Women in the church

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Romans 16:7

Junia is a woman’s name and there is a feeling amongst some Christians that she was undoubtedly an apostle. The matter of women in leadership in the church is a real hot potato but my personal conviction is that the church that does not have women in leadership is an impoverished church.

Back at the beginning God gave Adam and Eve joint rulership over creation: God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground’. Genesis 1: 28. It was not Adam with Eve tagging along behind. Rulership was given to both of them.

Men and women have equal value, worth and inheritance in God’s eyes but by their very nature they are different and they bring different qualities to the area of leadership. I believe the church needs both men and women because as we all know men and women look at things very differently. Together, however, honouring and respecting one another in Christ they bring powerful leadership to the church.

I am not a feminist and I do not want to be a man in a woman’s body. Women are wonderfully different to men and that is how God has created us but we both have valuable contributions to bring. Men are called to be spiritual fathers and women spiritual mothers. If we consider a natural family, fathers and mothers bring different aspects of care, discipline, provision and leadership to the family. It is the same in the spiritual family. However both are needed.

In the church as my age group was growing up spiritually there was a great lack of spiritual fathers and mothers.  Many brothers and sisters had to raise themselves together in the faith as best they could. Fathering came ‘long distance’ through conferences and teaching tapes. Mothering just did not exist. Today fortunately that is improving and today’s younger generation has the benefit of spiritual parents. This needs to be ‘hands on’ though to be most effective but we need to ask God to raise up more spiritual fathers and mothers and grandparents to raise succeeding generations. I do not believe this can be done adequately without women in church leadership as elders and apostles.

Women in leadership is still a difficult area for the church but with open minds, open hearts and the guidance of the Holy Spirit I believe we can all get greater revelation on this that will enrich both our lives and the life of the church.