Let me start off here by explaining what egalitarianism and complementarianism is and the difference between the two.
1. Complementarianism is the position that the man and the woman in the church complement each other with their different callings and gifts.
2. The egalitarian position, on the other hand, teaches equality in every area of service within the church including being an elder and pastor.
According to scripture, the definition of “elder” and “deacon” are: they are to be above reproach, have one wife, and have self-control, be dignified, not two-faced, and not given to excessive drinking, having children who believe. I’ve only listed just a few Mary, but you can read all of the qualifications of both in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-7.
Now you’ve asked me if a woman can be an elder or deacon, according to the scriptures it appears that they cannot. I’ve studied this out and actually the Greek word diakonos is a term meaning “one who serves or ministers”. It is of common gender, it could refer to both men and/or women. Corinth was the home of Phoebe mentioned in Romans16:1 and she was mentioned as “diaknono” which is translated “servant” in this passage, she was considered a deaconess. The same word is used in Ephesians 3:7 where Paul refers to himself as a “minister” same word is also used in Col. 1:25 as a minister. The Bible is very specific regarding elders and deacons being men with the exception of a couple of women one being Phoebe, and Paul was just affirming this in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. The Church was set up as a synagogue and each synagogue had a group of male elders that sat in the front row and would verbally weigh prophecy that was spoken, since they never knew what a prophet would actually say. If they completely agreed with what the prophet s said, they would say “amen, amen”. They would affirm, deny, or qualify the prophecy. I agree with the Bible that women should not be deacons and elders in the Church since it is going against the theological view of the Bible. The head of the Church is Christ the head of woman is man, but please remember Mary that there are many other things that women can do in the Church. Every person was given spiritual gifts not just men. Paul was not saying that women couldn’t be teachers, encouragers, or even offer a prayer of faith, also notice that Paul was not saying that only men could prophesy, (1 Cor. 14:31). If women are unable to participate during church services, then many would not be able to contribute the gifts God has given them.
Now you have also asked me about the scripture “women keeping silent in the church”. Paul was not referring to women keeping quite in the Church and not being able to speak at all as some have thought over the years. Corinth was having a problem with women outbursts and causing disruption, and from what I have studied on this, they were wives that were not converted, and were not submitting themselves to their converted husbands. Clearly Paul was dealing with specific wives here, so Paul made it clear that “women” (wives) were to keep silent, not all women were causing the confusion. The call for silence and submission denotes more of an attitude of quietness rather than absence of sound, the submissive attitude is a willingness on the part of one to yield to the will of another. Women can both teach and lead within defined boundaries that God has set up. The scriptures declare that women are submissive because of the order of creation (1 Cor. 11:2-16, 1Tim.2:11-13, 1Peter 3:1-2).
These limitations on women that Paul stated I feel do not apply outside of the church. Though our husbands are the head of our homes, we can indeed be powerful leaders equally with our husbands, and in our workplaces, nowhere in scripture does it say that women cannot be leaders/managers outside the church.
The Bible has a lot to say about women theologians and the value to the church of their spiritual gifts and ministries. Jesus’ views of women stood out and clearly went against the cultural grain. He constantly stunned his male followers by openly teaching theology to women. Luke makes it clear that Mary of Bethany became a rabbinical student when she sat at the feet of Rabbi Jesus. When her sister appealed for Jesus to return Mary to her domestic place, He defended her student status (Luke 10:42).
Women have a lot to offer the Church today, throughout the Bible and history it has shown that women have contributed much to the Church and society as we know it today.
1. Complementarianism is the position that the man and the woman in the church complement each other with their different callings and gifts.
2. The egalitarian position, on the other hand, teaches equality in every area of service within the church including being an elder and pastor.
According to scripture, the definition of “elder” and “deacon” are: they are to be above reproach, have one wife, and have self-control, be dignified, not two-faced, and not given to excessive drinking, having children who believe. I’ve only listed just a few Mary, but you can read all of the qualifications of both in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-7.
Now you’ve asked me if a woman can be an elder or deacon, according to the scriptures it appears that they cannot. I’ve studied this out and actually the Greek word diakonos is a term meaning “one who serves or ministers”. It is of common gender, it could refer to both men and/or women. Corinth was the home of Phoebe mentioned in Romans16:1 and she was mentioned as “diaknono” which is translated “servant” in this passage, she was considered a deaconess. The same word is used in Ephesians 3:7 where Paul refers to himself as a “minister” same word is also used in Col. 1:25 as a minister. The Bible is very specific regarding elders and deacons being men with the exception of a couple of women one being Phoebe, and Paul was just affirming this in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. The Church was set up as a synagogue and each synagogue had a group of male elders that sat in the front row and would verbally weigh prophecy that was spoken, since they never knew what a prophet would actually say. If they completely agreed with what the prophet s said, they would say “amen, amen”. They would affirm, deny, or qualify the prophecy. I agree with the Bible that women should not be deacons and elders in the Church since it is going against the theological view of the Bible. The head of the Church is Christ the head of woman is man, but please remember Mary that there are many other things that women can do in the Church. Every person was given spiritual gifts not just men. Paul was not saying that women couldn’t be teachers, encouragers, or even offer a prayer of faith, also notice that Paul was not saying that only men could prophesy, (1 Cor. 14:31). If women are unable to participate during church services, then many would not be able to contribute the gifts God has given them.
Now you have also asked me about the scripture “women keeping silent in the church”. Paul was not referring to women keeping quite in the Church and not being able to speak at all as some have thought over the years. Corinth was having a problem with women outbursts and causing disruption, and from what I have studied on this, they were wives that were not converted, and were not submitting themselves to their converted husbands. Clearly Paul was dealing with specific wives here, so Paul made it clear that “women” (wives) were to keep silent, not all women were causing the confusion. The call for silence and submission denotes more of an attitude of quietness rather than absence of sound, the submissive attitude is a willingness on the part of one to yield to the will of another. Women can both teach and lead within defined boundaries that God has set up. The scriptures declare that women are submissive because of the order of creation (1 Cor. 11:2-16, 1Tim.2:11-13, 1Peter 3:1-2).
These limitations on women that Paul stated I feel do not apply outside of the church. Though our husbands are the head of our homes, we can indeed be powerful leaders equally with our husbands, and in our workplaces, nowhere in scripture does it say that women cannot be leaders/managers outside the church.
The Bible has a lot to say about women theologians and the value to the church of their spiritual gifts and ministries. Jesus’ views of women stood out and clearly went against the cultural grain. He constantly stunned his male followers by openly teaching theology to women. Luke makes it clear that Mary of Bethany became a rabbinical student when she sat at the feet of Rabbi Jesus. When her sister appealed for Jesus to return Mary to her domestic place, He defended her student status (Luke 10:42).
Women have a lot to offer the Church today, throughout the Bible and history it has shown that women have contributed much to the Church and society as we know it today.