I had a telephone call - ‘Pastor John, can we come to see you?’.

Fortunately, I was able to fit it in

later that same afternoon. When these ladies arrived, it seemed more like a delegation. But it
started really well, with generous comments about the church and the service. Then the cruncher;
‘Pastor John, could you explain to me why you had a woman preaching?’

Rather than get into a protracted argument or invite Jackie Pullinger or Joyce Meyer to weigh in, I
gave them the name of another church where they would be happier and offered to give them an
introduction to my pastor friend.

Thankfully, such conversations appear to be becoming rarer these days. But there is still a linger-
ing remnant of the worldwide church (and it varies from country to country) that clings to a theo-
logical conviction that women should not be preaching in church. It isn't that these women
shouldn't be exercising their gifts - that they believe that "God thought" they shouldn't!

I believe that this goes against the very root of the identity and calling of many gifted women. I am
not without sympathy of earnest brothers who conclude that their biblical interpretation leads
them to this conclusion, but see it a misinterpretation of 1 Timothy 2. In short it is poor theology
and is robbing the church of the calibre of leadership that quite frankly Paul used extensively in
the early church. They seem to believe Paul felt that because Eve was deceived, women are
gullible and therefore mustn't teach men. I dispute this and my argument is reinforced by Christian
history and my own experience.

Since my first days as a pastor I have included both sexes in my preaching rota. I have empow-
ered both sexes and, to be honest, our teaching would have been inferior where it not for the di-
mension that female preachers brought to the pulpit. It is almost laughable when pastors ask me
to say that Ms. So and So is ‘sharing’ rather than teaching or preaching. The sort of hypocrisy
which has assigned females to piano playing, kids Sunday School or organising the church bake
sale. I am not against any of these things ( I praise God for the many bake sales I’ve enjoyed!) but
have to ask the question are we using their God given gifts or thwarting it by Man-given rules and
traditions.

Surely this is actually not even a male v female question. When I look at churches there is often an
old v young, more educated v less educated and a myriad of other distinctions. I recently com-
pleted a thesis examining the church’s attitude to millennials and similar walls were established.

How do we knock down these walls? Empowerment. As pastors we need to learn to begin to un-
derstand our congregations, irrespective of sex, race, age or socio-economic class and be pre-
pared to change our modus operandi to embrace (no pun intended!) the ladies with God-given
talents and gifts. Ask God for His vision and approach it in a spirit of openness and learn to listen
as well or better as we speak or preach. But the key is empowering. Don’t do it grudgingly or half-
heartedly. Recognise the gifts in your congregation and use them appropriately.

And I’m not into proportional representation or the ‘token female preacher’. This is condescend-
ing too. My attitude has always been if there isn’t a female yet with the gifting for the pulpit, don’t
do it just for the sake of it. But take time, use your spiritual eyes and don’t be afraid to develop
gifted individuals, irrespective of their gender, age or standing.

But my advice here is look for potential, not what you see already fully developed. Over the years,
I have erred on the side of taking a risk of those in whom a see a potential gifting rather than look
for the finished product and looked for an opportunity to expose them. It happen to me personal-
ly, when as a business man I was called upon to deliver talks on the Alpha Course . As a result, i
was able to develop a preaching gift.

This leads me nicely into leadership. I saw in a 27 year old man an outstanding gift of preaching
and leadership and, in consultation with my other leadership, made him an elder of the church.
There were a few murmurs ( especially from the 40+ guys who thought it was their turn!) but it was
passed by the membership without much fuss. Ironically he is now 45 and our Senior Pastor!

But it was different a few years later when I recognised a similar leadership gifting in a female!

There is some history here. I’d recognised this gifting in a sister before, Indeed she was one of my
3-person core preaching team (actually I have been really blessed by the quality of my female
preachers over the years!) But when it came to appointing an elder, I bottled and appointed her
husband. In retrospect the church probably wasn’t quite ready for that at the time.

But I got another opportunity. It was as obvious as a pimple on my nose. This lady was a leader. A
preacher, a ministry leader. So I went for it.

She got the required percentage vote , as every recommendation has done over the years. The
next day, I received a number of letters from members resigning from the church. Some were
healthy donors and fairly high profile.

But it was the right decision. The church ( I am now a Founding Pastor) has two lady elders to this
day, one of whom is a regular preacher and females in leadership positions in a whole range of
ministries not restricted to piano playing, Sunday School or baking!

I don't believe women should bury their gifts or let anyone else bury them. There's a lost world (of
men and women) waiting to hear what God's gifted women have to say to them. The eternal des-
tiny of these souls may depend on it.