Hey friends, lately in my circles, we’ve been tossing around some big questions about women in church leadership. I’ve been chewing on this for a while, and here’s where I land: I absolutely believe women have a major role to play in Christian ministry—vital, God-given roles that shape the church. But when it comes to being the head of a church, the lead pastor, or an elder, I don’t see that lining up with what Scripture lays out. The Bible doesn’t seem to place women in those specific spots, and I think there’s wisdom in that design. Let’s dig into this together—what does the Bible actually show us?

First off, I’m not here to downplay women’s contributions. The Bible is full of women doing incredible things for God’s kingdom. Take Phoebe in Romans 16:1-2—she’s called a “deacon” (or servant, depending on your translation), and Paul praises her for her help to the church. That’s no small thing! Or think about Priscilla in Acts 18:26, teaming up with her husband Aquila to teach Apollos, a guy who needed some clarity on the faith. She’s right there, shaping a key figure in the early church. And way back in the Old Testament, Deborah (Judges 4-5) is leading Israel as a judge and prophetess—talk about a powerhouse! These women aren’t sitting on the sidelines; they’re in the thick of it, serving, teaching, and guiding God’s people.

But here’s where I pause: none of these examples put women in the role of elder or lead pastor in the New Testament church. When I look at passages like 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, where Paul spells out what an elder (or overseer) should be, the language is masculine—“the husband of one wife”—and the early church seems to roll with that. I don’t recall a single woman named as an elder in Scripture, and that silence feels significant. Then there’s 1 Timothy 2:11-12, where Paul says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” He ties it to the creation order, which makes me think this isn’t just a cultural quirk but a pattern God set up. For me, that points to men stepping into those head leadership roles.

Now, I know some folks might say, “What about Junia in Romans 16:7? Isn’t she an apostle?” It’s a fair question—she’s called “outstanding among the apostles”—but scholars debate what that means. Was she an apostle in the big-A sense, like Paul, or just well-known to them? It’s murky, and it doesn’t change the fact that the elder and pastor roles stay male-focused in the text. Plus, the cultural argument—that Paul was just reflecting his time—doesn’t fully convince me when I see how consistent the pattern is across Scripture.

So where does that leave us? Women are all over the Bible doing amazing ministry—prophesying, serving, teaching in certain contexts—but the head pastor or elder gig? That’s where I see a line drawn. It’s not about value; it’s about roles. I think God’s wired the church with a structure that’s beautiful in its differences. Men and women both bring something essential, but they don’t always bring it the same way. Honestly, I’d love to hear your thoughts—how do you see this playing out in our churches today?