Update from Elders on Women’s Roles
Northwest Elders’ Statement on Roles of Women in Worship
September 11, 2022
It is important for our eldership to communicate with you regarding our study of worship throughout biblical history and into our present time. We asked all of you to participate in our 6-class study on the roles of women in the Bible and met for a follow up “open air” discussion with our guest speaker, Gary Burke, to allow each of you opportunities to provide your thoughts on the issue. We entertained your questions publicly and privately and enjoyed learning and working with you on our traditions, our comfort zones and biblical teachings.
We delayed action on the issue over the summer to allow you time for further study and to talk more with us about your questions and opinions. We now want to provide an interactive group discussion in our fellowship hall to be sure that you have opportunity to voice your questions, comments, and opinions. We want you to have adequate time to converse openly with any or all of our elders. On Sunday, September 18, several of our elders will host this group discussion for your benefit and hope you will attend.
We want you to know that lacking clear biblical precedence otherwise, the consensus of this eldership is that men serve as our elders and as our preaching minister or congregational evangelist.
But for many years, our women have read scripture, led prayers, led songs and taught biblical principles in our worship settings in life groups, in our classes and, on occasion, even in this auditorium. Our men and women have served as deacons and deaconesses - the term should be translated - servants - to allow our various ministries to excel and grow. Since our life groups began 20 plus years ago, our elderships and members, both men and women, have been blessed by our active worship together. It is important to understand that we do not find that scripture differentiates the worship that occurs in our homes, in our classes or on Sunday nights as any different than what happens in this auditorium at 9:30am. In John 4, Jesus acknowledges a place other than the temple to worship, he emphatically states that what matters in worship is that we worship in spirit and in truth. We are to be considered the bride of Christ whether we meet in this auditorium or at my home or yours. The important thing to our Lord is that we meet together to create a united community of faith.
Acts 2 states “your men and women shall prophesy” because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. Paul writes to the church at Corinth advising women who pray or prophesy to do so with appropriate respect. He also requests women and men remain silent when they are disruptive or when their speech is not beneficial. As Paul continues, he begs that the church avoid divisions and it has been unfortunate that humankind has made this an issue for division - it is the intention of this eldership to tear down the walls of division and conquer division with our love and patience for each other and our mission of reaching the lost. In Luke 11, Jesus confronts the Pharisees as they had placed their traditions above the intentions of God’s word and is extremely harsh when those traditions prevented “outsiders” from relationship with the Lord.
We are asking you to pray - to pray that our steps allow us to continue the goal of following scripture as it is intended. To allow the Holy Spirit to fill all of us with understanding for each other and understanding of truth and its impact on the way we should live, love, and worship our Lord. This eldership is prayerfully working through implementation and timing on how God would lead us regarding any changes that will occur here at this church. May God bless Northwest as we press on to serve Him.
Vince Admire
Kevin Garner
John Lucius
Jim Myers
Tom Peeples
Ben Rodriguez
Bob Samek
John Thee
