Let me start out by saying that this blog is not written with bitterness towards anyone in particular or anything like that. I will admit that it has been a pretty big frustration of mine but it is more of a frustration at the system and not at one person or church. So please don’t misunderstand me or misread my heart. My heart is to express what I have felt and dealt with for years as a single woman feeling called to fulltime ministry and to share it because I’m sure I’m not the only one.
The issue I am talking about is what is the role of women in leadership in the church. Now, I know that this is an extremely controversial subject and I’m not looking to start a debate or argue out theology. For this blog I am taking the view point that men should have the ultimate headship and leadership in the church. I’m not trying to buck that. I believe it is Biblical. However, where does that leave women with high giftings and leadership abilities? What is their role to be within the church? Is there a place for them or should they leave it all up to the men?
Once again, please understand that these are just my feelings and observations about these things and may be tainted and not accurate. I’m trying to write as honorably and truthful as I know how. But what I have seen be the case, more often than I care to say in the American church, is that churches don’t really know what to do with women when they feel called to full time ministry. If a guy feels called to ministry everyone gets excited and prays for him and encourages him in what he can do and all his options of choices. When I girl feels called to fulltime ministry, maybe everyone gets excited as well and might pray for her some but that’s about it. There is either no continued encouragement or follow up on the subject or it is assumed that she should work in the fields of kid’s ministry or women’s ministry. And if she feels called to one of those then great! But what if she doesn’t? Then what? Does she have to be called to kids or women to have a place of leadership in the church? I don’t think those should be her only options but it seems to be the majority of what most people today think she is capable or allowed to work with.
I also don’t believe that a woman should have to wait until she is married (assuming that it is God’s will for her to marry in the first place, because sometimes it isn’t) to begin and be involved in full time ministry. I don’t believe that it is God’s will for her life to be put on hold until her man comes along. As a part of the church and body of Christ, the woman is full and complete already in her unity with Christ without having to have a husband. That being said, if she feels her heavenly Husband calling her to a certain calling within His church that is honoring to the Bible and Himself, I don’t think she should be put on hold just because she doesn’t have a physical husband at present. I do understand that certain boundaries and precautions should be set in place to prevent temptation and moral failure when both sexes are working in proximity with each other but the church is meant to be an example to the on looking world. If we don’t show them how to do it right, then who will?
I know that some churches don’t have the budgets to hire on a bunch of people and have to be choosy, I get that completely. Even if it isn’t paid all of the time, but I think when it is able to be it should, there should be a spot for women to be in the different fields of ministry that they feel God calling them to. I still think that they should be under the leadership of the pastor over that ministry but they should have a place just the same. I believe that men and women in the church would greatly benefit to have both male and female leaders in each field. There is no question that men and women think and feel differently about life at times and I think it could create a nice balance in the health of a church to have both points of few in building the Kingdom of God.
Once again, I sincerely hope and pray that my heart in all of this is not dishonoring to the church or leadership or pastors or men or anyone. I’m so hesitant to write this for fear of coming across the wrong way. But my heart is to call the church of Christ, the body of Christ higher. To use all of their members to the best of their ability and to the glory of God. What will change by me writing these observations? Maybe nothing, but it’s something that has been on my mind and heart for years now and I felt like now is the time to share. Take it all to the Lord and ask Him to keep what is from Him and trash anything that is not. I love the church of God, I love its leadership and pastors. I love that if they are healthy and following hard after Christ that they are always searching His will in things. I pray that this is just good food for thought to anyone who might be interested and an area of potential growth for all involved.
