Women in Ministry - Because We're There Again

 I want to stop talking about 'women in ministry' and just get on with being one. - Ruth Wilkinson, private correspondence, 2023

So much for wishful thinking. 

I mean, I am getting on with being one. I'm the Pastor of a CBOQ church, affirmed in that role and title by any number of godly people who were part of my education, supervision, interviews, and hiring. Week to week I preach the Bible, and point to Jesus in the real life challenges that my people trust me with. 

On the other hand, as tired as I am of being a topic of discussion by people who don't know me, the... (hmm. Choosing words carefully...) conversation continues. 

I've done enough reading and listening to understand where my Complementarian (sometimes called Hierarchalist) brothers and sisters stand with regard to the Scriptures. As I've said before, I can work and worship with people who hold that position. I don't always enjoy respecting their boundaries, but I've done it and I'm glad I didn't snowplough them into participating in something that they were uncomfortable with.

I understand the range of doctrine: from "hard" through to "soft" Complementarianism. I have had encounters with people at every point on this spectrum.

So with the renewed focus on people like me arising from the upcoming SBC vote intended to draw a hard line that prevents women who choose to be part of that denomination from answering God's call to pastoral roles and titles, I have a few things to say.

1. To those who disagree with my interpretation of Scripture: please stop saying foolish things like, "If men would just step up into their God-ordained roles, women wouldn't have to." There is another side to that coin: If churches would stop blocking the ministry callings of women, men who would be far more impactful for the Kingdom of Christ in other roles would be freed to pursue those callings rather than being pushed and manipulated into thinking they need to do work they are neither called to nor gifted for.

2. To those who share my interpretation of Scripture: please stop saying that the Complementarian agenda is being pushed by "mediocre men." That characterisation is unfair and unloving. Jesus' command to all his followers is to treat each other--and to treat "enemies"-- with love. I can't speak to the motivations of all who I disagree with, but I don't appreciate being falsely characterised as uninformed, or gullible, or a "false prophet" (yes, really). Speak of others as you would have them speak of you. Name-calling is not Christ-like. So stop it.

3. To those who call themselves "soft Complementarians:" please get off the fence. You're not doing anybody any favours by painting in shades of grey. Either women may lead, or women must follow. And if you say no, have the courage to say so.

4. To my sisters and brothers on both sides of the debate (deep breath):

'Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit' (got your attention?) is defined as "a conscious, deliberate, and hardened rejection of the Spirit’s testimony and work, even when confronted with clear evidence of His divine activity." When Jesus said what he said in Matthew 12 v30-32, he was speaking to religious people who had seen the evidence of his righteousness and the God-given power he used to heal and restore people. The religious leaders were so stuck in their own conclusions and traditions that they dismissed that evidence, and attributed Christ's work to the satan: the enemy of God. Because it didn't fit their categories.

I'm a woman, and I'm a pastor. I preach and teach my church and anyone else who chooses to join me on my journey of learning what God has given us in the Bible. I bring my voice to board rooms and committee meetings. I lead as I am able, and trusted to do so.

I rely on Holy Spirit guidance and power. If someone looks at my church, I hope they can recognise unity, true worship, growth, kindness, faith, hope, love... all of the things that the Holy Spirit causes to grow in a healthy Christian community.

I say with conviction that I have discerned and responded to a distinct and particular calling by the Holy Spirit to fill this role, and to honour this title. Jesus (who more often than not challenged people to think things through for themselves) was absolutely clear about this: we will be known by the fruit we bear (Matthew 7 v15-23). I set before anyone the evidence of how my ministry is playing out in real time.

The Church has had generations of experience with women as pastors, preachers, and teachers. We have had centuries to discern the fruit of the work the Holy Spirit has done through them. We have "clear evidence." The question is, how will we choose to interpret it?

People have told me that I cannot have discerned this calling. Not because of some lack in my character, or a lack of fruit in my ministry. (In fact, some of these people have said to my face, "You're very good at what you do but...")

They say I cannot have this calling because of my gender. They say that for that reason alone the Holy Spirit never would call me to this work. 

I say he has.

Somebody is sailing very close to 'blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.' I say I received a Holy Spirit calling. They say that what I attribute to the Holy Spirit is of the enemy.

We're not talking about cultural accommodation or compromise. We're talking about what the Holy Spirit 'would' or 'would not' do. And we're talking about the evidence that he clearly would and does.

It's not just a cultural debate. It's deep theology. It's a question of who we say God is. It's about spiritual discernment and humility. 

One perspective is true. The other is false. The stakes are high. But if one day I face Christ and he says I was wrong about this, I would much rather have spent my life erring on the side of preaching and pastoring than on the side of submitting to human voices that tell me to shut up about the gospel.

Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9 v16

______

As I said, the conversation continues. And probably will until Jesus comes at which time we'll all have our questions answered.

In the meantime...

I am a follower of Christ, forgiven and learning. 

I am a Pastor, shepherding the people God has entrusted to my care.

I am a preacher of the Word of God.

I am a leader in the Church. 

I am a woman. 

Pretty much in that order of importance.