Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 4/24/2007

Question
Can to tell me why some churches allow women to be ministers and some don't and can you explain to me what
1st Timothy 5-9 means ?

Answer
Dear Sydney,

Greetings! This is Elder Greg Madden from All Experts.  Earlier this year you asked a question of me in the Christian Church History category. Because of extending circumstances I was removed from this category. Those situations have been resolved, and I am now reinstated in this category. If there is any way that I could be of further assistance to you please let me know.
 
Thanks again, and God bless!
Elder Greg Madden
http://www.forministry.com/USOKPENTEMMM1



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Sydney,

I apologize for the late response. I will however, do my best to answer you.

You are correct. Several church organizations will not allow women to be ministers.
Some are so strict as to prohibit women from even speaking in a church service at
all. Most who place these limitations upon woman are not so extreme. They will allow
women to teach younger boys (usually 12 and under), sing, and other duties within
the church. The only limitations would be what they would term "usurping authority
over the man" (men over the age of 12).

However, the Bible teaches us that woman were used in the early church in all the
capacities that men operated in. They operated in the office of apostles, deacons,
pastors, and prophets. Some of these women are recorded in Scriptures such as Junia,
Phoebe, Priscilla and Euodia.

The Bible says that God shows no respect of gender, and has promised to pour out of
His Spirit upon everyone.

Acts 2:14-36
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them,
Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and
hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the
day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my
Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Gal. 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither
male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Here is a list of Scriptures where women worked in the ministry.

Phil. 4:3
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in
the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in
the book of life.  

Rom. 16:1-2
16:1
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at
Cenchrea:  
16:2
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in
whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and
of myself also.  

Rom. 16:12
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis,
which laboured much in the Lord.

Acts 18:24-26
18:24
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in
the scriptures, came to Ephesus.  
18:25
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he
spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of
John.  
18:26
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had
heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more
perfectly.

Now to your question of 1 Tim.5:9. The Holy Spirit through Paul was teaching the
church about the care of the widows. You see, at that time the church itself was the
sole caregiver for many windows. Those who had no children or family to care for
them. These were to be the responsibility of the church. The Holy Spirit commanded
that a widow under the age of sixty was not to be the responsibility of the church.
If not, then the church would become overtaxed in this, and this was not God plan.

Sydney, please let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.
Elder Greg Madden