Is It Sin For A Woman To Be A Pastor?

Q: Do you believe a woman functioning as a pastor is sinning? If so, would a man listening also be sinning? Can a knowledgeable woman teach seminars on prophecy and spiritual gifts to a co-ed audience?

A: Well, yes. She's out of God's will. I mean, she is going against what God's word prescribes there. The Bible itself describes sin as a many-faceted thing. But if somebody is asking whether it is sin or not, yes, it's sin.

Would a man listening to her be sinning? Maybe. I wouldn't give an automatic answer. The Calvary Chapel movement was founded by Pastor Chuck Smith, and God used him in a marvelous way. Pastor Chuck's wife, Kay, was a remarkable women's ministry leader and teacher. There were times when Kay Smith would be teaching, and if a man entered the room, she would stop speaking until he left. I regard that as between her and the Lord, but I wouldn't say it's a requirement for every woman who teaches.

Is it a sin for the man? It depends on why he is listening. Is he listening to evaluate, or is he submitting to her authority? There are many factors involved. You could have two people side by side, and for one of them, the way they listen could be a sin, while for the other, it isn't.

Regarding whether a knowledgeable woman can do seminars on biblical prophecy or spiritual gifts to a co-ed audience, possibly. Men can choose to listen or not, as long as there is no congregational authority dynamic involved. It comes back to that authority issue again.

In 1 Timothy 2, Paul says, 'I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.' Some people make a radical separation between those two, but I believe they are linked together. If someone does make a division, it would give them a different perspective. However, I see them as emphasizing different components of the same issue.