conditioned ad hoc passages.”

Hierarchicalist View – “Hierarchicalists reaffirm the position of traditional Judaism and Christianity that God has determined a functional hierarchy in the home and in the church. There is a role differentiation between male and female. Males are to lead and females are to follow in church government.”

The author of this article never gave his own personal opinion on the subject, but simply presented the facts and left the reader open to form his own opinion. And so, once again, here was my response:


The author intends to formulate a better, clearer definition of the role women play in the church by writing a non-confrontational, non-bias article. The non-evangelical egalitarian approach is the view which I found most disturbing. Primarily because it rejects the authority and timeless message of God’s Word and its followers choose, as a substitute for our unchanging, infinite God, to be guided by man’s finite whims and doctrines. In addition, this view takes a misguided, feminist approach to interpreting Scripture. For example, it holds that such passages as 1 Corinthians 13:34 are demeaning and oppressive in nature. This stems, I believe, from a misunderstanding of biblical submission, which is neither oppressive nor demeaning (Ephesians 5:15-33). Yes, men and woman are created equal, on that point egalitarians are correct, but someone had to be the “head.” Thus, God, not man, in sovereignty, appointed man to the role of headship (Genesis 2)

The evangelical egalitarian approach at least acknowledges the Bible as the infallible rule of faith and practice, yet, in my opinion, it rejects the authority and infallibility of God’s Word by rejecting God’s created order (1 Timothy 2:13). While I agree with the evangelical egalitarians that men and women are created equal, and while I recognize the huge impact influential women have made in history (i.e. Esther, Ruth), and while I don’t believe women should be treated as less valuable nor inferior to men, I do recognize that they have distinct roles. Just as the Trinity, men and women are equal in nature, distinct in person, and subordinate in duties. This includes both home and church.

In this section, the author makes reference to seven controversial passages of Scripture, including Romans 16:1: Evangelical egalitarians believe this verse teaches that since Phoebe’s name is associated with the word servant (which can mean “deacon” in Greek), she must have been a deacon. Therefore, should we not also allow women to serve in that office? However, though the Greek word “diakonos” in this verse does mean teacher or deacon, it can also be translated “to run errands,” an “attendant,” or a “waiter at a table.” Moreover, taking into count the context, notice the word helper in verse 2, “prostatis.” “Prostatis” is a feminine noun translated, “patroness, or assistant.” This word, then, implies that Phoebe performed acts of benevolence and service to the apostles, specifically Paul. Therefore, I do not believe Phoebe was a deacon. And just as a footnote, how can a deacon be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:11-12)?

Like the hierarchicalist, I believe that though men and women are created equal, they have distinct roles. Clearly, the man is to be the leader of the home and the woman is to lovingly submit (Ephesians 5:15-33). Titus 2:3-5 tells us that the woman’s role in the church is training younger woman, something that is all too often overlooked in the modern church today, and providing general encouragement to the body. That is their ministry, and it is vitally important that they perform this ministry that, “the word of God may not be reviled.”

Personal Conclusion

As Christians, to our own shame, we have allowed the doctrines of feminism to creep into homes and churches across this nation, thus diluting the minds of the body of Christ. As a result, we have turned against the truth of God’s Word and have replaced it with the lies of the culture. Genesis 2 has been described as a feminist’s worst nightmare. In this case, I would argue that it is a non-evangelical egalitarian’s, and evangelical egalitarian’s worst nightmare. From the very beginning, it was God’s intention that the man be the leader in both church and home. However, we have adopted the feminist view that women should be permitted to assume the same responsibilities as men. Thus, like so many other things, the church has decided to acquiesce to the culture, allowing women to usurp men’s biblical role of leadership.

Furthermore, wives are now trying to usurp their husband’s leadership by proclaiming that they have an equal right to be head of the family. Does not the curse warn of this? Genesis 3:16b says, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” This verse warns that there will be a continuous struggle over leadership. Therefore, allowing women into “the ministry” is compliance with the very curse we are under. 1Timothy 2:12-13 proclaims that in accordance with created order, just as in the family, men are to be the leaders in the Church. Notice, also, verse 12; Paul says, “I do not permit...” This is not a kind suggestion, but a command made by an apostle of Jesus Christ under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.