The Semantic Game of Women in Ministry

Out of Ur has begun posting a series of videos about the different viewpoints on women in ministry. The first video from Rose Madrid-Swetman is posted below:

The thing that stuck out to me most from this video was Madrid-Swetman’s point about how many churches sidestep the heart of the issue by wrapping it up in semantics. As she says, women can hold the title of “Coordinator,” but if a man were to have the same position and responsibility they’d be called the “Pastor.” Worship Coordinators are functionally the same as Worship Pastors; same for Children’s Coordinators and Pastors.

It’s inconsistent for churches to hide behind word games in order to appear as if they’re upholding their theological views on gender roles in the church. If you’re going to be a complementation church, I think you have to be consistent in the way you describe those roles.

No Responses to “The Semantic Game of Women in Ministry”

  • S. Tann says:

    It’s not about any role or title, it’s about Jesus. Do what he has called you to do, only he can save you

  • Tom says:

    If one follows the path of scriptural truth to understand the will of God on this subject it would seem that a greater case can be made that God intended for man to the be leaders of the church as they are the leaders of the family. Women hold a tremendously important and role in it but there seems to be little biblical support for women leading the church. Gender roles had importance to God that is clear. God specifically calls men to lead, he does not say women should. Titles and thier use is not to me a reason to cross these boundaries. We have to be very careful to not fall into the belief that these things do not matter. Our enemy is shrewd and a little yeast can spoil the whole batch.

    • Mike says:

      So what you are telling us we must regard the true bible and what it say about this issue. I noticed she didn’t tell us what the bible say about woman and what the should and shouldn’t do? That is the ultimate authority.

  • Jeff Ayers says:

    The only way a woman could be a Pastor in the Church is if we ignore Paul and his 13 epistles.

    1 TIM 3:1This is a true saying, if a MAN desire the office of a bishop, HE desireth a good work.

    2A bishop then must be blameless, the HUSBAND of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

    ^^UNEQUIVOCAL^^

    1 TIM 2:11 Let the WOMAN learn in SILENCE with ALL subjection.

    12But I suffer NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH, nor to USURP authority over the man, but to be in SILENCE.

    ^^^CRYSTAL CLEAR^^^

    1 COR 14:34 Let your women KEEP SILENCE in the churches: for it is NOT permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

    35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a SHAME FOR WOMEN TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH!!!

    ^^^^IRREFUTABLE^^^^^

    Even then, precedence in Acts, the synoptics and Peter are abundantly clear that ONLY males are to be elders, bishops and pastors (same person different titles and functions)

    1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

    2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

    JEFF AYERS