Women and the Church
I’ve had this conversation more times than I can count. Some say church leadership is meant for men. Others believe women should be able to serve in any role. And for a lot of people, this isn’t just a theological debate—it’s personal.
It’s about real people, real callings, and real questions of faithfulness.
Instead of picking sides and arguing, maybe the better question is: How do we move forward in a way that honors both scripture and the women God is calling?
Where the Tension Lies
Both sides of this conversation believe they’re being faithful to scripture.
Some hold to complementarianism, the belief that men and women are equal in worth but distinct in role. They point to passages like 1 Timothy 2v12, 1 Corinthians 14v34-35, and Ephesians 5, arguing that eldership and pastoral authority are reserved for men. For them, this isn’t about whether women are gifted or capable—it’s about God’s design. Thinkers like Wayne Grudem, John Piper, and Andreas and Margaret Köstenberger have shaped this view, saying that this structure mirrors God’s order in the family and the church.
Others hold to egalitarianism, the belief that men and women are equal in both calling and leadership. They point to Galatians 3v28, Romans 16, and Acts 2v17-18, showing that women were apostles, deacons, prophets, and teachers in the early church. They believe Paul’s restrictions weren’t universal commands but responses to specific cultural issues. Scholars like Nijay Gupta, Scot McKnight, and Cynthia Westfall argue that leadership in the church should be based on gifting, not gender.
The reality? Both sides believe they’re being faithful to the Bible. Nobody’s throwing out scripture. Nobody’s twisting the text. The question isn’t, “Who cares about the Bible more?” It’s, “If we read the same text and land in different places, how do we move forward together?”
Recognizing Women’s Impact
No matter where you land, the first step is acknowledging that women have always played a massive role in the church. They’ve discipled, taught, led, and shaped entire generations—whether or not they were given a title for it.
Books like Beth Allison Barr’s The Making of Biblical Womanhood and Carolyn Custis James’ Half the Church push back on the idea that limiting women in leadership has always been “God’s design.” They ask tough questions: Are we restricting women because scripture clearly teaches it, or because we’ve inherited a tradition that prioritizes male leadership?
Regardless of where you land theologically, we have to start by seeing and naming what women have already been doing.
Investing in Women
If we’re serious about this conversation, churches need to do more than just say, “We value women.” They need to invest in them.
That means:
Encouraging theological education and ministry training for women.
Providing mentorship from both men and women in leadership.
Creating real pathways for women to step into meaningful roles—not just giving them a seat at the table with no voice.
If we believe God calls women to ministry, we have to make space for that calling. Because a calling without a place to live it out leads to frustration, burnout, and disillusionment. And that’s on the church, not on them.
Holding Convictions While Making Room
Churches don’t have to throw out their theological convictions to move forward in a healthier way. There’s room for nuance in this conversation.
For complementarian churches: There are ways to empower women in leadership within your framework—whether through discipleship, teaching, or shaping ministries in meaningful ways. If we believe women are gifted to lead, let’s actually give them space to do that.
For egalitarian churches: It’s one thing to say women can lead. It’s another thing to actually create opportunities for them. If a church is affirming women in leadership but has no women in leadership, that’s a problem.
This conversation has been treated like a fight to win instead of a conversation to engage. But if the goal is faithfulness to Jesus and scripture, we need to approach it with humility, wisdom, and a willingness to learn.
So What’s Next?
This conversation isn’t going away. But maybe the real issue isn’t about who can lead—it’s about how we, as the church, can faithfully follow Jesus together.
No matter where we land, we can choose to be a church that listens, values, and equips every member of the body of Christ. A church that moves beyond debates and into real discipleship. A church that asks honest questions and seeks truth with humility.
Because leadership was never about power—it’s about service.
