by Steve Chapman

Created on: March 12, 2010   Last Updated: March 14, 2010

 Should A Woman Serve As A Pastor?

As a man, and speaking for myself as a man, I mean no exaggeration in saying I find this question ridiculous. As a man who loves and respects God, I also find this question or "issue" ridiculous. What is the basis for my belief? I offer several reasons, including the one example that is from the ultimate source for all of us. Consider if you will:

*Ministry is the actions taken to lead, teach and comfort. Each and every day, women 'minister" to our broken hearted children over a multitude of heartaches and struggles. In these instances, they minister, or act as a pastor to the children through comfort, leading and teaching how to cope, overcome, understand and have faith, knowing they are loved.

*Mothers minister and act as pastors each and every day they comfort, lead and train young females in the ways of being a lady, loving and believing in themselves, and knowing they are loved.

*When we, as men, are able to set aside our desire to be strong and lead, often as protectors and providers, we are comforted, lead and taught by women that we are loved as we are, modeling of course, God's unwavering love.

*Paul once replied to a letter from the young church at Corinth, as they squabbled over what group, or clique, was right regarding what food was proper (acceptable and obedient) to eat, or not eat.  This was causing a divide and growing argument. Understanding the issue was representative of other possible conflicts which could threaten the development of this young church, not literally limited to a food debate, he answered simply:

*It is unimportant. Regarding issues or behaviors not specifically forbidden , it is acceptable to apply the basic,” to each his (or her) own.”

*Not to do so, and go along with what others decided if you did not agree, and again, violated no forbidden law, would be what modern day civilization calls codependent.

*As Christ was dying on the cross, two women who loved him not only received comfort in knowing of his love for them, the ministered to him, with comfort, validation of his worth, and to a lesser but meaningful extant, did a pastor's work in "suffering with" him.

*And last, the answer to this was modeled for us by Christ himself. The first human being he showed himself to after he arose, the greatest honor I know of ever given a human being, was a woman. And she was to go tell the others; the men, and all others who loved him. A woman was given the honor and position to comfort, lead and teach, that very morning, by our Lord himself.

Case closed.

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