Dr. Dan Doriani at #usmbstudyconf "Women in Pastoral Ministry: A Complementarian Perspective"

The status of the question
  • The level of disagreement on principles
  • The level of disagreement on conclusions
A preliminary impression:
  • In Scripture, women do all sorts of things, but not everything. They occasionally serve as judges, prophetesses, and help start churches.
  • But men, not women are monarchs, priests, apostles, church planters, and elders. Elders/overseers are male-the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6)
3 Ministries of women in OT (selected)
  • Miriam with Moses-leading women in worship
  • Huldah-vital counsel for Josiah in a crisis
    • Pattern: They lead beside men, give private counsel, but we don’t see public proclamations
  • Women declared truths of Scripture. Miriam, Hannah, Esther, Anna. Case study Abigail 1 Sam. 25
  • Women strategically collaborate with Paul in early churches-Romans 16, Junias, Priscilla
Jesus called women to discipleship, but chose twelve male apostles.
  • Jesus reversed expectations for women. Learning over food prep-Luke 10:38-42
  • Greatness through discipleship, not family.-Luke 11:27-28
  • Because Jesus breaks cultural conventions whenever necessary for moral and theological reasons, we cannot dismiss his choice of male apostles as mere cultural accommodation.
1 Timothy 2 & 3
  • Most likely the setting is worship.
  • The prohibition in teaching must be temporary or partial. (2:12)
4 Objections to Complementarians
  • It is local and temporary
  • Men and women are equal so all leadership should be allowed
  • God gifted women
  • Isn’t there an arc in the Bible to more participation in church? (Joel 2)
We can say this view in unpopular in culture.  

Some affirmations:
  • It is important for the church to identify the gifts of women and use those gifts for flourishing personally and for the church.
  • We want to affirm women in their gifts of teaching in various forms. 
I hope as you move forward you will focus on Scripture and allow women to flourish in their gifts within the church.

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