Women In Church Leadership

You might be wondering, “What does the Bible actually say about the roles of men and women in the church? And where does The Crossing stand—especially when it comes to women serving in leadership or as pastors?”

Here’s the short answer: We believe that both men and women are created in God’s image and are commissioned to rule and lead as His representatives. Scripture gives us strong and compelling reasons to affirm women in leadership and teaching roles within the church. Let’s walk through the story

God created men and women to lead together. In Genesis 1 and 2, He creates both men and women in His image, giving them shared authority over creation (Genesis 1:26–28). In the ancient Near East, to bear the image of a god or king meant to serve as that ruler’s representative. So right from the start, Scripture presents both men and women as leaders over creation.

As the story continues, Eve is described as Adam’s “helper,” but the Hebrew word ʿēzer is anything but a term of inferiority. It’s actually a word often used for God Himself—as rescuer, defender, and strong support (Psalm 33:20; 70:5; 115:9–11). Far from implying a hierarchy, ʿēzer underscores strength, partnership, and mutual responsibility. Adam and Eve “serve and guard” the garden together (Genesis 2:15, 18).

"Scripture gives us strong and compelling reasons to affirm women in leadership and teaching roles within the church."

As we move through the Old Testament and into the New, we continue to see women serving in significant leadership roles: Huldah the prophet corrects a priest and a king (2 Chronicles 34). Deborah leads Israel as a judge—exercising civil, judicial, and spiritual authority (Judges 4–5). In the New Testament, Paul mentions women like Junia, a noted apostle, and Priscilla, a respected teacher (Romans 16:3, 7; Acts 18). He also names several women as co-workers and leaders within the early church (1 Corinthians 16:15–16, 19; 2 Timothy 4:19).

One of the clearest examples comes from Romans 16:1–2, where Paul commends Phoebe, entrusting her to deliver his letter to the Roman churches. In the first-century world, the letter carrier often functioned as the author’s personal representative—reading the letter aloud, clarifying its meaning, and answering questions. In other words, Phoebe was the first person to teach the book of Romans, one of the most influential theological works in Christian history.

Taken together, these examples show a consistent biblical pattern: God empowers women to lead, teach, and shepherd His people.

For these reasons and more, we at The Crossing believe that God equips both men and women to lead, teach, and serve—and that includes women serving as pastors. This conclusion didn’t come quickly or casually. We spent years studying Scripture, engaging with trusted scholars, and praying for the Spirit’s guidance. After that long process, we are confident that God calls women to pastoral leadership.

Of course, some passages, like 1 Timothy 2:11–15 or 1 Corinthians 14:34–35, seem at first glance to restrict women from teaching or leading. Those questions matter deeply, and we’re grateful when people ask them. While we can’t cover every detail here, know this: there are solid, academically respected reasons to understand these verses as addressing specific issues in specific churches rather than setting universal rules for all churches in all times. These were situational restrictions, not the overarching pattern of Scripture

When we read the Bible as a whole, the consistent witness is that God gifts and calls women to every level of leadership. Therefore, at The Crossing, opportunities to teach and lead aren’t based on gender but on calling, character, maturity, and giftedness.

If you have questions about how we reached this position—or if you want to talk about a specific passage—we’d love to continue the conversation. Feel free to email us at pastors@thecrossing.church or find a pastor after the service. And please know that we are not following cultural pressure or stepping onto a “slippery slope.” Our conviction comes from Scripture—the authoritative Word through which God speaks to His people. It would be an honor to walk with you as you explore these questions.