The disagreements over women in so many evangelical churches often center around titles – not function. Most often the conversations are framed about what women can “do” in a church (their functions). Yet the reality is that far too often complementarian theology denies women titles while encouraging and even expecting women to do the functions that belong to the withheld titles.
What I saw in the Baptist spaces I inhabited for forty years was that women could do most functions in the church, but they could not have the title that went with those functions.
- The male “worship pastor” moved away, so the woman who took his place – and did exactly what he did – was called the “music minister.” She could do the same function – but not have the title.
- The male “children’s pastor” moved to another church, so the woman who took his place – and did exactly what he did – was called the “children’s director.” She could do the same functions, but without the title.
- Women could do all the functions associated with the service of deacons in the Bible, but they could never be called “deacon.”
- Shoot, when I took over for the male lead teacher of a Sunday School class (a role that had no actual title) the pastor told me that unlike my predecessor, I could not refer to it as “my class.” To do so would be arrogant.
Over the years this became one of my biggest problem with complementarian theology. If the Bible truly prohibits women from being pastors and deacons, then why are they only denied the title? Why are they allowed – even encouraged! – to do the work without the title?
When I bring this up in discussions with complementarians, I often get pushback in the form of:
“Titles don’t matter.”
And sometimes that escalates into a version of:
“You’re just looking for power.”
(Which, apparently is bad for women but good for men…)
Here’s the problem with titles: Titles grant appropriate power.
When a pastor receives the title “pastor” they are granted power. They are empowered to fulfill the functions associated with the title. But more than that, they are granted recognition and support. A “pastor” is recognized by all who hear the title, as someone who has power and responsibility. And the church then supports that pastor.
- They acknowledge him as a leader and follow him.
- They listen to him differently than they listen to their neighbor.
- They receive his guidance.
- They financially support him according to the responsibility the title acknowledges.
- They pray for him.
Allowing people to carry out the functions that belong to the title without giving them the title, minimizes them and their ministry. Typically denying someone the title means that the church does not recognize the fullness of what the person does.
- They are more likely to perceive the person’s responsibility as optional, minor, and not important.
- They are more willing to ignore the person’s attempts at leadership.
- They are more willing to pushback and ignore what the person says.
- They are more willing to perceive their guidance as mere suggestions.
- They are less likely to financially support the person adequately for the amount of work done. (1 Tim 5:18 does not only apply to certain people; see Mt 10.10, Lk 10.7, 1Cor 9.14.)
- They are less likely to pray for them. (Don’t believe me on this one? How often does your church publicly pray for your pastor? How often do they pray for your children’s “minister”? The woman’s “minister”?)
How do I know about these differences? Two ways. I have seen it lived out around me for decades. But I have also been on the receiving end of it. Being asked by the pastor (outside of the public eye) to do pastoral care for women in the church, while having no actual support from the church to do that work, with women who think I’m just a random person who has no right or standing to talk to them about anything other than the weather….yah, I’ve lived that. And it does not end well.
So, let me make it clear. If women cannot have the title – do not give them the responsibilities of the denied title. Do not let them do the functions. If you truly believe that scriptures prohibits women from being pastors, and you allow women to fulfill the function of a pastor then you are sinning and you are causing them to sin.
If you let women do the function without the title, then the issue isn’t about what women can do in the church. Then the issue is about denying women the support they need for doing the work they are already doing. (I would also argue that it is often a way to maintain and consolidate power, but that’s for another post.)
So here is what I ask of complementarians:
Define your terms very precisely. What is a “pastor”? What is a “deacon”? Don’t just list the official job description. Look at what such a person actually does. Define it carefully and clearly – including activities, responsibilities, internal/emotional labor, areas of care, etc. Being a “pastor” is about more than standing behind a pulpit on Sunday. Being a “deacon” is about more than attending the monthly deacon meetings and voting on things.
Then ask yourself – no, strike that – ask the women and men of your congregation who else in the church does that type of labor. If someone does anything on your list (even if it is limited to just women or children) and they have no title, either (1) give them the title (and all that comes with it) or (2) make them stop doing the work that is not theirs to do so that you will not be guilty of causing them to sin.
Oh, and if you try to use the excuse that they are only working with women or children, and therefore that is “lesser” ministry; you have betrayed your true theology about who you think is and is not made in the image of God; and their corresponding value.
JoAnna Hoyt 