• The Bible Is Our Guide

    "Why are women preaching?!

    Doesn't it say in the Bible that women are not supposed to have authority over men?"

    This common question actually provokes deeper questions:

    1. How does the leadership at the Village interpret scripture and apply it on a day-to-day basis?
    2. And, how can people know if they can trust this wisdom and leadership?

    These are great questions that should always be asked and researched at any church. In addition to women's role in ministry, topics such as divorce, homosexuality, tithing, honoring the Sabbath, & other moral and cultural issues have been widely known to cause conflict and even division in the Church. Sadly, the result can often be dissillusionment and rejection of Church as a whole, which is the opposite of what God wants for his Kingdom.

    So, when we address any issue (including women's role in ministry) we must ask:

    1. What is the context of the Scripture?
    2. Does the rest of Scripture support our interpretation?
    3. What is the pattern we see in God's character, God's direction & God's word throughout history about this topic?

  • CONTEXT MATTERS

    We've all heard the scriptures about women being quiet in church. They seem pretty clear, right? But what if we've been missing the full picture? In this eye-opening podcast, even Pastor Rick Warren, who previously held a firm stance against women in ministry, shares how a deep dive into the scriptures of the Great Commission—and the context in which they were written—completely changed his mind.

    This isn't about ignoring the Bible; it's about understanding it fully. Could it be that our modern views on women in leadership have been shaped more by culture than by scripture itself? This is a must-watch for anyone who wants to dig deeper into what the Bible really says.

    SCRIPTURE AS THE INTERPRETER

    It's easy to read a Bible story and let our own biases color our understanding. We may think we're doing the right thing, but without a deep knowledge of God's Word as a whole, we can accidentally misinterpret His character. The story of Jephthah's vow is a perfect example of this.

    We encourage you to read the Judges 11 passage first, then watch this video.

    In this story, it might seem like God accepts or even honors a vow of human sacrifice. But if we read all of Scripture, we know that God would never condone such an act. Instead, we must let Scripture interpret Scripture. We have to understand all of God's commands and His unchanging character in light of everything He has revealed about Himself, not just one isolated story. This video beautifully illustrates how looking at the Bible as a cohesive whole helps us avoid misinterpreting God's directives.

    GOD'S CHARACTER & PATTERNS

    PODCAST: RECOMMEND LISTINE 1.25X SPEED

    Minute 5:00 "What does one do when the laws don't address a certain area of life?"

    What happens when the rules aren't clear? We can see this principle at play over 4,000 years ago with the story of Zelophehad's daughters in Numbers 27. The law at the time didn't cover their situation, yet when they asked if they could inherit land, God said yes.

    This cerebral podcast from the guys at The Bible Project reminds us that the Bible’s laws aren’t an exhaustive checklist. Instead, we’re called to seek wisdom from the principles of God’s character and his patterns of rule to guide us in new situations. God's character never changes, and by understanding it, we can better discern His will. Throughout the entire Bible, from Moses's time to Phoebe, we see a consistent pattern of God using women to advance His kingdom.

  • What Do Theologians Say?

    So what are the differing viewpoints?

    Complementarian

    Men Lead at Home

    Only Men Elders

    Only Men Deacons

    Only Men Preachers

    Complementarianism is a theological view holding that men and women are equal in dignity and value, but leadership roles such as pastor or elder or deacon that involve teaching or authority over men should be reserved for men.

    However, they believe women have vital roles in the church ministries, so long as, those ways do not involve exercising authority over men.

    Supporting Documents

    Egalitarian

    Men & Women Lead at Home

    Men & Women Elders

    Men & Women Deacons

    Men & Women Preachers

    Egalitarianism is a theological view that holds men and women are equal in dignity, value, and in their roles within the family and the church. Based on their interpretation of biblical texts, egalitarians believe that there are no gender-based restrictions on who can serve in leadership roles. Therefore, they support all women in any position of leadership within the church or family structure.

    Supporting Documents

    The Village

    Men Lead at Home

    Only Men Elders

    Men & Women Deacons (Lead Team)

    Men & Women Preachers

    After years of prayer and study, The Village stands in the middle. We believe God calls men and women equally to teach & share the Gospel. We also believe it is aligned with God's character and divine order that men lead in the home and as elders of the church. The men are to be the head of the home and the church by praying, leading and protecting their families through obedience to God.

    Supporting Documents

  • The Bible Is Our Guide

    A SUMMARY of our Stance on Women in Minsitry

    1

    God's Pattern

    When we read all of God's Word from beginning to end, the answer becomes clear: God repeatedly uses women to advance his Kingdom. This isn't just a rare occurrence or an emergency measure; it's a consistent theme woven throughout his 4,000-year story of loving his people.

    God used women to establish the Holy Land. He used women as leaders to defend and save it. He used women to announce the birth of the Messiah, and to declare that he had risen from the dead.

    He used women on the day of Pentecost and in Europe to spread the gospel.

    Because of this pattern of character, we believe He still intends to use women powerfully in his mission to bring people to him today.

    2

    Biblical Context

    We acknowledge that the words of Paul in 1 Timothy are God-breathed scripture. And, we believe this passage has been used out of context.

    Rather than ignoring this text, we have invested years in prayer and research to understand all of the words of Paul and the rest of Scripture. The I Timothy passage warns against women having authority over men, but it also instructs men to "pray with holy hands lifted up." Since we do not require all men to pray in this way today, it is rational to interpret this as a cultural and location-specific directive, not a timeless theological doctrine.

    It would be illogical to treat one instruction (in the exact same text) as a permanent doctrine for women while viewing the other as a cultural practice for men.

    3

    Interpreting Scripture

    Throughout Scripture, we also find great evidence of a divine order. God created men and women with different, yet complementary, roles in the home, marriage, and church.

    Men are called to lead with love, protection, and obedience to God, mirroring Christ's headship over the church. In turn, women are called to respect and submit to this leadership, just as the church submits to Jesus.

    We wholeheartedly honor these roles. At the same time, we believe that all followers of Christ, regardless of gender, are not only permitted but are absolutely called to share the gospel. At The Village, we will boldly embrace every believer's unique gifts.

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