Should women be Pastors, Bishops and Overseers?

Should women be Pastors, Bishops and Overseers?

YEMI OLAKITAN 

 

The debate, whether a woman should be a pastors, overseers or Bishop in the church is a raging controversy.  In the orthodox churches women do not play such roles; however, modern Pentecostal churches have ordained women as Pastors and even Bishops. Senior Correspondent, Yemi Olakitan examines the issue with biblical texts and Christian views.

The issue of women leadership in the church is a subject of deep controversy since many women have exhibited great leadership talents in a way that is sometimes better than men. While some theologians feel that a woman can exercise authority in the office of pastors, deacons, overseers or Bishops, some have rejected the idea completely saying it goes against biblical instructions. 

In a chat with Pastor Emmanuel Onoja of Hope of Life Evangelical Church, a Pentecostal church, he said, ‘‘women can be ordained as pastors, deacons and even Bishops in the church. The Bible says we are all equal before God, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28).  When Apostle Paul made the statement that women should keep quiet and should not be given leadership positions in the church, he was referring to the situation at that time. This cannot apply to modern day Christianity. Take the issue of spiritual gifts in the bible, it does not discriminate. Spiritual gifts are given to anyone, whether they are male or female. How then can we say women should not hold position of leadership in the church and should not teach? What happens if a woman has the gift of teaching?  If God gives a woman a ministry that requires her to exercise authority over men, then she should function in that office. If God gives a woman a ministry or a calling to be a pastor or a leader in the church and she does not officiate in that office, God will ask that woman. He will hold the woman accountable.  This does not mean that a woman should not be submissive to her husband at home,’’ he said.

Speaking further, Onoja said, ‘‘women should not abandon their marital obligations because of spiritual responsibilities in the church. They must know how to manage both effectively.   There is nothing wrong with women holding a position of authority in the Church of God. If God gives the woman the grace who are we to discourage them? When it comes to the family, it must be man; the head of the woman is the man. The place of ministry is different, if God uses a woman in church ministry, you cannot ask God why he is choosing a woman. There have been many instances where women have exhibited outstanding leadership in the church of God and contributed to the advancement of the Gospel, should we discourage them?  We would be denying the body of Christ an invaluable contribution to progress. The Holy Spirit does not look at gender. In the Bible, Esther was a leader, Deborah was a leader, once leadership is from God, whether it is a woman or man, we should respond. If we have respect for God, we should respect whoever, he puts in a leadership position whether in the church or outside the church,’’ he said.

In another chat with Superior Senior leader Samuel Gusinu of the Celestial Church of Christ, Ileri Ayo Parish, Lekki, he said, ‘‘women cannot hold position of authority over men in the celestial church of Christ.  This is because the Bible says, it is not right. If a woman is blessed and sets up a church, she must look for qualified men to act as overseers or shepherds in the house of God. She herself cannot do it. Women cannot preach or stand on the pulpit in the Celestial Church of Christ. They can be prophets. The gift of prophesying is giving to both men and women. Women can be prophets but they are excluded from the altar. They cannot stand on the pulpit to teach. The ultimate position, a woman can hold in the celestial church of Christ is ‘Mother in celestial.’ A ‘Mother in celestial’ is like a mentor to young women in the church. They do not exercise authority over men. Women cannot even make announcements in the celestial church let alone preach. We adhere strictly to what the Bible says on that issue because it is the word of God. The Apostle said, women should keep quiet in the church and be submissive to the authority of men, that’s it.  Jesus said, in the last days, there would be many false prophets. If one is truly a man of God, then one will speak according to the Bible. The Bible is God’s word. The Bible is very clear concerning the issue of women leadership in the church. They are not to take positions of leadership or authority in the church of God.

 In another chat with a member of the Jehovah’s witnesses, name withheld, he opined that, the Bible is the final authority on all issues for Christians. He then quotes 1 Timothy 2:11-12

‘‘But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but remain quiet.  For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.  And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." (1 Tim. 2:12-14)

According to him, this bible verse only allows men to be pastors, elders and bishops in the church. Churches today have adopted the political and social standard that allows women to be pastors and elders in the church. Paul refers to the order of creation in his epistle to Timothy when he discusses the relationship between men and women in the church context.   ‘‘But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but remain quiet.  For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. The woman is not to have authority over the man in the church context, but this does not extend to the political/economic world.  In the Old Testament Deborah was a judge in Israel over men, There is no doubt that women supported Paul in many areas and were great helpers in the church (Acts 2:17; 18:24-26; 21:8-9). What Paul is speaking of in 1 Tim. 2 is the relationship between men and women in the church structure. Even on the ministry of our Lord Jesus, all his disciples were men, does it mean there were no women who were qualified to be his disciples?’’  It goes against biblical instructions to ordain women as pastors particularly when they are to exercise authority over men in the church.’’

Elder Theophilus Ajibola of the United African Methodist Church said, the bishop/overseer is to be the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2), who manages his household well, and has a good reputation (1 Tim. 3:4-5, 7). Deacons must be "men of dignity" (1 Tim. 3:8).  Paul then speaks of women in verse 11 and their obligation to receive instructions.  Then in verse 12, Paul says "Let deacons be husbands of one wife . . . “Again, in Titus 1:5-7, Paul says, "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.   He is the husband of one wife, responsible, able to "exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict" (Titus 1:9).  We see no command for the overseers to be women.  On the contrary, women are told to be "dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things" (1 Tim. 3:11).   Why is it that it is the men who are singled out as the overseers?  It is because of the created order of God that Paul said this, (Gen. 1-2; 1 Tim. 2:12-14).  

He added that, ‘‘in the Old Testament in over 700 mentions of priests, every single one was a male.  There is not one instance of a female priest.  This is significant because priests were ordained by God to hold a very important office of ministering the sacrifices.  This was not the job of women. Therefore, Genesis 1-2, 1 Timothy 2, and Titus 1, the normal and proper person to hold the office of elder/pastor is to be a man.’’

Elder Theophilus said, ‘‘the verse that talked about male and female equality was not talking about church structure.  It is talking about salvation "in Christ."  It cannot be used to support women as pastors because that is not what it is talking about. To find out about church leadership, you need to go to those passages that talk about it: 1 Timothy 2 and Titus 1. God is a God of order.  He has established order within the family (Gen. 3:16; 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:22-33; Col. 3:18-21 ) and the church (1 Tim. 2:11-14; 1 Cor. 11:8-9).  Even within the Trinity, there is an order--a hierarchy.  The Father sent the Son (John 6:38), and both the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26).  Jesus said, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38).  In creation, God made Adam first and then Eve to be his helper.  This is the order of creation.  It is this order that Paul mentions in 1 Tim. 2:11-14 when speaking of authority.  Being a pastor or an elder is to be in the place of authority. Therefore, within the church, for a woman to be a pastor or elder, she would be in authority over men in the church which contradicts what Paul says in 1 Tim. 2:11-14.  Not having a place of leadership in the church does not mean a woman is less of a person, less important to God, or inferior.  All are equal before God whether it is a Jew, Gentile, free, slave, male, or female. In the church, God has set up an order the same way he set one up in the family. The chain of command is Jesus, the man, the wife, and the children.  God's word clearly tells us that the elder is to be the husband of one wife.   A woman cannot qualify for this position by virtue of her being female,’’ he said.