lead me on

Sorry--I'm not going to take some big controversial position regarding women leading in the church. Maybe it's because I don't aspire to a pastor or elder role (so I have less emotion invested in it) or maybe it's because I've always experienced ample opportunities to express my gifts in the local church. Or maybe I'm just tired of the debate.

Whatever the reason, I don't feel a need to be defensive about either "side" and I applaud Christian Standard for the two open, respectful position papers they published on the topic this week. I find areas of insight in both of them, often around the very same point.

For instance, "...we must note that women had limited involvement in Jesus' ministry," Joe Harvey writes in his article. "There were no women among the twelve (even though Jesus was willing to be scandalized in other ways)." That's true, I thought. Jesus never shied away from conflict when it advanced the kingdom; there must have been a reason he selected only men.

Then I read Lana West's paper. "Jesus chose twelve free Jewish males to represent the twelve patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel," she writes. "The choice of the twelve indicated the importance of the new covenant being founded on the old. Gentiles and slaves were not among the select twelve, but there is no expectation that they could not serve in church leadership."

That makes sense, too.

I'm glad CS published this and I'm glad thoughtful people are contributing two-way dialogue instead of one-way diatribe. It's also nice to see a focus on broad Biblical principles rather than hair-splitting details; the remark by one leader I know, that a woman could direct the choir but could not turn around and lead the congregation in the same song, makes about as much sense as the church of Christ bride who positioned a piano outside the church sanctuary—but near an open window—so she could still march up the aisle to music.

Neither legalistic boundaries nor creative ways to dodge them appeal to me. Instead, I'm content to let my actions and gifts speak for themselves. Could I lead better than some men I know? Yep, and far worse than others. But in both situations my submission to their authority honors God. 

"When you are invited, take the lowest place," Jesus teaches in Luke 14, "so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.'" My ministers and elders may invite me or other women to a higher place. They may not. That choice is part of their own leadership responsibility and I'm satisfied to leave it between them and God. In a culture encouraging women to take the lead--to seize the lead--perhaps my position is controversial after all.