Can Women Teach Sunday School Classes That Include Both Boys And Girls?

Q: Can women teach Sunday school classes that include both boys and girls?

A: There are very few pastors who would agree with my idea that women shouldn't be pastors. Most would ask, 'At what grade level?' I think this is something that should be entrusted to pastoral wisdom. Some churches allow women to teach junior high or high school, while others prefer men for those classes. Some say women can teach lower primary grades, while others allow it for upper primary grades. I would leave this up to the discretion and wisdom of individual church leadership.

I understand what the Bible says, and I want to preach it unapologetically and unashamedly. However, I never want to exceed what the command of God is. In such matters, there is a genuine area for Christian liberty. I might disagree with a brother who says a woman cannot teach junior high, but I will give him the liberty as a pastor to figure that out. If he's wrong, then God will speak to him about it. I don't think I have to lay down a law where the scriptures don't clearly lay down a law.

We saw a lot of this during COVID, with some pastors feeling strongly that their churches needed to be open, while others felt the opposite. I rejoiced to see those brothers who said, 'I'm just going to follow what the Lord tells me to do and respect what the Lord tells you to do.' We need to emphasize and get back to a true understanding of Christian liberty. It doesn't mean doing whatever you want, but it does mean that in places where God has not commanded, we have some liberty and freedom to be guided by the Spirit of God.