I don’t often wade directly into the controversies that hover about in the world. Especially when those controversies occur because of off-handed statements made to particular audiences in differing contexts. The hit squad media often makes an issue where there are no issues and does not give context. In this case, however, I believe it important to say plainly what Cana believes is the truth of the scriptures as it regards women in ministry, and particularly, women in pulpit ministry.
Women are critical to the gospel ministry. We see women serving in the ministry of Christ throughout the Gospel of Luke. They have a critical role in feeding and providing for the evangelistic team. Jesus not only receives women into his inner circle of ministry, but he teaches them regularly and places great importance on their instruction (Luke 10:38-42). Luke’s gospel is scandalous on this point. It’s elevation of women is unmatched in the scriptures. The way Luke tells the story of Christ places the culturally down-and-out, which included women in that day, within the inner circle of Jesus’ ministry.
Likewise, the book of Acts, also authored by Luke, elevates the role of women as gospel agents used by Christ to advance the ministry. They consistently aid and even lead in some cases. In one case, Luke tells of Peter’s miraculous escape from prison (Acts 12). What fascinates me the most within the details of the story is Luke’s interest in a certain minor character. Luke mentions that Peter finds his way to Mary’s house, John-Mark’s mother, where the church was praying. He knocks on the door and a slave girl answers. But Luke does not simply name her as a slave girl. He drops her name so that we know her as Rhoda. Luke cares to show the beauty of common people, men or women, participating in the gospel work.
What we do not see in the New Testament is women preachers. By women preachers, we mean women whose role within the official structure of the church is to hold authority and preach publicly to the whole congregation. In other words, they are leading authoritatively and doing so within their public Bible proclamation. Women are not included as elders, overseers, or pastors within the New Testament. Their role is restricted in that regard. Some argue that the early church had no singular pastoral office and therefore had no context such as we have. The Scripture does, however, speak to this situation – though the blanket argument is false that claims the pastoral office is a recent addition – in 1 Corinthians 14:26-40. Paul says that within the community of the Corinthian church, women must remain silent. He goes on to argue that this posture is both from the Law and a command of the Lord. What we understand from this passage is that women must remain silent in terms of authoritative utterance, not in terms of speech itself. Paul does not lean on a cultural issue but a biblical truth. Likewise, Paul commands that women should not preach or have authority over a man 1 Timothy 2:10-15. This command is not predicated on any lack of ability on the part of a woman but on the nature of the fallen condition of both men and women. 1 Timothy 2:10-15 speaks directly to pulpit ministry as a matter of its context.
To the critics and those who are resistant to this instruction, Cana has no other practice. I could go on making this argument both for the value of women in ministry – do I need to mention our Director of Children is a woman – and their restriction from the pulpit ministry. In fact, when I am out of the office on vacation or a trip, I often leave our Director of Children in charge, but I never call on her to preach – which she would not do because she knows the Scripture and believes it. We value women. My wife is one of the most powerful ministers I know – far more capable than most men I know. Likewise, there are some excellent female preachers whose insights and oration are superior to many men. Did anyone think this was a question of capability? This is a question of biblical authority – those great female preachers, according to the scripture, may not preach to the congregation of God no matter how good they are. When did capability ever define God’s calling or signal the blessing of God? Surely Jezebel was a highly capable woman. If God has gifted those women to preach, let them preach fire to the women about them. I want to see the calling of these great female preacher evidenced by their stand with the Scriptures. They could restrain the feminist anarchy consuming the church of the Lord Jesus. Will they resist the authority handed to them not by God but by the enemy? Calling is not what we feel but what God utters through the Holy Spirit. As such, His calling does not contradict His biblical truth.
Cana will continue to hold Scriptural convictions in matters of male and female roles in the church. We will not stick our heads in the sand and refuse to address the issues. Men and women are unique before the Lord but equal in worth. We will empower women, young and old, and teach men, young and old, to value women. We will empower women in ministry and encourage their appropriate leadership within the church and on missions and through their homes. We will elevate the role of the stay-at-home moms and honor such a noble task as a calling from God. We will encourage the single mother as she works and help her. We will enable ministry for the single woman blessed by God for the task, knowing she can do incredible work. We will train our girls to know the Bible and be powerful with the gospel, to seek their God-given dreams, and to know the value God places on them both as women and as wives and as mothers.
Dr. Kevin Jordan