Can a Woman Be Called by God to Preach and Shepherd the Church?
Introduction
We have looked at the bigger picture in the Bible, considered 1 Timothy 2, and studied 1 Corinthians 14. Now we come to the main question:
Can a woman be called by God to preach, teach, and shepherd the church?
For many Christians, the answer depends on how they view the roles of pastor and elder.
Even among those who support women preaching, people disagree about how church leadership should be structured.
Some believe women should be able to serve in any ministry role, including as pastors and elders. Others think women can preach and teach but should not be elders.
This article asks a bigger question: Does the Bible give enough support for women to preach and teach God’s Word to the church?
I believe the answer is yes.
The New Testament Pattern Is Participation, Not Exclusion
When we look at the early church, we see that women were active participants, not just watching from the sidelines.
They hosted churches.
They supported apostles.
They prophesied.
They evangelized.
They discipled.
They instructed believers.
Paul often praised women who worked with him in sharing the gospel.
Romans 16 gives many examples of women who were recognized for their important work in the church.
This does not answer every question about church leadership, but it does show that women were included in meaningful ministry.
Priscilla and the Teaching of Apollos
One of the clearest examples appears in Acts 18.
Apollos was a gifted preacher and teacher.
Yet Scripture says:
“After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.”
Look at what happened here.
A woman helped correct and teach one of the most gifted preachers in the New Testament.
There is no rebuke.
There is no correction.
There is nothing to suggest that Priscilla went against God’s will.
Instead, her ministry helped build up a future church leader.
If it was allowed for a woman to teach a well-known preacher, it is hard to say that all teaching by women is forbidden.
Phoebe and Junia
Romans 16 introduces two remarkable women.
Phoebe
Paul describes Phoebe as a servant or deacon of the church at Cenchreae.
He instructs the Roman believers to receive her and assist her.
Many scholars think Phoebe was the one who brought Paul’s letter to Rome.
If that is true, she probably explained the letter’s message to the church.
That would mean she held a very respected ministry role.
Junia
Paul describes Junia as:
“Outstanding among the apostles.”
While scholars discuss exactly what the phrase means, many agree that it shows Junia was highly respected among the apostles.
At the very least, this shows that women had influence in the early church.
What About the Qualifications for Elders?
One of the strongest arguments against women pastors comes from 1 Timothy 3.
Paul describes an overseer as:
“the husband of one wife.”
Complementarians argue that this clearly limits the office to men.
This argument should be taken seriously.
However, others point out that the phrase might focus on being faithful in marriage, not on gender.
The same expression is used regarding widows in 1 Timothy 5, where a widow is described as a “one-man woman.”
The phrase is more about character than about being male or female.
The question therefore becomes:
Was Paul saying leaders must be men, or was he stressing that leaders should be faithful?
Even committed scholars do not all agree.
Jesus Chose Twelve Men
Another common objection is that Jesus chose twelve male apostles.
This is true.
But the Twelve were more than just church leaders.
They stood for the twelve tribes of Israel and played a special role in God’s plan.
The real question is whether choosing the Twelve sets a rule for all future ministry roles.
Many Christians believe it does.
Others point out that Jesus also gave women important ministry responsibilities.
In fact, women became the first witnesses of the resurrection and the first messengers sent to announce the risen Christ.
God gave the greatest news in history to women before He gave it to the apostles.
The Evidence of Calling
All through church history, God has called women whose ministries have changed lives.
Many believers can say they were taught, challenged, and brought closer to Christ by the preaching and teaching of godly women.
While experience does not replace Scripture, it does make us ask an important question:
If God consistently uses women to bear spiritual fruit, should the church automatically reject those gifts?
Jesus said:
“You’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:16)
When we see real spiritual fruit, we should ask if our understanding matches what God is doing.
The Real Question
Ultimately, the debate is not about ability.
No serious student of Scripture can deny that women are capable teachers.
It is not about intelligence.
It is not about spiritual maturity.
It is not about gifting.
The debate concerns biblical authority.
What does God permit?
What does God prohibit?
And how should the church respond?
When we look at the whole story of the Bible, many believers think the restrictive passages were for certain situations, but the bigger picture shows that God is willing to call, gift, and use women in ministry.
A Word to Those Who Disagree
Faithful Christians hold different convictions on this issue.
Some churches remain complementarian and believe pastoral leadership should be reserved for qualified men.
Others are egalitarian and believe all ministry offices are open to qualified believers regardless of gender.
Both groups contain sincere followers of Christ who seek to honor Scripture.
So, this conversation should be humble, not hostile.
The goal is not to win arguments.
The goal is to understand God’s Word and obey it faithfully.
Conclusion
The Bible shows women as prophets, leaders, teachers, evangelists, servants, disciples, coworkers, and witnesses.
The verses often used to stop women from preaching and teaching are not as simple as they seem and are often tied to local situations.
When we look at the whole Bible, the evidence suggests that God calls and equips both men and women for ministry.
The church’s first question should not be, “Is the preacher male or female?”
The church should ask:
- Has God called them?
- Do they faithfully handle Scripture?
- Is their character consistent with the gospel?
- Is their ministry bearing spiritual fruit?
When those qualities are there, many Christians believe the church should recognize and affirm the gifts God has given, whether in a man or a woman.
Final Reflection
The question is not whether God can speak through a woman.
Scripture proves that He can.
The real question is whether we are willing to listen when He does.
Thoughts from Pastor Toney 