At Kingship.Church we recognize that the scriptures on the topic of the roles of men and women are marked with controversy and differing interpretations. We desire to seek understanding in these scriptures and remain open to the Spirit’s guidance, healthy discussion, and study as we live out our convictions in the church and our homes. We remain devoted to our approach being of biblical reasoning; avoidant of the influence of culture, tradition, or emotion.
We believe that God has established two distinct yet dependent roles, male and female, when He created mankind in his own image (Gen 1:27). Both roles are of equal value and dignity; neither is superior to the other. God has tasked both men and women with distinct purposes and responsibilities that when exercised correctly produce goodness and joy to our benefit as it glorifies Him. (Gen 5:2, Matt 19:4, Mark 10:6)
When discerning this issue we find two important convictions that Scripture identifies: both men and women are subject to submission (1 Corinthians 11:3) and responsible to be active in the ministry of the gospel (Acts 18:26). We find many examples in Scripture of not only men, but also of women teaching and making disciples. We believe that it is the Holy Spirit that administers the Spiritual Gifts to be used in the church body and He is not limited to whom He can gift them.
In our faith and practice, our desire is to unify God’s intention behind the dependent roles of men and women. These distinct roles are fulfilled when both are valued for their uniqueness and treated mutually essential to displaying the full image of God (1 Corinthians 11:11).
We affirm that women and men can both obtain the spiritual gift to teach and preach the Word of God. We affirm that both women and men should be spiritual leaders throughout the church body. We also affirm that it is the discretion of the Lord in who He calls to bear these responsibilities. In regards to the role of an overseer/elder we believe that God has reserved this role for qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-7). We find the scriptures that address this to be about God appointing rather than just gifting.
As it was not good for Adam to carry out the image bearer responsibility on his own (Gen. 2:18), it is not good for the separation of men spiritually leading the church without the perspective of women present and vice versa.
By God’s own authority, through His Word, He has put qualifications in place, which He expects to be upheld, for all those He ordains into roles throughout His church and home. (Titus 2:2-3, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 3:1-7)
Although we may find opportunities to object, we remain obedient to God’s divine wisdom when placing certain responsibilities exclusively onto His design of men and women. Our primary goal is to remain obedient and faithful to glorifying God, regardless of enabling our abilities.
Biblical Reflection:
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. // Genesis 1:27
[Jesus] answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, // Matthew 19:4
Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
// 1 Corinthians 11-12
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. // 1 Timothy 3:1-7
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