Women in ministry (4)

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 of CVC conducted back in 1998. It's called "A Biblical Position Paper on the Ministry of Women in the Public Services of CVC".

For the entire series of posts look here, here, and here.

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In conclusion, we should affirm the participation of women in prayer and prophecy in the public services of the church. Their contribution should not be slighted or ignored. Nevertheless, women should participate in these activities with hearts that are submissive to male leadership, and they should dress so that they retain their femininity.

Men sometimes have gone father than Scripture and suppressed the valuable ministry contributions of women. There are innumerable ministries with which a woman can become involved in order to further God's kingdom on earth. The ministries women do become involved in, however. should be complementary and supportive of the male leadership in the church.

Such a supportive ministry does not rule out every public ministry of women when men are present. Many borderline cases depend on the demeanor and attitude of women. There are inevitably some gray areas in applying any basic principle of Scripture. We will work hard so that these gray areas do not destroy the fellowship and unity at CVC.

Although it is clear that Biblical writers consistently ascribe ultimate responsibility to men for the leadership of the church, there are also some ways in which women can instruct both men and women if the function of authoritative teaching to men is not involved.

It is appropriate for women to address a mixed audience as articulate and thoughtful representatives of a feminine perspective on many experiences of life. We think of the recent ministries of Corrie ten Boom, Elisabeth Elliot, Joni Eareckson Tada, Kay Arthur, and Beth Moore, women whom God has used significantly.

Once again, a quote from Dorothy Patterson might be helpful. "The church that follows God's plan seeks not to suppress women but to ensure full and proper use of their gifts in a divinely given framework. Scripture affirms that women with varied positions of service, influence, leadership, and teaching ftinctioned in the early church with modesty and order. These women did not teach or exercise authority over men. My fervent prayer is that we as women will work within the clear authority of His word, neither seeking recognition nor demanding higher office, making every effort to serve the Lord and trust Him to open opportunities appropriate to our gifts, giving us usefulness beyond our limitations and expectations."

At CVC, we want to receive all the ministry that God wishes to give us from both sexes. We want to experience both the masculine and the feminine perspectives in our church life and in its services. Therefore, while applying the principles found in I Timothy 3, I Corinthians 11, and I Corinthians 14, we will encourage the participation of women in appropriate "up front" ministries in our public services. Leading in corporate prayer, sharing testimonies, giving greetings and announcements, playing instruments, participating on the vocal team, acting in dramas, and facilitating worship are not only acceptable, but desirable, ministries for the women of CVC.

It is our prayer and confident hope that we not become pharisaical, legalistic, and divisive about these matters. This is our attempt to be faithful to God's word as it speaks to the role of women in ministry at CVC. At the same time, we will seek to apply the following principle: "In essential things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; in all things, charity." We will seek to love, affirm, and cooperate with other believers who hold to either more conservative or more liberal views concerning the roles of women in ministry. We ask God for the grace to live and minister according to the spirit expressed in Ephesians 4:1-3, "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Sources:

Melik, Richard, "Women Pastors: What Does the Bible Teach?" SBC Life, May 1998, 4-6.

Patterson, Dorothy, "Equal, Yet Different." Discipleship Journal, Issue 77, 1993, 68-73.

Piper, John and Grudem, Wayne, ed. Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism. (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 199t).

Robertson, A. T, Word Pictures in the New Testament. Volume 4, The Epistles of Paul. (Nashville: Broadman Press, 193 1).