'An Independent Baptist Church'

Can Women Be Pastors of Churches?

We believe the Bible teaches clearly that women are not to be Pastors nor are they to teach the Bible to men or usurp authority over men in the local New Testament Church. (1Timothy 2:12) "But I suffer not (allow not) a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence." Now this verse in context is talking about the ministry of the local church.  In 1 timothy 3:2 it says the bishop or pastor is to be the 'husband of one wife'.  Clearly, a woman cannot be the 'husband' of one wife!  Now it is not that we are against women or chauvenists in any way. In fact, we try to place women above 'equality' here at Gospel Center and treat them with the utmost respect, and we try to teach that respect to our children. According to the Bible God has so chosen and decided that in the government and leadership of the New Testament church, the role of leadership, preaching and teaching (to a mixed audience with men present) the woman is to take the submissive role. It is true that women 'prophesied' in the early days of the New Testament before the Bible was completed, and they witnessed to others and did many wonderful things...but there is not one instance in the New Testament or the Epistles (which were written especially to the church) where you ever find a woman as a Pastor of a church, teaching or preaching to men, or exercising authority over them, in any way, in any local church. God has reserved that ministry to men. Throughout the history of the early church, the facts substantiate that there were no women Pastors. Only when we reach the 1900's do we begin to see women Pastors coming on the scene. It is true that Deborah was a judge back in the Old Testament. But if one studies the situation closely it was because Israel had digressed to such a backslidden state that there were no men qualified and brave enough to step forth and lead. In fact, God had predicted that a sign of His judgement upon His backslidden people would be that women would rule over them! (Isaiah 3:12) What does that tell us about our society today? My friend, we are just trying to obey the Bible. Some try to ignore these verses that we have quoted and claim they do not apply for today, but you cannot get that from the text or from anywhere in the Bible. And history seems to back it up. No women were Pastors for nearly 2000 years!! Why?? This seems to be God's ordained way that He wanted for the leadership in the New Testament Church!  Now once again, this is not saying that women are inferior in any way!  It is just the way that God said He wanted it...the Leadership in the government in the New Testament Church is to be male.  Now I realize in this day of the FEMINIST MOVEMENT many women do not like this.  We are not trying to be politically correct, but biblically correct!