Expert: Joe Norman - 2/2/2009

Question
What is the scriptural reference for men in the church to conduct church business meetings that exclude women?  Is this a common practice within the Church of Christ?  Where is the scriptural reference that requires a vote of only the brothers to decide what the Church should do?
My previous minister told my family to leave the congregation if we did not agree with the way he ran the Church.  My husband wrote  him a letter to discuss some issues and he exploded! He then read the letter to the congregation during Sunday service criticizing my husband for asking questions.  It was a humiliating experience for my family.  Needless to say we have not gone back to that Church. In the 17 years he has been a preacher, he has not appointed elders or deacons and says he will not turn leadership of his church over to a bunch of uneducated men.  

Answer
Hi Shari,

I appreciate you choosing to ask me your questions. I will do my best to provide Bible answers to them. As in every case, it is your responsibility to study what I present to you and God's Word to determine if what is taught is true.

It first must be understood that God designed the church in that each local congregation is to have elders overseeing them. You are well aware of this fact I am sure and the qualifications of an elder as well. (1 Tim.3; Tit.1:5-9)

It is not the role of any minister to "run" a local church. The minister that "exploded" and publicly rebuked your husband for asking questions did not act in a Christian manner. Of course, I have no idea what was asked in the letter or how it was worded by your husband, but there is no reason any preacher should respond the way he did.

Also, if he has been the preacher of that congregation for 17 years and there are still no elders or deacons, he is not doing the work of an evangelist. It is quite clear when we read Titus 1:5, that preachers are to set in order the things that are lacking in that congregation. If there are no men qualified to be elders, he needs to do whatever he can to find men who qualify and appoint them as soon as possible. It is my opinion that if it is not possible to get qualified elders in place within a year or so, that congregation should consider joining ranks with another church that has elders and deacons even if this means they must drive an hour away.

A Men's business meeting should be a temporary thing. I don't know of any scripture that provides a command or example of any such meeting. I do understand that this idea comes from the fact that men have the responsibility to be spiritual leaders in the home and the local church. The women are not to show authority over a man in the church.

Here are some passages I am sure you are already aware of:

1 Cor.11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

This states clearly that the head of every woman is the man, just as Christ is the head of every man and God is the head of God.

1 Cor.14:31-36
31 For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. 35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church. 36 What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?

In this chapter, Paul is specifically speaking about church worship. He says that women are to remain silent in the church. He also says that if she has a question, she should ask her husband at home.

1 Tim.2:11-15
11 Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. 12 But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression: 15 but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

In this passage, Paul again speaks about the importance of women learning in silence and all subjection. He goes further by stating that women are not permitted to teach or have dominion over a man. Then he refers to the order of creation and also to the fact that Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived in the garden. Adam knew it was wrong to eat of that fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but he ate anyway... failing to be the spiritual leader he should have been to Eve.

This is how we know this is not a cultural thing, but it comes from God. Men are to lead. Women can have a voice by speaking to their husbands, or fathers, or some other man they are close to who can consider their view and even present it to the other men. But again, the design of the church as God wants it to be is for every local church to have qualified elders and deacons to lead them and oversee them.

To summarize, there are no passages that provide a direct command or approved example of a men's business meeting, but when there are no qualified men to be appointed as elders, this seems to be an acceptable temporary solution. It should be temporary though. The women of the church can voice their views to their husbands or fathers, etc...but are not permitted to have authority over a man.

This "minister" has had 17 years to educate men and help them to be qualified to be elders. I hope that you found a congregation that has elders and deacons to be a part of and that God will bless your family. I will pray for this preacher and that congregation. I hope I have answered your questions,but if you need any clarification or need any other questions answered, I will do my best to help you.

In Christ, Joe Norman

By the way, I did read the passage in Acts 6 among others. It does seem that there were times when the whole congregation came together to meet and decide on certain matters, but there is no way of knowing from these recorded events whether or not the women were able to speak in these congregational meetings.

Also, I neglected to note some of the problems of men's business meetings as well as congregational meetings. One problem is that everyone in the congregation is on a different level of spiritual maturity and wisdom. This is why God designed His church to have elders or overseers, or pastors, or shepherds, or bishops (all titles referring to the same office) to be the ones to lead the local churches.

Also, in men's business meetings or congregational meetings, most of the time it becomes majority rule and rarely is this good - especially when many are new Christians. Also, if there is a teenage Christian in the meeting, his opinion should not carry the same weight as someone who is in their 50's and has been growing spiritually for 30 to 38 yrs.

I do appreciate your desire to do things God's way and am praying for your family and that congregation. God bless!

In Christ, Joe Norman