The church issue that most often makes the newspapers is the disagreement over female church leadership. It is an issue full of emotion, for it cuts to the heart of who we are. To restrict what someone can do based on their gender is just not done in our day and age, is it?
1 Timothy 2:1-15
deals directly with this issue. It seems it was an issue in first century Turkey like it is in 21st century Perth. The basic principle is clear – women cannot teach or have authority over a man. This restricts women from preaching to a mixed adult group, acting as elders or deacons, and other formal leadership roles over men. Paul argues this based on creation order – God created men to lead, and women to help, and this also applies to the church.
This DOES NOT MEAN women are in any way less capable, or less important, or unable to teach at all, or unable to help in church. There are so many great ways women can serve God in church, and church would not be able to function without the ministry of many women. We need to see this as an order God has put in place for our benefit. We need to consider where we are in our life situation, and serve God wholeheartedly in any capacity we can.