Grace Community Bible Church

Policy Statement on Women in Ministry
Grace Community Bible Church
Adopted January 2004

1 Timothy 2:12 NASB
"But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet."

Introduction: God created men and women in His image (Genesis 1:27). Christian men and women are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28) and have received spiritual gifts from God for service (1 Peter 4:10). God has graciously blessed the men and women of GCBC with many gifts which edify the body and glorify the Father. While God has given the gifts of teaching and leading to both men and women within GCBC, we must be faithful to exercise these gifts within Biblical parameters. This paper applies the principles of 1 Timothy 2:12 and its context to the ministries of teaching and leading at GCBC.

At Grace Community Bible Church, women may not teach Christian doctrine and Biblical truth to men in the public assembly, nor may they exercise authority over men in the public assembly. This prohibition of the authoritative proclamation of God's Word by women to men applies to preaching, teaching of discipleship classes (e.g., during the periodic classes which take place before the corporate worship service), and leading of Bible studies. This prohibition does not apply to public praying, informal "teaching" between individuals apart from the public assembly, participation in question-and-answer sessions of discipleship classes, and participation in Bible study discussions. In other words, men and women in their normal discussions "teach" each other, but formal, public, authoritative teaching of Christian doctrine and leadership of classes and groups which contain men are prohibited to women.

Paul's prohibition applies to authoritative doctrinal instruction (see examples of authoritative doctrinal instruction in 1 Timothy 1:3, 3:2, 4:11-16, 6:2; 2 Timothy 2:2, 3:10,16) of women to men. It does not apply to women praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5), teaching other women (Titus 2:3-5), teaching children and sons (2 Timothy 1:5, 3:14-15 [Acts 16:1]), or being involved in a team effort in private conversation (Acts 18:25-26).

Paul's prohibition applies to the exercising of authority over men similar to elder-type authority (1 Timothy 3:5, 5:17). At GCBC, women may not serve as elders or leaders of mixed small groups, but may serve as leaders of certain ministries.

However, individual ministry situations must be evaluated to ensure Paul's prohibition is not violated. Because the context of the passage is that of activities within the Christian community, this prohibition does not address women having authority over men in government, business, or non-church education.

Paul's prohibition is grounded in creation order and therefore universal and timeless.

1 Timothy 2:12-14 NASB
¹² "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. ¹³ For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. ¹⁴ And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression."

Verse 13: The man's priority in the order of creation indicates the headship man is to have over woman. While both men and women are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), God has established an order in which men are to authoritatively teach and lead the church. Because Paul reasons from creation order rather than from the cultural situation, his prohibition is universal and timeless.

Verse 14: Because God established a headship order at creation, dire consequences occur when the order is upended. The fall of man, which is described in Genesis 3, provides a negative example of the importance of heeding the roles established by God in creation.

Conclusion: Women are a vital part of the ministry of God's church in general and of GCBC in particular. We are thankful for God's gifting of women and their participation in the edification of believers at GCBC. We are also thankful for God's Word which gives us the parameters in which these gifts may be used. While most ministries are available to women at GCBC, the teaching of Christian doctrine and Biblical truth to men in the public assembly is restricted to men, and the exercising of authority over men in the public assembly is restricted to men. Some of the specific applications of this conclusion are listed above. We praise the Lord both for the giving of women to edify the church and His giving of Biblical guidance to govern the assembly of His people.

(1) This paper provides a summary of GCBC's position. Detailed exegetical analysis, including interaction with objections, may be found in Douglas Moo, "What Does It Mean Not to Teach or Have Authority Over Men? 1 Timothy 2:11-15," Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1991), 179-193 (available on the web at www.cbmw.org); and George W. Knight III, The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1992), 138-144.