by Luke Smith

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I am concerned with the recent movement to exclude congregations from cooperative missions based on differences of conviction regarding women's roles in the church. The stated purpose of the Baptist Faith and Message is to present a consensus statement of beliefs. As included in the preamble, "...they constitute a consensus of opinion of some Baptist body, large or small, for the general instruction and guidance of our own people and others concerning those articles of the Christian faith which are most surely held among us." A consensus does not mean unanimity. A consensus may be a supermajority or even in some cases a simple majority. This means there are those within the group who may not share every aspect of the convictions stated. Furthermore cooperative entities exercise no authority over the local congregation,”Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches." (Baptist Faith and Message 2000, XIV) 

I am perplexed by the preoccupation with the titles of elder, pastor, and overseer. This highlights leadership and authority insufficiently. Jesus warned the Pharisees about this preoccupation. 

But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8-12)

And so if you are to move beyond titles to actual leadership roles, it again confuses me that there is this preoccupation with authority. Leadership among followers of Jesus seems to be modeled on humility and sacrifice.

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

One will find there are women advancing the gospel through faithful witness in ways that people recognize to have the authority not of office, but of truth in humility and sacrifice. I am persuaded that it may be presumptuous to deny that they are prompted by the Holy Spirit.  

It is asserted that the question of women's roles in the church is settled by reference to three passages. However there are other passages that also have implications for the way leadership is to be understood in the church.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

Paul evidently conceived of some circumstances in worship where women would prophesy. This is in some tension with a plain sense reading of 1 Timothy 2.  

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. (1 Corinthians 11:2-6)

Evidently on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God filled both women and men empowering them to prophesy.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)

And finally it is disturbing to me that in the desire to advance unity there is no reference to love. Love is the basis of Christian unity, and love has a shape.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

I am concerned that this effort to create unity is a divisive moment that operates with insufficient commitment to humility and love.

Rev. Luke Smith is pastor of Linden Heights Baptist Church in Staunton, Virginia, a BGAV-participating congregation.

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