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Should women be pastors?

This is a loaded question, which I consider with great care.

The primary guidance we have in this arena is the following:
“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Tim. 2:11-15).

Peter, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, laid down the principle of the man, not the woman, having authority in Church matters.

In Old Testament times, there are accounts of women taking over because the men were too weak in character to do the job. In those cases, God seemed content, even pleased, with their positions of authority.

However, the general principle –when all things are as they should be—is that the man should be the leader of the church. Peter’s explanation of God’s reasons are obvious in the above Scriptures.