In their recent meeting, a large denomination spoke authoritatively against the practice of women serving as pastors or leaders in churches if that role put them in a place where they taught men or “directed” men. They do this with the aim of being biblical. I like being biblical, though my way of being biblical leads me to a different place than where they came down. I’ve taught on the question before (HERE and HERE) and plan to do so again in the next few months. In the meantime, I thought it would be worth sharing some resources while the topic has people’s attention.

Our Methodist tradition has wavered in its acceptance of women as leaders in church. In the first generation Wesley counted a few women as leaders, though none were considered as central to the leadership of the movement as men. Women were important in early American Methodism, but it took many years (well over a century) to see the first ordained. Other churches in the Wesleyan tradition – the Nazarenes and Salvation Army were much quicker to bring women into leadership. One of the features that brought about the founding of the Salvation Army was Methodist preacher William Booth not keeping his wife Catherine quiet and “in her place.”

The Global Methodist Church (as does the United Methodist Church, the Free Methodist Church and the Wesleyan Church) ordains women to ministry and does not differentiate between the callings and ministry of men and women. Unfortunately, our practice is rarely as good as our theory.

But what about the Bible? Are there biblical reasons to affirm “women in ministry?” Here are a couple videos from Ben Witherington, longtime professor of New Testament at Asbury Seminary, on the subject. If you want more in depth research his books (among others) are a good starting place.