Women in Ministry

A Presentation By: Tricia Wynn, MDiv, PT, MS

Equals From Creation



Both male and female created in the image of God. Gen 1:27

Equals From Creation

 Woman - a "helpmeet" Does this imply she was simply Adam's assistant?  Ezer - does not denote a subordinate helper or assistant  God Himself is called Ezer, "Helper" to His people. Is He subordinate to us?

 Woman then is the climax of creation :-)

After The Fall

 Submission of wife to husband AFTER the fall  "Your desire shall be to your husband and he shall rule over you" Gen 3:16  This does not imply general subordination of

all

women to

all

men  It is limited to the husband - wife relationship

The Early Church

 False ideologies and theologies abounded in Ephesus impacting the early church marital relationship  Paul provides instruction concerning the husband-wife relationship in light of Gen 3:16:  1 Tim 2:14; 1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Cor 11:3  The head* of woman is her husband  Women are called to be subject to their husbands in everything (Eph 5:24)

1 Tim 2:11 15

 "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."

1 Cor. 14:34

 "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."

1 Cor. 11:3

 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 "

The Early Church

 The words used for “man” and “woman” (aner and gune) can be translated as either “man-woman” or “husband-wife”  The immediate context and parallel passages clarifies Paul is speaking to husband-wife relationship

Headship

 Does husband’s “headship” in the home equal male’s headship in the church?

 No

Headship

 Does husband's "headship" in the home equal male's headship in the church?

 No

Headship

 Eph. 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."  The Head/Husband of the church is Christ and all of us (male and female) are His bride  Christ as Head of the church is our model and example of how the marital relationship should be not vice versa.

Qualifications

 Do the detailed qualifications listed in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 exclude women from church leadership as Elders or Pastors?

 All widowers, unmarried men, married but childless men would them be excluded from such responsibilities

Qualifications

 These passages are not prescriptive but descriptive  1 Tim 3:12 the same phrase, “must be husband of but one wife” used for the qualifications of Deacon  Romans 16:1 Pheobe is named a “Deacon”

Women in Ministry

 EG White  “Women who are willing to consecrate some of their time to the service of the Lord should be appointed to visit the sick, look after the young, and minister to the necessities of the poor. They should be set apart to this work by prayer and laying on of hands. “ RH, July 9, 1895  EG White held credentials of an ordained minister  EG White was paid the salary of an ordained minister following her husband’s death.

Some Female Leaders in Scripture

 Deborah - Judges 4  Miriam - Exodus 15:20-21; Micah 6:4  Huldah - 2 Kings 22:13-14; 2 Chron 34:22 28  Esther - Esther  Queen of Sheba - 1 Kings 10:1-8  Priscilla - Romans 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19  Phoebe - Romans 16:1

The Gospel's Restoration

 1. Jew - Gentile  2. Slave - Master  3. Male - Female

The Gospel's Restoration

  Jesus' radical treatment of women "He Sees Me"  "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 " Gal 3:28  We are called back to the divine ideal

References

 The Holy Bible  Coon, Roger. “Ellen G. White’s View of the Role of Women in the SDA Church.”  Davidson M., Richard. “The Bible Supports the Ordination/Commissioning of Women as Pastors and Local Elders.” April 2010  Du Preez, Ron. “What the Bible Really Says about Women in Spiritual Leadership.” April 2012  3 T 484