Can Women be Elders? – Part 2

In Part 1, I consider that Gender neutrality is evident in 1 Tim 3:1, indicating that from the outset God is open to both male and female elders. 1Tim 3:1 reads, “This is a true saying, If a man (Gk. tis - anyone) desire the office of a bishop, he (not in Gk.) desireth a…

Can Women be Elders? – Part 1

Complementarians prohibit women from eldership citing 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Tit. 1:5-9, which refer to the need for elders to be the “husband of one wife”. However, they fail to see the flaw in this logic because, by doing this, they would have to prohibit single men and widowers too, for these are not “husband…

Apostles – Twelve Men, No Women?

It is often said that one reason we cannot have women as elders in the church is because Jesus did not select any women as one of the twelve apostles. But is this a fair argument? Jesus, Radical and Wise While Jesus was radical is His approach, He was wise too. He did not have a…

Church Leadership through Consensus

God's Way Sacrificed To many, the idea of church leadership through consensus sounds like leadership is taken from God and given into the hands of men. Nevertheless, it is precisely God’s way of seeing His will done in and through the Church. Sadly, the church is full of stories of leadership abuse, which could have…

Preeminent Leaders and Super-Gurus – Welcoming Differences, Avoiding Division – part 7

Exploring the possibility of real unity under one roof despite differences of opinion Fostering Wolves When we elevate individuals in the church by kowtowing to them and their opinions, they can easily begin to think that they are superior to the group. And, very quickly they can seem distant and untouchable in the minds of…

The Super-Guru Culture

The Making of a Super-Guru Some gifted men and women of God are unfortunately elevated to super-guru-status in the Body of Christ. Be they world renowned or local favorites, some individuals are treated as though they were a cut above everyone else. Sometimes it’s in part their doing, fueled by how they carry themselves, but…

No Rank, only Roles in the Body of Christ

Leadership is determined by the extent you influence regardless of rank. And, contrary to how most local churches and denominations have been structured and governed, the New Testament church did not use or require hierarchy when it came to leadership. The elders, whether apostles, prophets, evangelists or pastors and teachers, had no rank in the…

Hierarchical Leadership – The Main Hindrance in the Body of Christ Part 6

Part 6 (Go here for part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5) Soon after sharing the gospel and churches were planted, it says this of Paul and Barnabas: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they…

Church Leadership

Understanding, applying and getting to experience real New Testament Church Leadership is a huge challenge to the Church in this day and age. This is because we are so easily clouded by years of church traditions, tempted by the world’s form of leadership and are also often sadly unclear about the nature of New Testament…

Hierarchical Leadership – The Main Hindrance in the Body of Christ Part 5

Part 5 (Go here for part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 6) While we have taught and even encouraged complete dependency on Jesus as our Head with mutual submission to one another, in reality we have also erroneously instituted and taught hierarchical leadership in the Body of Christ as being Biblical. The two…