Women in ministry (1)

Back in 1998, some people at CVC expressed concerns because some women were providing some of the leadership in our public worship services by doing such things as leading worship music, giving testimonies, praying, reading scripture, and making announcements. Some people at the time felt that only men should lead our public services in those ways. The Elders of CVC were asked then what the Bible says about the role of women in public worship services.

This past weekend, we looked at what Titus 1:5-9 had to say about eldership. On Saturday night, we received two questions about the role of women in leadership in the church.

What will follow over the next few days are the results of a Bible study that the Elders conducted back in 1998. It's called "A Biblical Position Paper on the Ministry of Women in the Public Services of CVC"

***

Introduction

In order to be consistent in the application of Biblical principles concerning women in ministry in the public services at Cuyahoga Valley Church, the Elders of CVCC have surveyed pertinent scriptures and offer the following as a helpful guide for our ministry. It is hoped that this will be a tool that will assist CVC in maintaining unity in the church in light of the fact that many thoughtful people are predicting that this will be an extremely controversial, and potentially divisive, issue for churches in the 21st century.

Affirming the role of women in ministry

I Peter 4:10 says that all spiritual gifts are to be used to "minister" (diakoneo) to one another in the church. And Paul says, "There are different kinds of service (diakonia), but the same Lord" (I Corinthians 12:5). So in this broad sense, anything any Christian - male or female - does to help the work of the church is a ministry. Ministry is a very broad word, stemming from the Greek words diakonia, diakonos, and diaknoeo, and these words often convey the idea of "service" and "ministry" in the broadest sense. We affirm that ministry in the church is not something restricted to men. God commands both men and women to be ministers in the church.

Numerous passages speak clearly and forcibly to the inherent worth and value of women. Women in the New Testament engaged in significant ministry, performing valuable service in sometimes difficult situations. This is readily seen in the Acts of the Apostles. Both Priscilla and Aquila spoke privately to Apollos at Ephesus (Acts 18:24-26), correcting his incomplete and flawed theology. Further, women clearly played a significant role in the work of the Apostle Paul. In his letter to the Romans, Paul identified sixteen significant helpers in ministry (Romans 16:1-16), and at least ten of them were women. Who knows what the health of the church at Philippi would have been were it not for Lydia (Acts 16:13-15), apparently a benefactor to the church, and others such as Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2,3)? And, of course, women made a significant contribution to Jesus' ministry. Luke recalled with appreciation their financial support and company with Him (Luke 8:1-3).

Men often have hurt women. They have treated them as lesser citizens of the kingdom, and some men have denigrated or overlooked their contribution in ministry. An examination of the Scriptures will show that women have played a vital role in ministry. One reason for the current evangelical feminist movement, although not the only one, is that some women are responding to men who have oppressed them and treated them poorly.

Contemporary women should be encouraged by the women in the Scriptures who have contributed to the spread of God's kingdom message. God does not use men alone to accomplish His purposes. Both sexes are created in God's image, and both men and women have been used mightily by God. No woman who has a desire to please God should feel that there is no place for her ministry in the church.

At CVC, we value and affirm women as "fellow heirs of the grace of life" (I Peter 3:7). We underscore the truth expressed in Galatians 3:28, "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." We long for women to feel the approval of God and the fulfillment that comes from building His kingdom as they exercise their gifts in biblically appropriate ways.