Season 2 Episode 5 - Being a Woman in Ministry
We are at a time in church history where women are more integrated in the ministry than before, but at the same time, it feels like we are decades behind in how women are treated in the church. This episode dives into the topic of women in ministry! We will look at some of the statistics behind women in Christianity, what the Bible says about women in leadership, and some of the challenges of being a woman in the Church today. I’m excited to share this with you and hope this episode leaves you full of HOPE & encouragement!
Show Notes
Study by Pew Research Center. Click here to view.
Some of the content in this episode has been taken from my personal stories, originally published on Medium. To view the original articles, click here.
In a study by Pew Research Center, statistics show that women in the U.S. are more consistent in their faith than men, pray more, and have stronger faith in God than men.
“More than seven-in-ten U.S. Christian women (72%) say religion is “very important” in their lives, compared with 62% of the country’s Christian men, according to Pew Research Center’s 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study. Roughly eight-in-ten Christian women also say they are absolutely certain God exists and that the Bible is the word of God, compared with about seven-in-ten men who say this.”
Food for thought: if Church demographics lean more heavily toward women in congregations, why is staff still vastly more male than female? Is this helpful for women needing pastoral care?
This verse is one that has caused significant damage to women’s ability to be involved in church ministry: 1 Timothy 2:12: “I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.”
The reality is, this is one verse is a small, circumstantial piece of advice from Paul that has been taken literally, at the expense of the context of the writing and the theme of the Bible and Jesus’ ministry. The Old Testament and New Testament both show women in leadership, but that is often overlooked because of this verse. Deborah was an Old Testament judge, and there are several examples of female leadership in the New Testament.
'After this I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. I will even pour out my Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days. ' Joel 2:28-29
'For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. ' Galatians 3:27-28
How many male Christian leaders have fallen, been called out for inappropriate behavior, insensitive political comments, or bad leadership?
In contrast, how many female Christian leaders have represented anything less than godly character, integrity, and humility? Are there any fallen women leaders in the Church?
Our prominent Christian women leaders continue to set the standard in their devotion to Christ, integrity, and character.
A great example of a woman leader in the New Testament, talked about by Paul in Romans 16:1-2:
'I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many — and of me also. ' Romans 16:1-2
The word servant in this translation is the Greek word, diakonos, which also translates to Deacon. Here, Paul is telling us that she is a leader and minister!
Want to learn more? Check out this great devotional study on Pheobe.
Another great resource for further study on 1 Timothy 2: Junia Project
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