God does not allow women to be spiritual leaders of men. Not for any other reason really other than that he instructed men to be the spiritual leaders. Not women. It's not a man vs woman thing. It's simply declared in the word of God.
If the word of God said women are the spiritual leaders of men great, whatever God wants or ordains.
But it simply doesn't put things that way and there's not way around it.
Well in that case, you have a dilemma.
a) Scripture says that there were prophetesses - women who heard from God and then gave/spoke his word to men. Deborah was one, so were Huldah, Isaiah's wife and Philip's 4 daughters. After King Josiah found the book of the law, he sent men, including a priest, to go and consult a prophet and get a word from God. These men chose to consult Huldah, a woman, rather than any of the male prophets of the day - like Jeremiah. Huldah gave the men God's word, the king listened and there was revival in the land. 2 Kings 22.
As well as being a prophetess, Deborah was judge over the whole land; judges were appointed by God.
In NT churches, women prophesied; Paul even instructed them how to do it.
Women were teachers; Priscilla taught Apollos. They were also deaconesses, and in Phoebe's case, a deacon, in the church. Paul worked with many women and commended them for their hard work for the sake of the Gospel. True, Scripture doesn't say that what this work involved or that they led the churches, but they may have done. It has been suggested that the church at Philippi was co founded by Lydia - in Acts 16:11-15, Paul goes to Philippi, to the place of prayer, finds a group of women, talks to, and leads them to Christ, and stays with Lydia for a few days.
Women are, and always have been, evangelists; preaching the Gospel to men, which involves teaching what the Bible says about sin and leading them to Jesus.
Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples. All followers of Jesus are to preach, teach and make disciples - there is no suggestion that this excludes women. Women have always been sent out onto the mission field. Gladys Aylward founded a church when she went to China, and others may have done so.
Jesus chose a woman to be the first witness of his resurrection, rather than any of his disciples. Mary Magdalene din't lead them, as such - but she did tell them about the resurrection and give them a message from the risen Christ.
b) Given that women are, and have been, involved in teaching, prophecy and evangelism; what exactly do you mean by "spiritual leadership".
I don't know about your church, but in those I have been in, the Minister does not tell people what to do, or even how to live. Yes, they teach from God's word, but they have no control over where someone lives, what job they decide to take, who, or whether, to marry, how much money to give to the church - or even which church they should attend. He/she may give counsel/prayer ministry and encourage people to stay close to God and listen to him; lay preachers and house group leaders can do that too. In fact, this is something we are encouraged to do for each other, as well as bear one another's burdens, love one another and confess our sins to one another. This is what, I think, Peter means when he calls us a holy priesthood - we are all priests and ministers. Clergy also talk about "every member ministry" - all Christians are filled with the Spirit and have the gifts that the Spirit chooses to give.
Minsters have authority in representing the church in the community - we all do, actually, but Ministers are more visible due to their dog collars - and may officiate at weddings. Lay preachers, like me, can take baptisms and funerals. A Minister also presides at communion, and will oversee everything that happens among church members and in the building - i.e chairing meetings, knowing how many house groups there are and providing some support, employing youth/lay workers and so on.
Personally, I'm not sure that any of this amounts to "spiritual leadership", but I could be wrong.
c) Christian women today offer for ordination - and are accepted, and affirmed, in that calling - by male clergy. The ordination selection process is a long one - it's not about someone standing up in church and saying "I feel led to be your minister", and taking over. This call may not even originate with the woman involved; I have heard people say that their Ministers/house group leaders suggested to them that God might be leading them to do this. I dare say it's possible that some may have received a prophecy, or other word from God, about it. I am not a Minister but I do preach and lead services. It wasn't my idea or desire, it was a male preacher who suggested that God might be calling me to do this.
I have seen many people dismiss these women as being delude, mistaken or feminists only interested in furthering their own cause. But in many, I would say the majority, of cases, we are talking about born again Christians, women of prayer who have been filled with the Spirit, seek to serve God, who believe that God is calling them to do this. And I believe that if they have got it wrong, are offering from the wrong motives or disobeying Scripture; not only can the Lord correct/guide them, he is very willing to do so. Would he really allow a woman to stand in the pulpit and tell God's people that God called her to do this, if he knew full well that he hadn't?
Their call, authority and gifts are all from God - others just recognise and affirm these.
