Should women be pastors, and if they are, is it Scriptural? Let’s take an unbiased view of what the Scriptures say about women pastors in the church.

The role of women in the church is a hotly debated topic. Women are smart, articulate, and often more spiritually minded than men. So, should women serve as pastors in a congregation?

Before we can answer that question, there is some confusion surrounding the word “pastor” that we need to straighten out first.

What is a “Pastor”?

The word “pastor” is only found once in the English New Testament, in Ephesians 4:11:

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:11 | NKJV)

The Greek word for “pastor” is ποιμήν (poimen), and it is found 17 times in the NT. In every occurrence except for in this verse, it is translated as “shepherd” because that is what the word actually means.

The ESV has corrected this unfortunate translation of Ephesians 4:11 and uses the term “shepherd,” putting “pastor” in a footnote:

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:11 | ESV)

So, we can see that a pastor is really just a shepherd. But did you know that there are actually three words interchangeably used in the New Testament to refer to this same office? Pastor/shepherd, elder, and overseer/bishop. The word “bishop” is used in the ASV, KJV, and NKJV. It is translated as “overseer” in every other translation.

Some denominations separate these into separate offices, and some even have a hierarchical structure where a Bishop has greater authority than an elder.

But that is not what we see in Scripture. In Scripture, these titles all refer to the same office.

For example, let’s look at Titus 1:5, 7:

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. . . . An overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. (Titus 1:5, 7 | ESV)

Elder and overseer are used interchangeably here.

In 1 Peter 5:1–2, the apostle exhorts “elders” to “shepherd” the church by “exercising oversight.” In two verses, Peter draws together three different word groups (overseer, pastor, and elder) to reference a single office of church leadership.

Acts 20:17–38 also confirms the interchangeability of these terms. In Paul’s final meeting with the Ephesian elders Luke writes that Paul gathered together the “elders,” called them “overseers,” and exhorted them to “care for” (lit., “shepherd”) the church of God.

Scripturally speaking, there is only one office: the office of shepherd/elder/overseer. Or for my KJV friends, pastor/elder/bishop. They are not three separate offices or positions in the church.

Each term refers to a different aspect of the office:

Elder refers to an older person with experience.
Overseer refers to the authority to make sure things are done right.
Shepherd refers to the care given in teaching and protecting the congregation.

Interestingly, this office is also always referred to in the plural. There is never just one pastor leading a congregation in the Bible.

Some say that Timothy was the pastor of the church in Ephesus, but there is no indication that he was. If fact, Paul says to Timothy,

“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5 | ESV)

Timothy seems to be an evangelist, not a pastor. Evangelists were one the groups that Christ gave to the church,

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:11 | NKJV)

In summary, according to the Bible, a congregation is to be led by a plurality of pastors (or shepherds, elders, overseers, or bishops; you can use which ever term you like).

Now, onto the question of female pastors, which also applies to female elders, bishops, shepherds, and overseers.

Does God Want Women Be Pastors?

To know if it is Scriptural for women to be pastors, we need to look at the qualifications for this position that God has given us. They are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Let’s look at Titus first.

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:5–9 | ESV)

Did you see anything in there at would exclude a woman from serving as an elder, overseer, or pastor?

What about “the husband of one wife”?

Here is how 1 Timothy lists the qualifications,

“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…” (1 Timothy 3:1–2 | ESV)

A woman can’t be the husband of one wife, and therefore may not be a pastor, elder, or overseer.

If God wanted to open the Eldership up to women, He could have said “faithfully married to one spouse” or something similar. But He didn’t. He said literally, “a one-woman man.”

A woman can’t be a man, and therefore may not be a pastor, elder, or overseer.

In addition, God says,

“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” (1 Timothy 2:11–14 | ESV)

Teaching and exercising authority are both required activities of a pastor, therefore women may not fill that position.

This has nothing to do with culture, education, or spirituality. The reason why women may not fill the role of pastor/elder/overseer is because of the order of creation and the fall of mankind, as Paul explained in 1 Timothy 2:13-14.

To continue studying this topic, we have another article you can read next about whether or not God wants women to preach, or there are related articles below.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Let us know in the comments below!

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