The issue of women serving as church leaders is either a very easy or a very difficult question.

Some think that the Bible categorically forbids this recognition, while others argue for equal leadership rights for both genders regardless of what the Bible might teach on the subject.

But many of us struggle with this issue and want to know what the Bible says. This essay is intended to provide an overview of this complex subject, including succinct statements of my interpretive positions on these passages.

Note that we are seeking not our will but God’s. Our opinions are not at the heart of the discussion, but God’s revealed word on the subject. So, what do the Scriptures teach on this issue? How should we apply their teaching to our church and our lives?

Six biblical passages are considered by interpreters to relate directly to our discussion. The last five have been the subjects of very extensive scholarly interest, doctoral dissertations, and intense academic debate. It is not our purpose to discuss such scholarship in detail. Rather, we will study each passage briefly, consider the larger question of women in biblical leadership, review a very succinct history of this issue from the biblical era to the present, then draw conclusions for our church and ministry.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.”

Our first text speaks to the general question of God’s view of the genders. In Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, addressing Gentiles who came to Christ through his first missionary journey, the apostle includes the following good news:

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-29,…

Note from Dr. Jim Denison: I am grateful to my son, Ryan Denison, for writing The Daily Article this week while I am traveling. Ryan is a graduate of Baylor University and Truett Seminary and is completing his doctoral dissertation in church history at BH Carroll Theological Institute. He serves as Senior Fellow for Theology with our ministry and writes often in my absence. I am certain you will find his insights to be both biblical and practical.

A court in Dallas, Texas, ruled earlier this week that the mother of seven-year-old James Younger could have full custody over him and his twin brother. Such an outcome would not normally be worthy of news as, sadly, divorce cases with similar results happen quite frequently. 

What makes this case stand out is that James’ father, Jeffrey Younger, brought the lawsuit against his ex-wife, Anne Georgulas, because the latter believes her son is gender dysphoric and is taking steps toward affirming him as a girl named Luna. 

The trial featured expert witnesses from both sides that argued for opposite approaches. Jeffrey Younger claims that James only wants to be a girl around his mother and that she has been pushing him toward living as a girl since he showed interest in the movie Frozen as a three-year-old and asked for the girl’s toy at McDonald’s. He says that when James is with him, the child is happy dressing and playing as a boy and shows no signs of wanting to be a girl. 

Georgulas and her team argue the opposite. They say that James is happiest as a girl and chooses to go by the identity associated with Luna while with her. They contend that he only pretends to like being a boy while he is with his father in order to make him happy. 

Ultimately, the most rational explanation is that James is a confused seven-year-old who, like so many children in a divorce, likely wants to find a way to please both parents. The craziest…