Southern Baptist Women in Leadership
Growing up in a Southern Baptist church I never really thought much about the role of women in the church. I remember being effectively taught by women in Sunday school, Children’s Church, and Choir. In fact the only place I remember being taught by a man in the church was from the pulpit and RA’s. More recently, I’ve heard sermons, Sunday school lessons, and small group studies about the defined role of women in the Southern Baptist church.
As a recently new father, I’ve given this topic more thought. In 2000 the Southern Baptist Convention added, “the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture” to The Baptist Faith and Message Statement. While I agree that traditionally the office of pastor has been filled by men, I’m in disagreement that we should be so bold to say that only men are called to fill this position.
The more recent teachings I’ve heard at church and smaller groups have focused on Ephesians Chapter 5. This passage of scripture from Paul to the Ephesians explains that a wife should be submissive to her husband, and that the husband should love his wife just as Christ loves the Church. Therefore while the wife is submissive the greatest burden and responsibility falls upon the husband to nurture and care for his wife. I find nothing real controversial with this scripture. In fact, I feel that this scripture describes a potentially healthy relationship of mutual dependency.
Paul in a letter to Timothy says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent (1 Timothy 2).” This passage is used to support the 2000 addition of “the office of pastor is limited to men” to the Baptist Faith and Message Statement. Paul supports this statement because Eve was the one deceived in the Garden of Eden and therefore is solely responsible for the “original sin.”
Paul continues in his letter to Timothy about many specific things that a woman can and cannot do such as; praying only with a veiled head, forbidding women from wearing jewelry or expensive clothes. It seems that Paul is addressing specific concerns in a letter to a specific audience. I feel that it is unlikely that Paul was trying to establish universal religious practices.
Paul’s statements to Timothy seem to differ from some of his very own statements seen elsewhere. To the Romans Paul publicly commends his sister in Christ, Phoebe, who was also a deacon at the church of Cenchreae (Roman 16:1). In the same letter he mentioned several other women for their hard work and dedication to Jesus. Furthermore in a public letter to the Galatians’, Paul says, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith... There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).”
So as Christians what must we do when we can find passages from the Bible to justify both sides of this discussion? I feel that it is our duty as believers in Jesus to examine scripture from his teachings. The Baptist Faith and Message of 1964 states, “the criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.” By the way, this statement is no longer in The Baptist Faith and Message of 2000.
During Jesus’ time on earth, there was a prevailing prohibition against interacting with women in public. Contrary to this Jesus did not hesitate from talking with a Samaritan woman at a public well, Jacob’s well. After speaking with Jesus this woman accepted him as Christ and by no accident became the first evangelical witness sharing her testimony with the town of Sychar (John 4). While the disciples where hiding in a secret place, it was Mary Magdalene that visited the empty tomb and then was instructed by Jesus to go and tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee (Matthew 28:10).
Examining Jesus’ ministry I don’t see any reason why women should be deprived of the right to serve Christ in positions of leadership. We see in Jesus’ ministry that the first witness for the Lord was a woman. The risen Lord first visited Mary Magdalene. Likewise, we see in the early church that Paul was grateful to many women including Phoebe a deacon for their hard work and dedication.
In our modern heritage one of the most celebrated missionaries is Lottie Moon, a brave and faithful woman that served until her last breath. Men and women are equally responsible to share the good news that effects eternity. As a result it is my opinion that an individual’s gender should never be used as a bridle to hinder being a servant for God.
Portions inspired by Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis by President Jimmy Carter.Jan.10.2007.
David Kohlhoff on Jan.13.2007.
Also you can find prohibition on female leadership of the collective church in 1st Corinthians 34-35.
The argument that 1st Timothy 2 is based on a particular instance seems to falter when you look at how Paul supports this command.
"For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."
Paul supports his command for women not to have leadership with a universal principle.
However there is great biblical support for the concept that all spiritual gifts are available to men and women.
How all types of individuals exercise these gifts in the church is clearly described in the epistles.
Timothy Sizemore on Feb.05.2007.
I wrote a comment on the faitful democrats website in response to this entry. Are you familar with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship?
Thanks Tim. Below is the scripture which you referred... I really appreciate you pointing this out to me. Yes. I'm familiar with the CBF and I wish I had a CBF church in my area. The closest CBF church is First Baptist College Park near downtown Orlando (a little to far for me).
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I spent my childhood years in SBC and UMC and I never felt comfortable in Southern Baptist churches. In high school, my Baptist church actually voted on whether a black friend of mine could join the church, and she only made it in by a few votes. Can you believe that? This was in the late 1980s in suburban SC! After that, she stopped attending there and so did I. Not long after that, my parents transferred their membership to another Southern Baptist church.
The emphasis social activism, missions, equality, peace, and freewill have drawn me to the Methodist Church.
Your conclusion that Paul is giving instruction specific to Timothy's church is not logical.
1. The fact that Paul draws on the very beginning of mankind clearly indicates that this is a universal instruction.
2. You could potentially take virtually any instruction Paul gives and apply such logic to refute any instruction by any of the apostles. Why would a piece of wisdom or rule for one church apply only to that church? If it was a good rule, its intrinsic value would make it applicable to all churches. Besides which the church is universal and Paul makes clear that "All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" in 2nd Timothy 3:16 (ESV).
3. You say "Paul’s statements to Timothy seem to differ from some of his very own statements seen elsewhere. To the Romans Paul publicly commends his sister in Christ, Phoebe, who was also a deacon at the church of Cenchreae (Roman 16:1)" Please undertake a study of the roles of Elders and Deacons in the church. See http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2006/1425_What_is_the_role_of_an_elder/ for a comprehensive study of Elders. Nowhere does scripture preclude the office of Deacon (which for all practical purposes is a "servant") from women. See Romans 16:1-2 where Pheobe is refered to as a deaconess.
4. Your examples of Christ's interactions with women are just those: interactions with women. They in no way indicate that Christ assigned women to leadership in the church. You're really stretching it. Given the preponderance of scripture which places men as the head of women (including the very order of their creation and the fact that Adam named Eve), it is amazing to me that you find it necessary to grasp at straws to prove something which is so clear.
Thanks for sharing.
Brandon, Thanks for the comments. Bottom line for me is that if you believe in Jesus as your savior, you can find somwhere to serve him. I'm not going to let a denomination is that is no longer mainline, but what I would considered sidelined, sway anyone willing to serve in any position as long as they are saved by a faith in Jesus.
Go make disciples.
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