Are you still apologising for leading?

In every generation, God raises up women who lead – whether they are called 'leaders' or not. Yet even though women serve faithfully in the local church, carrying the weight of responsibility in ministries, too many have done so apologetically – as if, somehow, to be seen as a leader was not a 'woman’s place'. This is evident in some cultures more than others, but is sadly still true in the world for many.

Sometimes, in certain church denominations or circles, women leaders can even be seen as a concession to feminism, with the burden of certain texts in the Bible wielded as

weapons to silence us, e.g.,1 Cor 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:8-15. But is that really the

truth that sets us free?

In recent decades, scholars have shown that the narrative arc of the whole scriptures

has a different story to tell – a salvation story, a restoration story, a story of hope for

all women everywhere. For the sake of the kingdom, we need to live that story out in

our world today!

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there

male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

As women leaders, we need to be deeply grounded in gospel truth.

By this I mean we need to grasp the depth of liberation which is ours as new

creations! Yes, Eve was deceived and fell under the curse of painful birth and male

domination (Genesis 3:16), something which explains so much of the warfare

against women worldwide today, - just think of Afghanistan! But now, women are saved through faith in Christ, who redeems us from every curse on the cross so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14). And as we know, the Spirit is poured out on men and women alike.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

 I will pour out my Spirit in those days…

Acts 2:18

As women leaders, we can be unashamed of our calling in Christ, just like in

the New Testament. When we understand just how radical our salvation in Christ is, we then need to notice how the New Testament is filled with women following Jesus unashamedly. Jesus welcomed many women disciples, who followed him alongside the twelve apostles, and who supported him financially (Luke 8:1-3).

I remember the shock when I first realised that these women had been following Jesus, just like the men.

• Jesus welcomed Mary to sit at his feet and defended her right to learn as a disciple (Luke 10:38-42) who would one day teach others. That’s what the phrase

  ‘to sit at someone’s feet’ meant, like Paul, who sat at the feet of the rabbi

  Gamaliel before his conversion. Despite her sister’s disapproval, Mary stayed

  listening and learning.

  
  

• Lydia, the cloth merchant, was the first convert in Europe, and she immediately

  opened her home to the fledgling church in Philippi (Acts 16:14).

  
  

• Similarly, Nympha was a woman who hosted a church in her home (Colossians 4:15), as did the elder lady (2John 1:1). This despite the risk of persecution and rejection!

  Christian women need to lead and teach wherever they are however they can.

  
  

• Surprisingly, Paul includes a notable number of women in Romans 16, (10 out of 27

  named individuals) with many described in terms of their ministry or leadership roles.

  Some were also businesswomen, tentmakers, and mothers.

  
  

• Phoebe is described as a minister and benefactor in Cenchrae, near Corinth; she

  carried the letter to Rome and probably read and interpreted it for the

  congregation, as was usual for letter carriers then. She may have been travelling

  for business.

  
  

• Prisca (or Priscilla) is called a co-worker with Paul; she taught the young Apollos

  a better way alongside her husband Aquila. Read her story in Acts 18. She is

  often mentioned first, unusually, suggesting she was more prominent.

  
  

• Junia the apostle, now happily recognised as a woman, having been disguised as

  a man Junias for centuries thanks to misleading translations, is called

  ‘outstanding among the apostles’ (Romans 16:7).

  
  

• Other women mentioned as fellow workers or ministers include Mary, Tryphena,

  Tryphosa, and Persis. In total, seven women in the list are called ministers or

  fellow workers, while only three men are so described, amazingly.

In light of all of this... Christian women can lead without apology.

All of these examples put those infamous texts into perspective. With this narrative arc in

the New Testament, how can Paul command women to be silent in church

1 Corinthians 14:34-35? Especially when he does not query women praying and

prophesying in 1 Corinthians 11:5? Maybe the ‘plain meaning’ of these texts is not

obvious after all!

How then should we lead as Christian women? Faithfully (1 Corinthians 4:2),

diligently (Romans 12:8) and humbly (Galatians 5:13), just as Christ did before us. If

we have been entrusted with a holy responsibility, let us serve one another humbly in

love.

Above all, let our light shine in His name before a watching world, without

apology!

Article by Miriam O'Regan