From CBE’s 2024 Conference “Tell Her Story: Women in Scripture and History” in Denver, Colorado.
Are women excluded from leadership or ministry in the church because a woman is never referred to as a “pastor,” “elder,” or “teacher” in the New Testament? The fact is that specific men are not described with these titles either (except when authors are describing themselves). However, Junia is called an “apostle” (Rom. 16:7), Phoebe is called a “deacon” (Rom. 16:1), and Philip’s four daughters are called “prophets,” (Acts 21:9). Furthermore, Priscilla represents a number of women who are described as ministers, patrons, teachers, and co-laborers in a way that recognizes women as ministers to Jesus and identifies them as central participants in Paul’s ministry team. The New Testament describes women with the same terms that it uses to describe men who are called to leadership in the church.