Perspective on Female Leadership and Eldership at Northstar
Background
Within the broader church, women in ministry has sadly been a hot-button issue, often causing division and disunity. Given this environment, the elders want to first acknowledge that this is not a clear-cut issue. Many smart, Godly men and women have dug deep into the scriptures and have come away with different interpretations. Additionally, this is not a salvation issue nor is it core to the Gospel message. Therefore, we are OK with the conversation, and we believe we can be a unified body even with differing interpretations. This doesn’t mean the issue isn’t important. It means the issue should not take equal prominence to Christ, to his redemptive work in the world, or to the unity of his church. It is upon this backdrop that the elders would like to share their perspective and interpretation as it pertains to Northstar.
Additionally, Northstar’s leadership model is somewhat unique. A team of elders provides oversight and headship over the body, while volunteers and staff drive the everyday workings of the church. We believe this model is biblical (Acts 14:23, 1 Peter 5:1-3), but a vast majority of churches in North America interpret church leadership differently, typically with an individual lead pastor over the entire church body. This is an important distinction because Northstar believes the bible treats “general leadership” as being different than the specific office of “elder” (or “overseer”). While many biblical scholars provide a strong case for women in general leadership, they do not typically address the scriptures relating to the office of elder. Since Northstar treats general leadership differently than the specific office of elder, this position document will also address them separately in order to provide a more nuanced and complete position as it relates to the Northstar body.
Principles Guiding the Interpretation
Before jumping into the positions, it’s important to share the principles and lenses the elders use (and don’t use) to drive our interpretation. In short, the elders dig into the scriptures, with revelation from the Spirit, to make the best interpretation we can. Our interpretation must not be at the whim of culture or prevailing popular opinion. Regardless how the world views this issue throughout time, we must not be swayed. We also mustn’t be swayed by our personal opinions of how God “should” do things. Living As God’s Kids means we must truly submit to His plan as revealed through His word. God’s word stands the test of time, and Northstar uses the scriptures as the basis for our position.
On a more practical level, in addition to digging into the scriptures, we must discern whether the words in the relevant passages are UNIVERSAL for all situations or CONTEXTUAL for a specific time or place. We must not dismiss passages too easily as being contextual when no firm evidence is provided. This requires discernment guided by the Spirit.
Position on Women in General Leadership
The elders affirm that women in leadership roles, even teaching on Sunday, are critical to ministry. We affirm that men and women equally bear the image of God. The fundamental equality of men and women, therefore, is intrinsic to the Christian faith. We affirm that the gospel brings the equality of men and women as equal heirs of salvation – that through union with Christ, both men and women are children of God, equally sharing in the privileges and benefits of salvation in Christ (Galatians 3:26-29). Through the Holy Spirit, both men and women are to exercise the full range of their gifts in the Church. There are no gifts of the Spirit that are to be exclusively exercised by men, meaning men and women are to be real partners in ministry.
There are multiple examples in scripture of women teaching the Gospel (Acts 18:26), prophesying (Acts 2:17-18), and playing a vital role in ministry. Therefore, scriptures display a wide-range of involvement for women as clear partners with men in ministry.
Northstar practices this position via ordination of female pastors, general use of women in leadership positions, and general use of women as teachers on Sunday morning. Women are more publicly prominent at Northstar than at many Jesus-loving churches in Cincinnati and beyond.
Position on Women as Elders
Based on our best interpretation, we affirm that eldership was designed to be a male function/role. While we believe the biblical case for women in general leadership seems strong, the case against having only men in the specific office of ELDER seems speculative. Scriptures exclusively refer to males in the office of elder/overseer (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9). This is not disputed by any biblical commentary we’ve studied or any reliable bible translation that we’ve found. There are no strong grounds to refute this reference as contextual, therefore we feel we must interpret it as a universal principle.
Additionally, while scripture supports that female and male have equal POSITION (Galatians 3:28), scripture also supports that female and male have differing FUNCTION. We believe the 1 Timothy and Titus passages above prescribe a unique function for males. This is not the only example in the bible to support complementary functions for the genders. Genesis 1-3 outlines that the genders were created to be different and have different functions. The notion of complementary functions reflects creation and points toward the recreation after the fall.
There is also the notion of “headship”. Scripture teaches an authority structure for humanity established at creation which the Apostle Paul refers to as “headship” (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 2:11-14). For Christians, the pattern of Biblical headship has particular application to the family and the church. Importantly, this authority structure does not violate equality, but rather provides for distinction, which complements both men and women in wonderful ways.
It is also important to note that the notion of “headship” is rooted in the Trinity. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory, although distinguished by their personal properties. Nevertheless, scriptures also teach that there exists a voluntary submission among the equal members of the Trinity (1 Corinthians 11:3; John 8:28). Similarly, men uniquely serving the function of elder is not a question of value or ability. We believe it is a question of God’s order and design.
Closing
In closing, the elders want to reiterate the main points from the opening to this document: Many Jesus-loving and bible-based people land on both sides of the issue. The issue isn’t core to salvation or the Gospel. It is important, but it doesn’t take equal prominence to Christ. It comes down to interpretation. This document contains our interpretation, which we believe to be scripture-based and enlightened by The Spirit, as we oversee the Northstar body. We understand that equally passionate followers hear the Spirit and interpret this differently.
The Northstar Elders
Note: The supporting rationale outlined in this document borrows heavily from 1) “Women and Ministry at Church of the Redeemer Presented by the Council of Elders”, and 2) “The Role of Women in Ministry at Redeemer Presbyterian Church”