Can women be pastors?

No that is not true, it is however better that the Pastor is a Male but if no Males have enough knowledge and wisdom to be a Pastor then a Female it is.

Romans 10 [14] How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

I agree with Truth there (for this post at least) that you can have women pastors. This happens in the mission field a lot because men in general are complacent creatures, which is sad.

Since the woman, in the creation order of things, is under the authority of man, she is to teach only other women and children. Needless to say, intelligence is not the issue here. One gender is no more intelligent than the other.

<font color="ff4500"><b>But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.</font></b>
(1 Cor. 11:3)

<font color="6c2dc7"><b>The older women lilkewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things -- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.</font></b>
(Titus 2:3-5)

The younger women and widows are urged to get married and bear children.

<font color="e45e9d"><b>Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.</font></b>
(1 Tim. 5:14)

So, in my understanding of Scripture on the issue of authority, man is to be the teacher over women, not the other way around.

I agree with MizDoulous on this matter.

Another record is found in the book of Timothy , which is a "leadership Epistle".

I Timothy 2:12 - "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor usurp authority over the man , but to be in silence"

Throughout the Word of God, God has given the authority of the head of the house to a man. God does not change , nor does his Word change.

I Timothy chapter three shows us this continuation of a man having the role of the head of the house, as well as the head of the church.

Verse 15 tells us that Paul wrote these things to Timothy , so that the house of God would know how to behave itself.

Love IN Christ - Hervey

I agree women are not to be pastors or leaders in the church, according to scripture, but there are plenty of ministries for us. Teaching other women younger in the faith, children's ministries, raising our own children, helpers of our husbands, etc.

Mandy

Hi Mandy,
My Response is that Scripture does say that women are not to be head pastors but my church's Worship pastor, Youth Pastor and Missions pastor is female and they are the most understanding and biblical people I know. They are awesome but a man should be head pastor in a church,

Women as worship leaders, leading people in worship through music and singing is fine, minstering and teaching children and youth is fine, missionary work is fine too, but they are not to teach or have authority over men.

Mandy

The only answers to this question which have used scripture as backup have been from the two reply's which stated that women should not teach, hence should not be pastors.
Is this because there is nothing in the bible that would suggest otherwise? I believe this maybe the case.

However, what exactly does it mean to be "in silence" (1 Tim 2v12). Can a woman be a worship leader? A youth worker where a man is present? It is often hard to draw the line, in many biblical debates!

I hope someone can help here?

<font color="26547e"><b>Hervey</font></b>, 1 Tim. 2:12 is a great verse to quote here. It just about says it all.

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<i> The only answers to this question which have used scripture as backup have been from the two reply's which stated that women should not teach, hence should not be pastors.
Is this because there is nothing in the bible that would suggest otherwise? I believe this maybe the case.</i>

<font="387c44"><b>Stevie</font></b>, in answer to your question above, the two Scripture verses that speak to the authority of men teaching women are explicit and would only be backed up by other verses. The fact that there aren't any contradictory verses doesn't validate or invalidate the issue. If God's instructions are "black and white," that makes it a command or principle to follow, even if there was only one verse given in the entire Bible.

I hope this helps if I understand your question correctly.

Stevie:

One thing we can always count on with God, is that he is a God that changes not.

You can read the OT and the NT and you will find that the man is to be followed , be him a prophet, or King, or a husband.

Even prophetesses in the OT repeated what a prophet had already said.

Even when Jesus told Mary Magdalene to go and tell his disciples that he was risen. He had already told his disciples prior, that he would be dead for only three days and three nights. So telling Mary, and having Mary tell his disciples that he was risen, was not new revelation.

One thing we can count on in the Word of God is consistency.

Love IN Christ - Hervey

The Bible is the final authority on jobs women should do and not to do. Some have quoted them right. Most preachers who have preached for many years will not think it applies to them. Some feel there is no difference in male or female in the kingdom of God and feel they are called. Who are we to judge them? But still we need to take it from the Bible and being given wisdom on the matter from the Holy Spirit. Does it say anything about women being prohibited from being evangelists? I don't think, and that is a great job, winning souls. It is a great job and sad to say, a neglecte one this day and time, women make great teachers for their children at home reared in the knowledge and admonition fo the Lord. One can preach without being a pastor. If you are doing wrong according to the Word of God, remember "God is not mocked"...whatsoever you sow, so shall you reap."

Exceptions? Anna the prophetess who prophesied in the temple (Luke 2:36) who spoke of Him (Jesus) to all who looked for redemtion in Jerusalem. I guess you could say she was a preacher, telling ALL (not just women and children). So based on that verse I guess we could have female street preachers...hmmm, a 'prophetess' who never left the temple (until after the arrival of Jesus), so she must have been prophesing in the temple...

Exceptions? Your sons and your DAUGHTERS shall prophesy (Acts 2:17).

Exceptions? Four virgin DAUGHTERS who prophesied (Acts 21:4)

How about Galatians 3:28, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus... There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Let's go back to Timothy which contains the oh so clear verse 'I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man'... Lets go down a few verses to 1tim 2:15 'Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control'. This seems pretty clear that the way for a woman to be saved is through childbirth provided the children remain Christians, or if you want to say the grammer is is bad and the 'they' actually refers to the mother then she is saved through childbirth and continues in faith, love, and holiness with self control. So if she has no children there is no hope for being saved? Is this the plan of salvation for women? Or is there more here than meets the eye and the plain verses don't always mean what they seem?

Let me add that I know God placed me in a church which has a female pastor. I know there were a multitude of churchs with male pastors where the Lord could have put me, but He chose a church with a female pastor. I submit to the authority of the pastor, the pastor submits to the authority of the board of directors, we all submit to Christ.

Thanks for your good reply, and well established on scripture. Scripture is the final authority and as you say, a lot of it is hard to understand, being more than meets the eye. If you reread my post, you see I was not trying to be the judge of the matter. I have heard some great preaching by women pastors myself. Of course I don't think a woman having no babies is lost because of that... Only lost if they have not repented and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. I do not think anyone is so good outside of Christ, that they do not need to repent, and that is part of believing in Jesus as their Savior. Your post was well put and appreciated. Please see my forum, AT THE NAME OF JESUS.

So Deborah could judge all of Israel, but she couldn't pastor a congregation? Goodness.

Old Deb, didn't judge all Isreal. Old Deb, judged according to the Law, and those who needed the info , to help bring their minds back on what the Law was saying.

Could she pastor a church ? No , for if she did, she would be going up against the will of God !

Love IN Christ - Hervey

For a perspective on the current women pastor controversy within Southern Baptist circles, check out the following:

Should a Woman Serve as Pastor?

Not interested ! Only interested in what the Word of God says !

God is a God that changes not ! And you can take that to the bank !

Love IN Christ - Hervey

Originally posted by Hervey
Old Deb, didn't judge all Isreal. Old Deb, judged according to the Law, and those who needed the info , to help bring their minds back on what the Law was saying.

Click to expand...

"Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time." Judges 4:4

So how does Deborah's example illuminate on the issue of what women can and cannot do?

Do you know what a "prophetess" is ? And , do you know "how" a prophetess operates ?

Throughout the Word of God, a prophetess only repeats what a Prophet has already said !

A prophetess is inspired by God for the purpose to "remind" others.

Prophet - man

Prophetess - woman

Never can a prophetess become a prophet ! Unless she wants to have a sex change, which then would be ludicrous.

God does not change, and His Word does not change throughout the fullness of His Word.

The body of Christ is the wife to Christ, and "she" is the prophetess of the Prophet Jesus Christ.

Don't allow appearance to deceive the mind.

Don't allow word usages within the Word of God, to deceive the mind.

Love IN Christ - Hervey