(This question is a follow up to “The Pastor Problem”)

We have other ministers (who are women), and his [the pastor] feelings about women seem to be not ones of love.  Our church voted to ordain these women before he came, but he has blocked this.

Sincerely,
Not Feeling The Love

Dear Not Feeling The Love,

Just one more nail in the coffin for this congregation.  The role of women in the church is a very sensitive issue, which is why it is so important to carefully study the Scriptures on the topic.  Our behavior should always be guided by what God says, not by our personal agendas or emotions.  After clearly lambasting this “pastor” in the previous posts, we find ourselves in the odd position of agreeing with him.  Women should not be ministers.  1 Tim 2:12 very clearly states that women should not be preachers or ministers.  1 Cor 14:34-35 further clarifies that public teaching in the church is not a role for women.  Regardless of how politically incorrect that stance may be… that is what the Bible says.  The congregation you are attending is sinning by having women ministers.  It is time for you to find a faithful church because this church isn’t one.  We would be happy to help you find a congregation in your area – simply e-mail us at askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org, and we will help track down a scripturally sound, Bible-following, God-fearing congregation near you.

Local churches must be incorporated to receive tax exempt status. They then must select officers to comply with the law.  My question is: can a woman be selected as an officer, specifically the office of treasurer and then engage in doing all of the tasks required of a treasurer to conduct the church business? Some say it's fine – if she only fulfils the responsibilities delegated to her by the trustees, in this case all men.  Others say no, it's a position of authority, and unscriptural, as men are to hold those offices.  I'd like a Bible answer, book(s), chapter(s), and verse(s), as this question is effecting the work of a new congregation that I am a part of.

Sincerely,
Officer Ignorant

Dear Officer Ignorant,

Everyone agrees that women can be servants in the church – the question isn’t whether women can serve; it is how they can serve.  Phoebe was a servant of the church (Rom 16:1) and was praised for her service.  Priscilla was also commended for her labor on behalf of the church (Rom 16:3).  The Bible clearly shows women working in the church and in a very positive way.

To answer your question, we need to look at what positions women are forbidden from taking in the church and what the leadership structure of the church looks like.  Let’s take a look at the leadership structure of a congregation first.

The early church was led by the apostles.  In the very beginnings of the church, the apostles were in charge of all the teaching (Acts 2:42) and daily affairs of the church (Acts 4:34-37).  Eventually, the work became so immense that the apostles began to delegate some of the responsibility to qualified men (Acts 6:1-4 shows the apostles appointing men to have authority over the daily distribution of bread to christian widows).  The system of the apostles being in charge and delegating some of their authority to others would eventually no longer work because the apostles were only twelve men.  How would the church function once they were gone?

The answer is ‘elders’.  The apostles eventually began to appoint elders in every congregation and then commended those elderships to lead in a godly way (Acts 14:23).  Not just anyone could become an elder – 1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9 give the qualifications for elders.  One of those qualifications is that an elder must be a man.  Elders have ultimate oversight of a congregation.  Elders are in charge of everything that occurs within a local church (Heb 13:17).  However, just like the apostles before them, elders have a right to appoint deacons to help handle various tasks.  The elders are ultimately in charge, but deacons are given a certain level of authority over others as the elders see fit (1 Tim 3:13).  Deacons also are required to be men (1 Tim 3:12).  Elders and deacons are always men and they are the only ones allowed to have authority over others within a local congregation.

As we mentioned before, women are seen serving in many capacities in the church, but they are never seen in positions of authority.  Women are forbidden from having authority over men in the church… they are also forbidden from publicly teaching men (1 Tim 2:12).  Women cannot be preachers or have positions within the church that allow them to have dominion (the word ‘dominion’ means ‘act on their own authority over’).  Women are encouraged to teach other women (Tit 2:3-5) but to take a less authoritative role than men within the church and family.

This is a very long answer to your question, but your question needed a lengthy answer.  If the role of treasurer is a position where this woman will be making decisions and governing men within the church, then she cannot be the treasurer.  However, if the treasurer doesn’t make any decisions that are usurping the authority of the men of the congregation, she can serve.  Once again, women can (and should) be servants in the church as long as:

1. They aren’t publicly preaching and teaching to men.
2. They aren’t in positions of dominion above men.

Paul explains the reason for this structure in 1 Tim 2:13.  Adam was created first, and Eve was created as his helper.   In both the family (Col 3:18-19) and the church (1 Cor 14:34), this principle is carried out.  Eve was no less valuable than Adam, but she was designed for a different role.

(This question is a follow-up to “Ungifted”.)

It's me again.  If you are not paying tithes, does the pastor have the right to stop you from serving on organizations?  If a deacon disagrees with his program, should the deacon be put off the deacon board?

Sincerely,
Under A Thumb

Dear Under A Thumb,

We’ll answer your question by asking a question: why is there only one pastor in this church?  The Lord never designed the church to be led by one man.  In every New Testament congregation, the church is led by a plurality of elders (also known as pastors).  Pastors lead the church together.  Paul wrote to the elders in Philippi (Php 1:1).  He met with the elders in Ephesus (Acts 20:17).  Every congregation had elders to lead them (Acts 14:23).  There is no example of a single elder/pastor leading the church.  Multiple pastors shepherding the church avoids all the power being placed in the hands of one man.  One man with too much authority can be corrupted… as your church is seeing.  This man is totally corrupted, power hungry, and greedy.  As you have mentioned in your previous questions, he has an unhealthy addiction to money.  This church has a problem with its leadership structure.  If you would like to start attending a congregation that won’t bleed you for every dollar you have AND is Scripturally sound AND will help you get to heaven instead of spreading false teaching, we would be happy to help you locate one in your area.  Our e-mail is askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org.

Can a preacher be an elder?  Specifically, can he be an elder in a very small congregation where there are only two elders (one being the preacher)?  Seems like a conflict of interest if 50% of the leadership of the church is also employed by the church to preach.

Sincerely,
Second Thoughts

Dear Second Thoughts,

Yes, a preacher can be an elder… even if he and only one other man are the eldership.  Any man can be an elder if he meets the qualifications of 1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9.  If a man meets those qualifications, you don’t need to have any worries about a conflict of interest… his interests will be godly because he has proven himself to be a godly man.  An elder must not be greedy (1 Tim 3:3); he must be selfless (Tit 1:7), and he must be humble (1 Tim 3:6).  If a man has these character traits, there is no worry of him abusing the power of the position.  Many men have abused the power of the eldership, but that just shows that many men lack the qualities necessary to be an elder – this is true of preachers and non-preachers.  Congregations must be careful to choose wise and godly men who will not lord their authority over the flock (1 Pet 5:2-3).  When looking for elders, don’t ask whether or not the man is a preacher… ask whether or not he is qualified.

In your opinion, is there a right denomination?  I have attended several different types of churches: Baptist, Church of Christ, Non-Denominational.  I’ve talked to Jehovah Witnesses and listened to Catholics on TV.  They all teach something different, but I am not looking for a place that offers their own thoughts.  I just want to know what God wants me to know.  I have been so confused by all these different teachings; I am unsure of what to believe.  Now, I like ya'll; so far you are the only ones that haven't completely confused me or contradicted the Bible.  How can I find a church like how you teach?  I want to go to church so bad, but after I attend for a little while, I notice some churches will start to say things completely different from what my Bible teaches.  And I am left wondering what to believe anymore.  Any help?

Sincerely,
An Honest Soul

Dear An Honest Soul,

The denominational world is confusing… exactly the opposite of God’s church (1 Cor 14:33).  The term ‘denomination’ comes from the idea that a church believes that it is a subgroup of a larger religious body.  Lutherans worship and teach differently than Episcopalians, Catholics, Presbyterians, etc., but they all believe themselves to be christians – this is wrong.  Jesus said that there is only one path to heaven (Matt 7:14).  Denominationalism teaches that how you act and worship are matters of opinion, but Jesus said that how you act and worship are matters of truth (Jhn 4:24).  The only way to avoid denominationalism is to find a congregation that simply teaches what the Bible says – no creeds, no opinions, no personal agendas.  If we truly love Christ, we will follow His commandments (1 Jn 5:2).

Everything a church does (worship, membership, how they teach to be saved, how they spend their money, even their name) needs to have Bible verses backing them up (1 Tim 3:15).  A church needs to be able to explain the reasons for why they do what they do (1 Pet 3:15).

Our congregation here in Monroe goes by the name ‘Monroe Valley church of Christ’ because ‘church of Christ’ is a Biblical name for a congregation (Rom 16:16).  We worship by singing (Col 3:16), studying the Bible (1 Tim 4:13), praying (2 Thess 3:1), taking communion (only on Sundays – Acts 20:7), and taking up a collection (also only on Sundays – 1 Cor 16:1-2).  We teach that you must hear God’s Word (Rom 10:17), believe God’s Word (Jhn 3:16), repent of your sins (Mk 6:12), confess Jesus as your Savior (Lk 12:8), and be baptized to be saved (Acts 2:38, 1 Pet 3:21).  We do all these things because they are practices found in the Bible.  As you said, you don’t want to go to a church that offers their own thoughts – you want God’s thoughts.

There are other congregations like ours scattered across the country and the world.  Most of them use the name ‘church of Christ’, but then again, many churches that use that name aren’t faithful.  A Bible name for a church isn’t enough to make it faithful.  We have helped others, like yourself, looking for New Testament Christianity find faithful congregations in their area by contacting other preachers and christians that we know.  We’d be happy to do the same for you.  If you feel comfortable, just let us know what general area you live in, and we will try and get you in touch with a congregation that lives like your Bible reads (our e-mail is askyourpreacher@mvchurchofchrist.org).  It is frustrating, confusing, and exasperating to deal with denominationalism.  Thanks be to God that there is a better option!