Who Is Really in Church Leadership?

Whether in Proverbs 31 or another proof text, complementarianism advocates for “submissive” women in the church— women who know their “place.” 

These “graciously submissive” women know their husbands and male pastors, not them, are made for leadership. A woman in ministry “threatens” this dynamic and structure “ordained” by God. 

However, this denial of women in ministry deflects from reality. Women are already leaders and ministers in conservative churches and the evangelical tradition.

Think about the most active people in your church. Who shows up? Who does the work? Who volunteers? How many women are there?

Traditionally, leadership has been defined as the person making decisions or having a status title. Yet, leadership is way more than “the person in charge.”

As Jesus illustrated, a true leader actively works with their people and demonstrates the way. People learn, especially children, by doing or watching, not necessarily by being told.

If you grew up in a Southern Baptist church or another evangelical tradition, you might know this truth as well. Many women are among the ones who actively show Christlike leadership.

For me, while no one actively preached about women in ministry in my childhood, I saw women in ministry.

They are the ones who plan the events, volunteer, clean the kitchen and church building, actively attend every Sunday, and spend hours of their week supporting the congregation. They are the women on staff who have never had “pastor” or “minister” for their position titles.

So, the first time I heard someone tell me I could not be a pastor, it came as a surprise. I have spent my whole life watching women actively serve God. I have seen them filled with the Spirit, teaching what they know to be true.

Many of the influential teachers at my church growing up were women. They were my Sunday school teachers who truly pointed the way to Jesus. They were the ones doing the hard work.

These women taught me the stories of the Bible. Without Mrs. Judy, Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Bunny, Mrs. Barbara, and other women, I would not have the same faith I have today.

Furthermore, I attended G.A.’s (Girls in Action), learning about Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong and women following the call of God. So why in the world could a little girl not dream of being a minister?

Maybe, for the women in ministry controversy, we need to reconsider solely focusing on Proverbs 31, First Timothy 2, Ephesians 5 or First Corinthians 11. Instead, we can include and preach stories on women in the Bible, reflecting the reality of various positions and traits of women in church leadership.

We can be wise like Abigail.
We can serve like Phoebe.
We can be decisive like Jael.
We can trust like Hannah.
We can teach like Priscilla.
We can lead like Deborah.
We can step out like Ruth. 

Or even more so, this Easter season, we can preach the good news like Mary Magdalene–the woman recorded in all four gospels as a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. 

Female disciples of Christ have never been passive; they never will be.

You can remove the title, acknowledgment or even hold on to complementarian beliefs, but this does not diminish the power women already have in ministry. No matter how hard a church might try, they can never control the call of God.