Can a Woman Be an Elder in the Church?

Can a Woman be an Elder in the Church?

In our day and time this is a very emotionally charged issue, but I am personally convinced that Scripture teaches us that women should not be elders nor should women be in leadership positions where they exercise authority over men. I believe this includes being the teacher in a class where men are present such as a Sunday school class.

In churches that do not have an elder form of government, as in many Baptist churches, the deacons really function like elders. They are the leaders of the church and exercise governmental authority or leadership. In such cases, what is true of elders would apply here as well. The point being that women should not hold the position of elder or deacon where they function like elders. The biblical basis for this is found in passages like 1 Tim. 2:11f and even 3:1f since this clearly refers to men as is evident by clause, “the husband of one wife” in 3:2.

While men and women are equal in Christ, equality does not remove the distinctions between manhood and womanhood or of roles. This is clearly evident in the Godhead. While Christ is equal with the Father, being God of very God, He nevertheless submits to the Father (see 1 Cor. 11:3; 15:27-28). Just as husbands are declared to be the head of the home and are to lead (never domineer, but lead as servants, etc.), so men are to be the leaders in the church. This role has been sorely distorted because of the fall of man into sin and only by our new life in Christ can these distortions be removed, but that does not mean the removal of the distinctions in male and femaleness nor of roles and responsibilities. For an excellent web cite that covers many of these issues, may I suggest Council On Biblical Manhood and Womanhood at www.cbmw.org.

In general, the work of deacons is one of helping the elders in their ministry and may be illustrated by Acts 6. But the question here is whether or not the mention of women in the list of requirements for...