WOMEN PREACHING

Rev. Roger Smalling, D.Min

A Columbian believer, starting a Reformed church, wrote asking about the limitations on women who wish to speak to the congregation. He says:

I would like to ask your counsel on the role of women in the church. We accept the submission of women in the church and believe that women may not be ordained...' That they may not preach or have authority over men nor government in the church. But we have doubts about applications of this.'
"We have a sister...graduate in psychology...and she has offered to give some talks in the church on the psychology but from a biblical perspective. We are asking ourselves if this sister ought to give talks only to women or also to the congregation when she presents these teachings.

My reply was:

Dear Sergio,

Evidently God is granting you occasions to define the working parameters of your church. This indicates God considers your efforts worthy of attention, showing your work has a future.

Before answering the question, I would like to repeat something I said before. Remember the difference between a law and a principle. Laws are absolute. A principle, however, is a general idea to guide ordinary practice. Violating a principle is not necessarily a transgression and may have exceptions.

As with previous correspondence, I prefer to lay out some principles as guidelines rather than give a simplistic answer.

The issue involves a simple question: Will this woman perform a function of an ordained minister?

Throughout the Bible, certain functions appear as the proper domain of the ordained minister only:

A. The proclamation of the Word of God to the congregation in worship.
B. The administration of the sacraments.

These functions imply spiritual authority over God's people through preaching and teaching.

Both Old Testament priests and New Testament ministers seem to have these functions. In theology, we call these the "priestly functions." These normally take place in formal public worship.

I would ask therefore these questions about the proposed lectures on psychology by this lady: Is the meeting called at a time and place where the congregation is normally gathered for public worship? Is the intent of the meeting to expound the Word of God to the congregation?

Based on the information you gave me, the purpose of the meeting is to expound psychology, not the Bible. It is a lecture, not a sermon nor a Bible lesson. None of this has to do with "priestly functions."

As a Christian leader, it is your responsibility to provide all members with opportunities to express their gifts, whatever they may be. You know this or you would not ask the question. Women may possess any spiritual gift, including the highest in this dispensation, teaching. But may not duplicate the functions of an ordained minister in administering the Word of God and the sacraments to the congregation.

Some Reformed churches have sinned against women by not allowing them to express their gifts. This is an error as serious as ordaining them. If I had to make a choice, I would prefer a woman preach a sermon than a woman than strip her of her gifts. Getting a thing we do not merit seems more consistent with grace than taking away a blessing we already have.

Therefore, if you must risk a mistake, err on the side of liberty rather than law. The chances of pleasing God are better. Ignore the Pharisees.

Fortunately it is easy to avoid the risks. Reformed churches do this by having a woman stand in front of the pulpit, using a lectern. This is not because the pulpit is sacred. No piece of furniture in this dispensation is sacred, though some simple people think it is. It represents to them the place where spiritual authority is expressed through the preaching of the Word.

Other ways to avoid confusion is to appoint an elder over the meetings. You can say, "A lecture on Christian Psychology by Dr. Julia Sanchez with Elder Hernandez presiding." This shows you understand the distinction between a ministerial function and a knowledgable lady expressing her gifts.

Avoid unnecessary rules and restrictions. It would be ludicrous to start a church dedicated to grace and then bind the congregation with man-made rules. Remember this: The main product of laws is more laws. Better still, remember Paul's warning...

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. " Gal. 5:1

In His bonds of freedom,