Can Women Become Pastors? Women Leaders in Christianity
We are rolling right on through this Bible Basics series! If you haven’t read the other articles in this set, feel free to check them out anytime. So far, we’ve covered Is Homosexuality Still a Sin? And, Can Christian Couples Live Together Before Marriage?
Today, we’re going to talk about women in the Bible—particularly the issue of whether or not women can be pastors, preachers, teachers, or leaders within the Body of Christ. This article was actually inspired by a question I received from a viewer on TRC’s YouTube channel. If you don’t already follow us, click here to subscribe now!
If you’re new here, then you may not be aware yet that I am a woman. My mother is a pastor, and my grandmother was a reverend before passing away in May 2021. So I grew up in an environment where Christian women were leaders and preachers and it was never an issue in the churches I attended. I knew there were some people out there who disagreed with women pastors, but I never had to actively explain or defend myself as a believer in the notion of women as leaders in the church.
I figured, if there is one person who’s confused, then there must be more. The Lord blessed me with this platform and an audience, so I’m going to use it to spread the Gospel of Christ and the truth in the Word of God. So, let’s answer the question; Can women preach in a Christian church?
Yes. They absolutely can.
Women can be leaders, teachers, preachers, prophets, and everything else a man can be in the Body of Christ. We can have authority in our marriage and have authority over a man. I know some of you may be frowning at this point, but don’t worry, this is only the intro. We’re just getting started.
For the record, I’ve only stated my opinion thus far. But I don’t like making posts based on mere human thoughts and knowledge. So, let’s look at what the Word of God says about women leadership.
The idea of women not having authority often stems from a handful of scriptures, I will address the two verses I hear most often.
The first is Ephesians 5:22-23 KJV, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
The second is I Corinthians 14:34 KJV, Let your women keep silence in the church: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
Now, let’s also look at some scriptures that seem to speak against this idea of women not having authority over men or within the church.
I Peter 3:7 NIV, Husbands, in the same way, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
This verse not only acknowledges women as equals with men as heirs of Christ, but also reminds men of the importance of remembering this equality because their prayers can be hindered if they don’t. Not only is it made very clear that women are indeed equal with men in Christ, but it emphasizes that it is so important for men to remember this fact because if they don’t and, therefore, are not considerate of their wives with respect to their authority and leadership as a coheir in Christ, their prayers may be hindered.
This means a man’s prayer life can literally be dampened if that man ever forgets or ever stops viewing his wife as his equal. I think it is fair to say this scripture is a warning in defense of the authority and leadership of women in the Body of Christ. We are heirs with you, dear husbands, not heirs behind or beneath you.
In Joel 2:28 NIV God says, And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on ALL people. Your sons AND daughters will prophecy … Even on my servants, both men AND women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
This scripture is also repeated later in Acts 2:17. And serves as another acknowledgment of women having equal gifts, equal portion of the Spirit, and equal authority with men.
Also, in Acts 9:36, and 21:9, women Disciples and Prophets are mentioned. Which would naturally lead us to understand that women can indeed have authority—over men or women or children or anyone else, as it has been given to them by God through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
At this point, we’re going to get into what some may consider contradictions in the Word of God regarding this matter. I want to take the time to point out the scripture, Numbers 23:19 NIV, God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind…
Going forward, please keep this scripture in mind as it states that God is not a liar and that He doesn’t change His mind. Since the Bible is God’s Word, every part of it is true. This means we must accept that all scriptures are true in this matter. Women can pray, preach, and prophecy. Women can exhibit authority in the community and within their marriage. And women are created equal with men, have been given an equal portion of the Spirit, and are equal heirs in the covenant with men.
On the other hand, it must also be true that women must submit themselves and not speak in church.
Since God does not contradict Himself and never changes His mind, how can both sets of scriptures presented above be absolutely true? This is where we must take the context of the Word into consideration.
When women are instructed to submit themselves to their husbands, who is the head of the wife [Ephesians 5:22-23], they are not simultaneously relinquishing authority to their husbands. This scripture comes from the New Testament, which means it was originally written in Greek. So we have to study the Greek language in order to fully understand the meaning of this verse.
The Greek word for headship here is Kephale, which does not mean authority. Kephale means “source.” Now, let’s plug in the original Greek meaning and read the scripture again.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the source of the wife, even as Christ is the source of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
Now you can interpret the true meaning. Husbands are not in charge of their wives; they are the source of their wives just as Christ is the source of the church.
What does it mean to be a source for your wife?
It means a husband is a foundation for his wife. He is her provider; he is her constant flow of love and support. It does not mean he is her boss, her ruler, or the force of authority in her life. In the same way Christ is the source of the church. He is the church’s provider, and constant flow of love. Christ is our wisdom and guidance, but even God gives us free will in choosing to follow Him or to live in sin.
Since Christ, our source, gives us free will, then we should live by example and observe that same free will between husband (the source) and wife. We should not pervert the Word of God by interpreting this scripture as a shackle over a woman’s authority and freedom in her marriage.
Now let’s look at I Corinthians 14:34 KJV
Let your women keep silence in the church: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
When Paul instructs women not to speak in church, we have to take the context of his letter into consideration. Paul was writing to the Corinthians about maintaining decency and order in church. This was due to the background of the Corinthians and their history of “wild” Pagan worship in which they would thrash violently and cry out in ululating tongues in worship of their false god, Bacchus. Many of these Pagan worshippers were women, Thus these women carried over their “wild” worship when they converted to Christianity. This means they continued with their thrashing and ululating voices, crying out in church and causing disorder during service. Which led to trouble within the Corinthian church and, naturally, led Paul to order the instruction that women shouldn’t speak in church.
Paul’s words are not a command against all women everywhere, and you can find evidence for this claim in other scriptural examples where women did in fact teach and have authority in the community.
The first of this evidence is just a few verses up in I Corinthians 14:26 NIV where Paul begins his address by saying, What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? … Each of you has a hymn or a word of instruction…
Clearly, Paul acknowledges that brothers AND sisters—men AND women—have a word of instruction. Meaning, they offer guidance and leadership within the Christian community. If he acknowledges this without rebuke, why would he seemingly contradict himself by then saying women cannot speak at all?
Because the context of his words must be considered and interpreted as a direct rebuke against Corinthian women. Not women everywhere.
Also consider other women with authority in the Bible—even some women Paul himself encountered, as mentioned in previous scripture.
Acts 21:9, where Paul stayed with Philip, an evangelist who had 4 daughters who prophesied.
Acts 9:36, Tabitha (Dorca) a woman who was acknowledged as a Disciple and was brought back to life by Peter.
I Corinthians 11:5, Paul acknowledges women who pray and prophecy and offers instruction on how they should do it properly—again acknowledging that women can be leaders and have authority.
Being a woman myself, you may think I am bias on this topic. But I didn’t write this article to fight or debate with anyone. I simply want the truth in the Word to be realized by Christians everywhere. If you are a woman and you feel you have been called by God to preach, then PREACH! You don’t need anyone else’s approval or permission to do so. If God called you, then you already have all that you need.
If you are a Christian who disagrees with this post, feel free to conduct your own Biblical research and studies on the matter and search the scriptures yourself. I found this sermon by Pastor Creflo Dollar particularly liberating and informative. Please check it out if you’d like more sources to reference beyond what I have said above.
God bless.