East Gippsland Gospel

This is a contentious, convoluted, and divisive subject in this time in which we find ourselves.

I find though, that many, or most people argue from a place of poor definitions and of tradition, more than from a plain reading of Holy Scripture.

The term ‘pastor’ as a noun appears only once in the New Testament (in Ephesians 4). It is one of five ministries that Paul describes as Gifts from Christ to His Church. These giftings have the purpose of ‘equipping the Saints for the work of the ministry’ and will be needed until the Church matures and grows into the ‘fullness of Christ’.

A Pastor provides for the social and emotional needs of the Church. To complement that, Christ also provides Apostles (equals “missionaries” from Latin), Prophets (those who make known the mind of God for a situation), Teachers (for formal instruction in the Word) and Evangelists (to show the Saints how to minister the Gospel to the lost).

I believe this to be so, coming from a plain reading of the text, without imposing pre-suppositions.

Unfortunately, many Churches use the term ‘Pastor’ as synonymous with the title of ‘Priest’, the ordained person who does all the ministry in a local Body. The ‘Pastor’ in these settings is also the principal governing authority.

Surely Ephesians Chapter 4 informs us that no one person can do this alone.

Scripture does give us a term for those who govern the local Church and that is ‘Elder’, and it is usually used in the plural.

I am a simple man, and I cannot understand how very well-educated Christians can equate these two roles (Pastor/Elder), given that one (pastor) only appears once in the New Testament, and it appears with four other roles which they totally disregard.

Elders had existed long before Christ instituted His Church. Indeed, communities had elders to set boundaries in society and settle disputes in many cultures including among the Jews. These Elders would be found near the gates of the city (if gates were present) and would keep an eye on those coming and going as well as giving their wisdom as needed in various scenarios.

Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus outline the needed character traits for one to be an Elder for the Church, and it seems that it is a male-only domain.

I’ve heard the various arguments used to try to squeeze women into the role, but if we go outside the ‘proof-texts’, please answer this question. If the wife needs to submit to her husband at home, why will he need to submit to her ‘leadership’ in the local Church? Surely this God-ordained order will remain.

Yes, women can be deacons, but deacons don’t govern a local Church according to Scripture, Elders do.

So, let’s get back to the question: “Can women be pastors?”.

Given that the Prophet Joel, the Apostle Peter (at Pentecost), and the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 12), all say that both sons and daughters will prophesy, why can’t they be Pastors if the roles are grouped together in Ephesians 4?

Surely, women are well equipped to care for the social and emotional needs of the Church.

Women can be Pastors, but that is not an ‘office’ of the Church it is simply a gifted role among the Saints, and that applies equally to men.

Eldership, however, is a different matter. Women need not aspire to this male-only governing role.

If God has taken the time to give us clear, simple instruction on how to best care for the Body of His Son, surely we can accept it and get on with reaching the lost and building up the Church into a more accurate depiction of our saviour.