Women Pastors

Question:

Are women suppose to be pastors?

Answer:

As I understand the Bible, women are not supposed to be pastors. I base this understanding on 1 Timothy 2-3, where Paul argued on the foundation of creational ordinances that women ought not to be ordained as elders. Specifically, Paul argued against women's ordination on the bases that Adam was created before Eve, and that Eve was deceived (1 Tim. 2:12-14). 

I do not believe that Paul was suggesting that women were not able to learn as much as men, or that men would not be deceived or mislead in their studies. Rather, the issue was one of propriety in the eyes of God. God had established an order in creation, and the church was to respect and follow that order. Because creational ordinances do not change, the application that women should not be ordained also does not change. 

I believe that the Bible affirms women's participation in church services (e.g. 

-  1 Cor. 11:5 assumes women will be praying and prophesying in church), and that it does not disallow women who teach under the authority of men (e.g. in Acts 18:26 Priscilla taught Apollos).