THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT\ Should Woman Be Ministers?

A Dignified Role

Was the public ministry a menial assignment, a secondary task to be relegated to women while the men did the important work of presiding over the congregation?  Not at all, and for two reasons. First, the Bible makes clear that all Christians-including men with weighty congregation responsibilities-were to share in the public ministry.  (Luke 9:1, 2) Second, the public ministry was and still is the primary means by which Christians of both genders fulfill Jesus' command to"make disciples of people of all the nations, . . .teaching them." -Matthew 28:19, 20. 

There is another vital role that certain women have in the congregation.  Paul wrote:  "Let the aged women be . ..teachers of what is good; that they may recall the young women to their senses to love their husbands, to love their children." (Titus 2:3, 4) Thus, mature women with experience in Christian living have the privilege of helping younger and less experience women to gain maturity. That too is a dignified, weighty role.

Teaching the Congregation

Nowhere in the Bible, however, are women told to stand before the congregation to teach.  Rather, the apostle Paul instructed them to "keep quiet in the meetings." Why? One reason, he wrote, is so that things would be done "in a proper and orderly way." (1 Corinthians 14:34, 40, Today's English Version)  For the congregation to run smoothly, God has assigned the role of teaching to one group. Note, though, that a person is not granted the privilege of oversight in the congregation simply  because he is a male; it is granted only to those men who truly qualify.- 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9. 

Is the role that God has assigned to women demeaning?  No. Remember, Jehovah God ordains them to a higher calling-that of public bearing witness about him.  (Psalm 68:11) Among Jehovah's Witnesses today, men and women who are public ministers have helped millions to attain repentance and gain salvation. (Acts 2:21; 2 Peter 3:9) That is no small accomplishment! 

The arrangement for men and women promotes peace while showing honor to both genders. To illustrate: The eyes and ears perform complementary tasks to help a pedestrian cross a busy street.  Similarly, when men and  women accomplish God's will  according to the roles they have each been assigned, God blesses the congregation with peace. -1 Corinthians 14:33; Philippians 4:9. 

Next time: Do You See God's Hand in Your Life? 

From the Awake! magazine