Women in Ministry-My Position

Before exploring 1 Timothy 2:8-15 passage and other passages that there is strong disagreement. I believe it is important for me to give a disclaimer and full disclosure.

Disclaimer
There are Bible Scholars with decades of training on the New Testament, on the Greek language, and on the cultural/historical context at the time of the writing of 1 Timothy. Compared to them, I am a nobody.

However, it should be noted with all this training and knowledge these scholars cannot come into agreement in regard to women in ministry, women teaching and preaching with men present. There is the Complentarian (women should not teach men or preach) and Egalitarian (women can teach and preach) positions. After reading much material by both sides of this issue, I have concluded each have valid points to support their position. Obviously, both cannot be correct, or can they? Is it really either/or? Is there a third option that does not conflict with Scripture and acknowledges historical/cultural context.

Full Disclosure
In full disclosure, based upon my early Bible College days, churches I attended, and personal experiences I have strongly leaned on the Complentarian perspective regarding women teaching and preaching. I have been convinced it is a more biblical position. While having a Complentarian perspective I have been adamantly against the very distorted, abusive, unbiblical mindset and behavior of many who come from the Complentarian perspective. They have falsely used Scripture to defend all kinds of ungodly behavior.

Over the years as I have done much more study on the topic of women in ministry, spending time looking at the historical/cultural context of Bible passages, looking at ALL of Scripture, and not focusing on my negative experiences of women teaching and preaching, I have become much more open to the Egalitarian position. Open, leaning towards it, but very cautious. Some very bad theology that has come out of the Egalitarian movement. I believe it has come from an overcompensation of the abuses that can be found in the Complimentarian movement.

Scripture and Biases
All of us have biases, perspectives that affect how we read and interpret Scripture. If we lean a certain way, we can unknowingly interpret Scripture a certain way. When I decided to do this series on Women in Ministry, I made to start fresh exploring this topic. I made a decision to put aside all biases and perspectives on the topic, to not let experiences influence how I interpret Scripture. To the best of my ability to let Scripture speak for itself and not ignore historical/cultural context. To make sure emotions and feelings have no influence upon my study on the topic of Women in Ministry.

My Conclusion
Through my studies I believe when it comes to women teaching and preaching with men present it is not either/or, it is both. I believe there is a biblical balanced approach to this topic. I believe there are key points that both Complementarians and Egalitarians miss/ignore because they are so concerned with defending their position instead of being honest with Scripture.

I am convinced that women can both teach and preach when men are present with certain conditions. I will be listing those conditions based upon Scripture. We will be exploring 1 Timothy 2:8-15, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9. (It should be noted in regard to these Bible passages that those who hold either the Complementarian or Egalitarian position chose what they take literal and what they do not based upon their belief system.)

Women in Ministry Series
Women in Ministry, Introduction-Why the Topic?
Part One-Women in Ministry-Complementarianism, Egalitarianism, And?
Part Two-Women in Ministry-Isorropiaism-HUH??? Balance
Part Three-Women in Ministry-Bible Passages
Part Four-Women in Ministry, Extremism
Part Five-Women in Ministry-No Speak
Part Six-Women in Ministry, Prophecy
Part Seven-Women in Ministry-Spiritual Gifts
Part Eight-Women in Ministry-Examples
Part Nine-Women in Ministry-Headship
Part Ten-Women in Ministry-Calling, Gifting, and Anointing
Part Eleven-Women in Ministry, My Position