Equal in Christ, Distinct in Roles: A Scriptural Case for Male Leadership in the Church
by Gregory Alan Tidwell
I’ve been a preacher in the church for over forty years, and over time, I’ve seen many debates rise up among us. One of the most enduring, particularly in recent decades, is the question of women’s leadership in the church. Many voices today, both from within our fellowship and the broader religious world, argue that women should be able to take on the same leadership roles as men, such as preaching and serving as elders. These voices are often passionate and sincere, but I’ve found that it’s vital to weigh these arguments carefully against what the Scriptures teach.
We All Equal
Over the years, I’ve sat with brothers and sisters who have come to different conclusions on this issue. The egalitarians—those who support women leading in the church—often begin with a verse that seems to offer a sweeping statement of equality: Galatians 3:28. They read, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” and argue that this erases any distinction in roles between men and women in the church.
At first glance, this seems compelling. After all, we believe that in Christ, all believers—men and women alike—share the same spiritual standing. But I’ve always come back to the context of that verse. Galatians 3:28 isn’t about church leadership; it’s about salvation. It addresses the spiritual equality we have before God but doesn’t erase the distinct roles God assigns to men and women elsewhere in Scripture. I’ve found that when we turn to passages like I Timothy 2:12, where Paul clearly states that a woman should not teach or have authority over a man, it becomes clear that God’s design for men and women includes different roles within His church. These instructions, rooted in the order of creation itself, guide us—not limit or diminish anyone, but to help the church flourish as God intended.
Women in Significant Roles
Egalitarians often point to the women who played significant roles in the early church—Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia—as proof that women led alongside men in the first century. These women were vital to the church’s mission, and I thank God for how He used them. But it’s important to understand what kind of leadership they exercised. Phoebe, for instance, was a servant, but that’s not the same as being an elder or a preacher. Priscilla, alongside her husband Aquila, was a faithful teacher, but we never see her standing before the church in a position of authority over men. Instead, we see her, quietly with her husband, instructing Apollos in a private setting.
The case of Junia is less discussed. Some argue that she was an apostle, but the term "apostle" in that context does not mean she held an official role like the Twelve but rather was a respected messenger or missionary. It doesn’t mean she was an elder or had authority over men in the church. While indispensable, the roles of these women never contradict Paul’s clear teachings about male leadership in the local assembly.
Cultural Instructions?
Many egalitarians today also claim that Paul’s instructions in I Timothy 2 and I Corinthians 14 were just responses to particular cultural situations. They argue that these instructions don’t apply to us today because they were meant for churches in specific circumstances—perhaps dealing with women who were uneducated or disruptive. I’ve heard this argument often, but it doesn’t hold up under closer examination. Paul doesn’t root his instructions in culture but in creation. When he explains why women shouldn’t teach or have authority over men, he points back to Adam and Eve. That’s not a cultural argument; that’s a creation argument, and creation hasn’t changed. God established the order Paul laid out at the very beginning, and we are still called to honor it today.
Using Your Gifts
There’s also the argument that because women are gifted with leadership and teaching abilities, they should be allowed to use them in every area of church life. I know many women who are extraordinarily gifted teachers and leaders. I’ve seen women with a deeper understanding of Scripture than many men. However, gifts from the Holy Spirit must always be used to honor the framework God has set in place. I’ve often told my congregation that spiritual gifts are given for the church's edification, but they must be exercised within the boundaries laid out in Scripture. This is why, even though women may be wonderful teachers, they are called to teach other women (Titus 2:3-5) and children—not to take on roles that exercise authority over men in the church.
A Breaking of Cultural Norms
Finally, some say that since Jesus broke cultural norms in the way He treated women, the church should follow His example by allowing women to lead in every capacity. I have to agree—Jesus challenged cultural norms, especially in how He honored women and included them in His ministry. But when we look at how He structured His leadership team, it’s clear that He maintained the pattern of male leadership. He chose twelve men as His apostles. After His resurrection, we see the early church following that same pattern, appointing men as deacons and overseers.
I’ve come to understand that Jesus didn’t simply bend to cultural expectations; He established a leadership model that transcended culture. It was rooted in God’s design for His people, which goes all the way back to Genesis. When we ignore that design, we don’t gain more freedom—we lose the order and balance that God intended for His church.
So, where does this leave us? In my experience, the answer is not to pit men against women or diminish women's valuable contributions to the body of Christ. It’s to recognize that God has assigned different roles for a reason. Men are called to lead the church as elders and preachers, not because they are more valuable, but because that’s how God has designed it. Women have equally important roles in teaching, serving, and leading in ways that honor God’s structure for the church.
At the end of the day, the goal is not to assert our ideas of equality but to submit ourselves to the authority of Scripture. When we follow God’s design, men and women flourish, and the church reflects the order and beauty of the gospel. That’s a vision worth protecting and passing on to the next generation.