There has been much controversy in modern times about womens roles in the church. What does the Bible say about elders, pastors, preachers and ministry?
“Ministry” is used to mean different things by different groups. Let’s first address the type of ministry that includes serving as pastors or elders. The Gospels show that Jesus selected only men to serve as His first apostles. Early Church history (the book of Acts) shows that the Church continued selecting only men to serve as elders and pastors. Therefore, we conclude that a woman’s role in the Church, although unique and valuable, does not include ordination to this type of ministry or preaching during church services (1 Timothy:2:11-12[11]Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.[12]But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.). However, women served as teachers, with the older women training the younger ones (Titus:2:3-5[3]The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;[4]That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love t
