Let's Talk About Pastors

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  It seems that more and more people are taking that title without regard to the Biblical definition.  The role is not for all men, and it is not for any women.  This is a position of authority and one in which they are responsible for teaching others from the Word of God.  In fact, James 3:1 warns, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”  This leadership position is one of great responsibility, scrutiny, and accountability before God.  No one should seek to promote themselves to this position.  It is not a position that anyone should take lightly, and those who do take the position should receive honor for taking on this difficult task.  

The term “pastor” is sometimes broadly applied.  In Scripture, the term refers to those who are shepherding a flock, an often used analogy for the Church.  Leader, teacher, overseer, and elder are synonymous terms used in Scripture.  Scripture narrowly defines this position with a list of qualifications for an elder.  We can find one such list of qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 which says, “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.  Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”  While all Christians should strive to uphold this standard, it is a requirement for anyone who holds the office of elder.  Elders are only to be men.  I know many people will fight me on this and cite their disagreements, but those are not based on a faithful, historical, contextualized reading of the whole Word of God.  Before the list of qualifications for elders and deacons, the apostle Paul outlines prayer and worship in the church.  He explicitly states in 1 Timothy 2:11-12, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.”  This doesn’t mean women cannot say a word; however, it does restrict them from holding an office of authority in the church, such as that of elder or deacon which he goes on to describe.  Limiting the office based on these requirements does not imply that someone else is a lesser person.  Just as women are not lesser humans because wives are to submit to their husbands.  God has ordained that men should be in leadership positions: in the home and in the Church.

Elders hold the weight of responsibility not only for themselves and their families, but they are also accountable before God for those in the Church whom they are leading.  Likewise, when you become a church member, you submit to the elders' authority.  You must trust their leadership and follow their governance.  The apostle Peter outlines this relationship in 1 Peter 5:1-5 which says, “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.  Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Just as, in marriage, wives are to submit to their husbands, so, in the church, members are to submit to the elders.  This is not just a position of authority.  Elders are also to care for their church.  They are to seek out the best and be examples to others.  It should be easy to follow their leadership because they are qualified men who are honest and trustworthy.  Jesus is our chief Shepherd, and all other elders are responsible to him for their work.

Many would then ask, “What’s a woman to do?”  Though the offices of elder and deacon are limited to men, this does not mean that women cannot serve their church.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 that everyone has different gifts.  We are all to use the gifts we are given for the building up of the whole body of Christ.  We see this explicitly stated in Titus 2 where the older women are instructed to teach the younger women.  Women can come alongside one another to learn how to care for our families and our homes while also encouraging one another in our faith.  I love the way it was stated by Burk Parsons as he answers the question, “What ministry roles can women fill in the church”.  He said, “Our goal is to aspire to service, humble service that doesn’t need to parade itself. It doesn’t need a title. The reason we have men who are called ministers, elders, and deacons is not to lift them up and say, “Look at how great he is.” Yes, they serve as examples. Yes, it is a noble task, but it is not first and foremost to give them a title. Rather it is first and foremost to help God’s sheep know that elders serving among them and alongside them are here to help, to shepherd, and to serve. The title is secondary.”  

Women don’t need a title to serve others in the church.  We can love and care for others without a position of authority, and we should seek to meet needs not to obtain titles.  As members of our church, we should seek to honor those in authority and serve joyfully under their leadership.  

*If you would like to learn more about women’s ministry opportunities in the church, I highly recommend Women’s Ministry in the Local Church by Ligon Duncan and Susan Hunt as well as Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt.  

(I do not receive any commissions, partnerships, endorsements, or compensation for these links.)