Understanding the Role of Women in Church Leadership

Devotional

Day 1: The Role of Pastors in Church Leadership

The term "pastor" in English is widely understood to denote someone with official leadership responsibilities in the church, such as preaching and governing. Using this term for laypeople, including women, who do not hold these roles, can be misleading and unwise. The distinction between official church leadership and lay roles is crucial to maintaining clarity in church governance. When the term "pastor" is used loosely, it can blur the lines of authority and responsibility within the church, leading to confusion about who is entrusted with the spiritual oversight of the congregation. [02:34]

1 Timothy 3:1-2 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."

Reflection: Consider the leadership roles in your church. How can you support and pray for those who are officially recognized as pastors and leaders?

Day 2: Understanding "Poimēn" in the New Testament

The New Testament uses the Greek word "poimēn," meaning "shepherd," rather than "pastor." This term is used to describe both literal shepherds and metaphorically to refer to Jesus. Only once is it translated as "pastor," and even then, the ESV uses "shepherds." This highlights the importance of understanding the original language and context of the scriptures to avoid misinterpretations. The metaphor of shepherding emphasizes care, guidance, and protection, which are central to the role of church leaders. [04:12]

John 10:11-12 (ESV): "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them."

Reflection: Reflect on the qualities of a shepherd. How can you embody these qualities in your interactions with others in your community?

Day 3: Aligning with New Testament Language

If we seek to align with New Testament language, we should consider using "shepherd" rather than "pastor" for church leaders. The New Testament consistently associates shepherding with the leadership of elders and overseers. This alignment with biblical language helps maintain the integrity of church leadership roles and ensures that the responsibilities of shepherding are clearly understood and respected. By using the term "shepherd," we emphasize the nurturing and guiding aspects of leadership that are essential for the spiritual growth of the congregation. [06:23]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Reflection: How can you support your church leaders in their role as shepherds? What practical steps can you take to encourage and uplift them?

Day 4: The Biblical Association of Shepherding with Leadership

The New Testament links shepherding with the leadership of elders and overseers, as seen in Acts 20, 1 Peter 5, and John 21. This association underscores the importance of maintaining clear distinctions in church leadership roles. By understanding the biblical context of shepherding, we can better appreciate the responsibilities and challenges faced by church leaders. This understanding also helps us to recognize the significance of spiritual oversight and the need for qualified individuals to fulfill these roles. [08:19]

Acts 20:28 (ESV): "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."

Reflection: Think about the leaders in your church. How can you express gratitude for their service and dedication to shepherding the congregation?

Day 5: Risks of Miscommunication in Church Leadership

Using "pastor" for non-elders or non-overseers, including women, risks communicating that the office of pastor is appropriately filled by women, potentially undermining the New Testament's teaching on church leadership. It is essential to communicate clearly and accurately about leadership roles to avoid misunderstandings and maintain the integrity of church governance. By being mindful of the language we use, we can ensure that the roles and responsibilities within the church are respected and upheld according to biblical teachings. [09:57]

Titus 1:5-6 (ESV): "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination."

Reflection: How can you contribute to clear and respectful communication about leadership roles in your church? What steps can you take to ensure that biblical teachings are upheld in your community?

Sermon Summary

Today, we delve into a complex and often contentious issue within the church: whether women should be called pastors. This discussion is rooted in a broader complementarian debate, which holds that the New Testament prescribes spiritually mature, gifted, and qualified men to bear the official responsibilities of governing and teaching in the local church. The question at hand is whether it is biblical, wise, or misleading to use the term "pastor" for roles that women can fulfill within the church.

The English word "pastor" is commonly understood to refer to someone with official leadership in the church, typically involving preaching and governing. This understanding raises the question of whether it is appropriate to use this term for laypeople, including women, who do not hold these official roles. Some argue that the New Testament uses the term "pastor" for non-authoritative roles of shepherding, but this argument is flawed. The New Testament, written in Greek, uses the word "poimēn," which means "shepherd." This term is used 18 times in the New Testament, often referring to literal shepherds or metaphorically to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Only once, in Ephesians 4:11, is it sometimes translated as "pastor," but even then, the ESV translates it as "shepherds."

If we aim to align with New Testament language, we should consider calling church leaders "shepherds" rather than "pastors." The New Testament consistently associates shepherding with the leadership of elders and overseers, not laypeople. For instance, in Acts 20, Paul addresses the elders of Ephesus, instructing them to shepherd the church. Similarly, in 1 Peter 5, Peter exhorts elders to shepherd the flock, exercising oversight. In John 21, Jesus tells Peter to shepherd His sheep, further linking shepherding with leadership.

Using the term "pastor" for non-elders or non-overseers, including women, risks communicating that the office of pastor, as commonly understood, is appropriately filled by women. This could inadvertently undermine the New Testament's teaching on church leadership, despite intentions to the contrary.

Key Takeaways

1. The term "pastor" in English is widely understood to denote someone with official leadership responsibilities in the church, such as preaching and governing. Using this term for laypeople, including women, who do not hold these roles, can be misleading and unwise. [02:34]
2. The New Testament uses the Greek word "poimēn," meaning "shepherd," rather than "pastor." This term is used to describe both literal shepherds and metaphorically to refer to Jesus. Only once is it translated as "pastor," and even then, the ESV uses "shepherds." [04:12]
3. If we seek to align with New Testament language, we should consider using "shepherd" rather than "pastor" for church leaders. The New Testament consistently associates shepherding with the leadership of elders and overseers. [06:23]
4. The New Testament links shepherding with the leadership of elders and overseers, as seen in Acts 20, 1 Peter 5, and John 21. This association underscores the importance of maintaining clear distinctions in church leadership roles. [08:19]
5. Using "pastor" for non-elders or non-overseers, including women, risks communicating that the office of pastor is appropriately filled by women, potentially undermining the New Testament's teaching on church leadership. [09:57]
** [09:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the Debate
[00:54] - Complementarian Context
[01:50] - Misleading Use of "Pastor"
[02:34] - Meaning of "Pastor" in English
[03:55] - New Testament Language
[04:12] - Greek Word "Poimēn"
[05:23] - Shepherds in the New Testament
[06:23] - Aligning with New Testament Language
[07:19] - Shepherding and Leadership
[08:19] - Elders and Overseers
[09:38] - Risks of Miscommunication
[10:21] - Conclusion and Implications
[10:38] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Ephesians 4:11
Acts 20:28
1 Peter 5:1-2

Observation Questions:

In Ephesians 4:11, what roles does Paul mention that Christ has appointed in the church? How does this relate to the discussion on the term "pastor"? [04:28]
According to Acts 20:28, who is instructed to shepherd the church, and what does this imply about their role? [07:39]
In 1 Peter 5:1-2, what are the elders exhorted to do, and how does this connect to the concept of shepherding? [08:39]
How does the sermon describe the common understanding of the word "pastor" in the English-speaking world today? [02:34]

Interpretation Questions:

Why might it be significant that the New Testament uses the term "shepherd" rather than "pastor" when referring to church leaders? How does this impact our understanding of church leadership roles? [06:23]
How does the sermon suggest that using the term "pastor" for non-elders or non-overseers could potentially mislead church members about the New Testament's teaching on leadership? [09:38]
What are the implications of associating the role of shepherding with elders and overseers, as seen in Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5? How does this shape our view of church governance? [08:19]
How does the sermon address the argument that the New Testament uses the term "pastor" for non-authoritative roles of shepherding? What is the counterpoint provided? [03:55]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your understanding of the term "pastor." How has this sermon challenged or confirmed your views on who should hold this title within the church? [02:34]
Considering the sermon’s emphasis on the term "shepherd," how might this change the way you view the responsibilities of church leaders? How can you support them in their role? [06:23]
How can you ensure that your understanding of church leadership aligns with the New Testament teachings? What steps can you take to study and apply these teachings in your church community? [09:38]
If your church uses the term "pastor" for roles that do not involve official leadership, how might you engage in a conversation about the potential implications of this practice? [10:21]
How can you contribute to maintaining clear distinctions in church leadership roles, as suggested by the sermon? What actions can you take to support biblical leadership structures? [08:19]
Reflect on a time when you might have misunderstood the role of a church leader due to the use of titles. How can you seek clarity and understanding in the future? [09:57]
How does the sermon encourage you to think about the roles women can play in the church? How can you support women in ministry while aligning with the New Testament teachings? [01:50]

Sermon Clips

The English word pastor in the english-speaking world today is taken to mean by almost everyone everyone who knows the word to refer to a person with official leadership in the local church that ordinarily involves preaching and governing and would be roughly the same as lead elders or overseers that's the ordinary meaning of the word in English. [00:02:34]

The New Testament was written in Greek and of course doesn't use the English word pastor at all that may seem silly to even observe that but it's significant it has a word in Greek poem Ain for shephard that word is used 18 times that noun is used 18 times in the New Testament one of which is sometimes translated pastor namely Ephesians 4:11. [00:04:12]

If you really want to recover something like New Testament language which is the claim being made that that's what we're going to do back to a New Testament language you you would make a case for calling church leaders Shepherds not pastors that's that's the real claim if you want to get back to a rich generality of usage in the new testament. [00:06:23]

When the New Testament does describe its church leaders as doing the work of a shepherd with the verb hi my name belt on that noun my main when it does describe its church leaders as doing the work of a shepherd they were thought of not as lay people but as elders and overseers. [00:07:19]

In acts 20 Paul calls together the elders verse 17 of Ephesus and he says to them in verse 28 pay careful attention to yourselves you elders and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers so now you have two words of authoritative position elder and overseer to Shepherd this is their task to Shepherd the Church of God. [00:08:19]

In 1st Peter 5:1 and 2 Peter says so I exhort the elders among you Shepherd the flock of God that is among you exercising oversight so Peter uses the same two words as as Paul does namely elder and the task of overseeing and he calls these overseeing leaders to Shepherd the flock. [00:08:59]

In John 21:16 Jesus says to the Apostle Peter Shepherd my sheep so not only is there no New Testament word that corresponds to pasture as distinct from Shepherd but the idea of shepherding in the New Testament was consistently associated with the leadership of elders and overseers. [00:09:38]

The title pastor Mary or pastor Jane is overtime going to communicate especially to our young people I think growing up in the church and people newer to the church it's going to communicate inevitably that the office of pastor as almost everyone understands it in English is properly filled by women. [00:09:57]

Those who are arguing for the use of the word pastor for women ministering or men who are not elders or overseers are undermining the teaching of the New Testament about church leadership even as they aim to do the opposite. [00:10:21]

The question becomes should a word with that ordinary meaning in English be used to refer to lay people in the church men or women who do not have that kind of official leadership role of preaching and teaching and governing as elders and overseers and the answer of some is yes we should use that word. [00:03:08]

The attempt to say that it is more biblical to use it is built on a misunderstanding of how language works as well as the supposed use of the word pastor in the New Testament and I'll give four reasons for why I think it's misleading and unwise and ill-founded. [00:02:55]

The New Testament links shepherding with the leadership of elders and overseers, as seen in Acts 20, 1 Peter 5, and John 21. This association underscores the importance of maintaining clear distinctions in church leadership roles. [00:09:38]

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