Women Bishops? What do evangelical Baptists believe? Do we have to disbelieve the Bible to believe in women in leadership?

Evangelical: Believing the Bible to be the inspired word of God Evangelical: Believing the Bible to be the inspired word of God How do we understand the Bible? Believing our understanding/interpretation has to be checked against scripture in the light of our assumptions

Rules of interpretation Author’s meaning Context Consistency How do we understand the Bible?

Does a leader represent Christ? All believers represents Jesus 1 Peter 2: 5... you also, like living stone s, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood... 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light 1 Corinthians 12: 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. All believers priests Not males only Galatians 3: 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Genesis 1: 27 So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Does a leader represent Christ? All believers, male and female are the body of Christ, his priesthood Jesus is the image of God God is neither male nor female God created male and female to fully represent himself Isaiah 49: 15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Does a leader represent Christ? All believers, male and female are the body of Christ, his priesthood Women represent God as much men The best representation of God is men and women together

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship 1 Corinthians 11 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, (husband) and the head of Christ is God. Ephesians 5: 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Relationship between husbands and wives is the same as between Jesus and God - dependence, unity and life-source Not control and authority

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship Ephesians 5: 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submi t yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Ephesians 5: 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. - dependence, unity and life-source Reversible as is sacrificial love of husband SubmissionA command for all Illustrated/highlighted for wives

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship- dependence, unity and life-source 1 Timothy 2: 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 1 Corinthians 14: 34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Submission - A command for all - Learn in silenceSilence Listen not chatter

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship- dependence, unity and life-source Submission - A command for all 1 Timothy 2: 11 A woman a should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; b,c she must be quiet. Silence- Listen not chatter Teaching a Or wife; b Or teach a man in a domineering way; or teach or to exercise (or have) authority over a man. c Or over her husband. a Or wife; b Or teach a man in a domineering way; or teach or to exercise (or have) authority over a man. c Or over her husband.

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship- dependence, unity and life-source Submission - A command for all Silence- Listen not chatter Teaching 1 Timothy 2: 11 A woman a should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach a man in a domineering way ; b,c she must be quiet. 1 Timothy 2: 11 A woman a should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; b,c she must be quiet. Which one? Elsewhere in Scripture …

Luke 2: 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. … Elsewhere … Prophets were leaders and teachers e.g. Samuel, Isaiah etc. Acts 21: 9 He (Philip) had four unmarried daughters who prophesied Judges 4: 4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

Elsewhere … Acts 2: 17 "`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. All references to gifts are gender inclusive

Elsewhere … 1 Corinthians 11: 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered... Woman took part in meetings

1 Timothy 2: 11 A woman a should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach a man in a domineering way; b,c she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship- dependence, unity and life-source Submission - A command for all Silence- Listen not chatter Teaching Lesson from Eve - Our sin not the fault of Eve 1 Corinthians 15: 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. - Woman taught and led in scripture

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship- dependence, unity and life-source Submission - A command for all Silence- Listen not chatter Teaching 1 Timothy 2: 11 A woman a should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach a man in a domineering way; b,c she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. - Eve formed after God had prohibited the eating of the fruit - Woman taught and led in scripture … un-education leads to deception and failure

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship- dependence, unity and life-source Submission - A command for all Silence- Listen not chatter Teaching- Not to be done in ignorance or domination AuthorityGod has authority over all Governments have authority over people Leaders have authority over church members

Does the Bible teach leadership is male? Headship- dependence, unity and life-source Submission - A command for all Silence- Listen not chatter Teaching- Not to be done in ignorance or domination AuthorityLeadership is plural Ephesians 4 11 So Christ himself gave the apostle s, the prophet s, the evangelist s, the pastor s and teacher s, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Ephesians 4 11 So Christ himself gave the apostle s, the prophet s, the evangelist s, the pastor s and teacher s, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Does the Bible teach leadership should include women? Just as with slavery, the Bible consistently teaches a higher value on women than the culture of the day Exodus 21: 28 “If a bull gores a man or a woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten Law

Does the Bible teach leadership should include women? Just as with slavery, the Bible consistently teaches a higher value on women than the culture of the day Prophets Acts 21: 9 He (Philip) had four unmarried daughters who prophesied Judges 4: 4 Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. Law

Does the Bible teach leadership should include women? Just as with slavery, the Bible consistently teaches a higher value on women than the culture of the day Deacons Romans 16: 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae -ProphetsLaw

Does the Bible teach leadership should include women? Just as with slavery, the Bible consistently teaches a higher value on women than the culture of the day - Deacons-ProphetsLaw Jesus

Does the Bible teach leadership should include women? Entrusted with the greatest leadership task of all Matthew 28: 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.