I hear that women roles are changing within the group of churches as a whole. What are the roles women are permitted to do? In my congregation women now talk and teach, they read scripture, and pass communion trays. On the web, they are saying that women may do everything aside from preaching and the eldership. What is the opinion of the Lord?\u00a0 I’m not of the opinion that the church is heading in the right direction. They claim it’s a gray area and the truth is relative, meaning I’m right and they’re right so you follow the eldership.<\/p>\n\t
Throughout the history of God’s people, the popular beliefs in society often creep in and corrupt the teachings of God. Elders are not charged with making rules. Their job is to see that members stay faithful to the laws of Christ.<\/p>\n
Regarding what women can do, see:<\/p>\n
Women can teach other women and children, but they cannot teach men. “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet<\/em>” (I Timothy 2:12). Nor are women allowed to address the assembly in worship. “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church<\/em>” (I Corinthians 14:34-35). From this, I would conclude that reading Scripture during worship to the congregation would not be allowed.<\/p>\n Elders cannot change this God-given rule. As Paul affirms, “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment<\/em>” (I Corinthians 14:37). Notice that this also doesn’t allow for a claim that truth is relative between people. “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God<\/em>” (I Peter 1:20-21).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: I hear that women roles are changing within the group of churches as a whole. What are the roles women are permitted to do? In my congregation women now talk and teach, they read scripture, and pass communion trays. On the web, they are saying that women may do everything aside from preaching and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[78,123,82],"class_list":["post-4089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-authority","tag-elders","tag-womens-roles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7887,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-cant-women-lead-singing-serve-at-the-lords-table-and-lead-a-prayer\/","url_meta":{"origin":4089,"position":0},"title":"Why can’t women lead singing, serve at the Lord’s table, and lead a prayer?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 26, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been struggling with women in worship. I know that men are to be elders and deacons. I know men are to be preachers. What I'm not sure on is why women cannot lead singing, serve at the table and pray. I have found some Scriptures that give\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":95616,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/fighting-the-good-fight-against-feminism\/","url_meta":{"origin":4089,"position":1},"title":"Fighting the Good Fight Against Feminism","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Vance E. Trefethen via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 21 No. 2, June 1995 The word \"Feminism\" carries strong connotations. It is distressing to see it thrown about so casually by many whenever disagreements arise over the role of men and women in the church. It is always easier to label\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":31472,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-a-woman-be-on-the-committee-to-select-elders\/","url_meta":{"origin":4089,"position":2},"title":"Should a woman be on the committee to select elders?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, I attend the church of Christ in a small town. We are looking at appointing elders in our congregation.\u00a0 There is what I feel a potential problem, since we are so small, most of the men who have been elected as potential elders leave very little left to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":70557,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/equal-in-christ-distinct-in-roles-a-scriptural-case-for-male-leadership-in-the-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":4089,"position":3},"title":"Equal in Christ, Distinct in Roles: A Scriptural Case for Male Leadership in the Church","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":91347,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/must-a-congregation-support-a-preacher-who-was-hired-by-an-eldership-that-later-dissolved\/","url_meta":{"origin":4089,"position":4},"title":"Must a congregation support a preacher who was hired by an eldership that later dissolved?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Many years ago, an eldership hired a preacher. Upon hiring the new preacher, the eldership promised the preacher a certain amount of pay, pay raises, and other perks. A few years later, the eldership dissolved due to elders moving away, death, etc. From when the preacher was hired many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38003,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-cant-women-be-priests\/","url_meta":{"origin":4089,"position":5},"title":"Why can’t women be priests?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello, I've got a question: Why can't women be priests? I've already asked my dad and he says it's just because of tradition. I've been wanting to know more about God and I'm a lot more curious about why things are. 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