Julie Halitzka

Position Summary

I am a soft complementarian. I believe that the Holy Spirit gifts both men and women. Everyone, regardless of gender, is called to use his or her spiritual gifts and talents in service to Christ. Both genders are equal in value and importance, made in the image of God, and called to share the hope found in Christ with the world.

Yet I believe that women sometimes take on different roles in carrying out God’s work. I do believe that God ‘s desire is that men serve as the chief spiritual authority in denominations, as well as regional, or a local church bodies, and that men are the regular teachers and preachers for mixed gender adult groups. I also believe that God’s desire is that men should hold the position of senior pastor in the local church, because that role is generally the chief spiritual authority and teacher within a local congregation. The role of elder is also exclusive to men.

I believe that God gives men a special role in the church in these ways not because I think less of women, or their gifting, but because I believe that scripture is God’s truth, and I am not permitted to discard any of it. Many women may indeed have teaching gifts, leadership skills, and wisdom and insight to share with their fellow believers. These gifts are legitimate, and should be used for the building up of the body. However, I personally cannot find a way to get around the biblical texts that give the specific roles described above to men. There are innumerable ways for women to use their God given gifts to serve in Christ-honoring ways, for the benefit of God and his kingdom. I pray that more churches empower women to develop their giftings and use them for the edification of the body.

Key Biblical Texts

Male and Female Similarities

In Genesis 1:28-30, God gives men and women together dominion over the earth. The assignment to rule was not given to the male gender only or the female gender only. Together, Adam and Eve are to rule. Both genders were called by God to serve him, even from the beginning of creation.

Fast forward to the New Testament, Acts 2:18. The Spirit comes upon the crowd as a mighty rushing wind, and prophecy from Joel 2:28-32 is quoted. Both sons (men) and daughters (women) prophecy. The Spirit is given both to men and women.

In 1 Corinthians 12, we are told that the same Spirit given to both men and women is what empowers them for ministry. The Spirit apportions to each one gifts, individually, as he wills. There is no disclaimer that certain gifts are only given to persons of one gender or the other.

Male and Female Differences

What does it mean that there is “neither male nor female” in Galatians 3:26-28? Certainly there are both men and women on earth when this passage was written, otherwise the human race would have died out. There are visible differences physically between men and women. We know that there were also those who would call themselves Jews and those who would call themselves Greeks, those who were slaves and those where were not.

I also do not believe that this passage can mean that there are absolutely no differences at all between the roles of those described. The Master still rules, the slave still serves. Jewish culture and Greek culture were very different. Men and women had different roles in society. Emphasis in this passage is not on the role of the male, female, Jew, Greek, slave, nor free. The emphasis is on Christ’s role in making these diverse groups as one, because of his sacrifice. Regardless of classification, all who know Christ are united in him under the covenant of grace. The central difference expressed in this passage is not a changed role of persons, but in Christ’s role as head.

Women, Authority, and Teaching

First Timothy 2, verses 11 through 15 describe the role of women in learning or exercising authority. Surrounding context is important to note. In 1 Timothy 2:8, Paul begins by describing the role of men in worship, lifting up their hands in praise to God, and in Chapter 3, he continues description of aspiring to the office of overseer in the church.

In 1 Corinthians 14:33-34, a statement is made about women being silent in the churches. However, that comes from the middle of a chapter about speaking in tongues, decently and in order. I do believe that the passage is suggesting that women are not to interpret tongues. I do not believe that it means that women must keep entirely silent. Earlier in 1 Corinthians 11:5-6, women are given other rules for speaking in church when they are advised to cover their heads when they pray and prophecy.

In Titus 2:3-5, older women are specifically called to train younger women.

Biblical Women of Note

Outside of teaching on what women may do, we should also examine what women actually did do in the bible. The following are some examples of Biblical women and their ministry roles.

Deborah. Her story is in Judges 4-5. Deborah, the wife of Lappodoth, was a prophetess and judge. She confronted Barak because he had not obeyed God by taking his troops to defeat Sisera. She went with him to the meeting place, and urged him to begin the battle God had called him to. Afterwards, Deborah leads the people in worship, recounting the story of what God has done in the battle.

Huldah. Her story is in 2 Kings 22. Huldah is a prophetess, and wife of Shallum. King Josiah sends men to consult with her after finding the Book of the Law and realizing the guilt of Israel. Huldah prophecies that they will not be subject to the disaster sent up on the land because they have repented.

Miriam. Her story is in Exodus 15 and Numbers 12. She is the sister of Moses. She leads the women in worship with the tambourine after the crossing of the Red Sea. When she slanders Moses because he married a Cushite woman, she is disciplined by God.

The excellent wife. Her story is found in Proverbs 31. She rises early to prepare food for her household. She considers a field and buys it. She weaves cloth, and sells it in the marketplace. She cares for the poor, and opens her mouth with wisdom. She does not “eat the bread of idleness.” The fruit of her hands praises her.

Tabitha. Her story is found in Acts 9:36. She was full of good works and acts of charity.

Priscilla. Her story is found in Acts 18. She is also mentioned in Romans 16, 1 Cor 16, and 2 Timothy 4. She and her husband Aquilla take Appollos aside and together explain to him the way of God more accurately. The lead a church in their house. They risk their necks for Paul.

In Summary. Biblical women are seen confronting others about their sin, encouraging, leading worship, providing wisdom, managing finances, overseeing a home business, caring for the poor, co-teaching spiritual truth, and helping to lead churches.

Practical Ministry Situations: Evaluation of Women’s Roles, using lists from “But What Should Women Do in the Church?

List 1: Areas of Governing Authority

The line should be drawn between numbers 8 and 9. Women certainly may prophecy, however in light of 1 Corinthians, I believe men are to interpret. I believe a woman can co-lead a mixed gender home fellowship group, as seen with Priscila and Aquila. Leading independently would not be acceptable.

List 2: Areas of Bible Teaching

Assuming that the groups in numbers 10 and 11 are mixed gender groups, and assuming numbers 8-11 refer to the role of primary teacher for the group, I would draw the line after number 11. However, I do think numbers 6 through 11 are permissible for a woman on an occasional basis, if she is teaching under the authority of the male leader of that group or the senior pastor.

List 3: Areas of Public Visibility or Recognition

We should add an item before number 1 in this list, ordination as Senior Pastor. I cannot see how a woman being the Senior pastor can be justified biblically. I am unable to find an example of a woman as the highest teaching authority over a congregation anywhere in the bible. That being said, I don’t find a prohibition of a woman being recognized in her position of leadership in the church. In fact, Paul recognizes Priscilla in his letters several times as one serving with him. Women who lead women’s ministries, children’s ministries, and worship ministries, for example, should be allowed to be called “pastors.”