Floyd McClung has reached out to the women God brought across his path and championed them in their callings. For more than 20 years, he and his wife, Sally, have discipled women who are now making a difference in the nations. Floyd contributed a chapter to The Black Swan Effect: A response to gender hierarchy in the church. Here’s a quote from the chapter.
To be clear, I believe leaders can be both male and female. Obviously the church body is comprised of both genders. And certainly, martyrs have been both male and female. Missionaries are both male and female.
But it is important to be more specific, lest we overlook the obvious: both women and men have impacted nations for God because both genders are called by God and both are given leadership gifts.
I believe leadership in the church is not meant to be gender-specific because, at its core, leadership is about service. It is not about an office or position. Leaders don’t serve in order to be leaders; they serve because that’s what leaders do. Leaders serve. Period. When we abandon a hierarchical, worldly view of leadership and consider it from this perspective, we can see that both woman and men can, and already do, use their gifts to serve–that is, lead.
The church worldwide has been shaped, led , and taught by both men and women– starting in the home, and moving into every sphere of church and public life.
3 replies on “Both male and female”
The following is so good and true and reflects the upside down nature civics characteristic of Christ’s kingdom:
“…leadership is about service. It is not about an office or position. Leaders don’t serve in order to be leaders; they serve because that’s what leaders do. Leaders serve. Period. When we abandon a hierarchical, worldly view of leadership and consider it from this perspective, we can see that both woman and men can, and already do, use their gifts to serve–that is, lead.”
Biblically there has always been a difference between men and women, especially in leadership. The main reason is order in a family structure from the Most High God of Hosts all the way down to children. This is why submission to the Most High for men and submission of women to their husbands is so important. Women have roles and men have roles in leadership and they are not the same but are in tune with one another for the glory of our Father in Heaven.
Mail and Female have their God ordained callings.
We hear of women being ordained as priest, ministers, Bishops and other positions or starting their own Churches with their priesthoods.
The scriptures give examples of women anointed and chosen by God to serve in various capacities and callings but not ordained as a Minister or in positions of Leadership over Believers. Exception: If a situation arises where two (or more) women have accepted Christ and there is no existing believing man to server as a pastor or minister then a woman may informally serve as a coordinator and they all may share and teach the plan of salvation, until a man who is a believer is found to fill the position of Pastor.
Like many others I often wondered why only men were ordained as pastors and leaders in the church. Truly God does not do things haphazardly. There must be reasons why He establishes boundaries and defined responsibilities? What could they be?
Women have one of the greatest gifts granted from God. They are called to participate with Him in delivering a new life (a spirit, mind, body) into this world. The birthing process lasting nine months with all its emotional highs and lows, trials, and trauma of giving birth, establishes a lifetime bond between mother and child which a man cannot experience nor truly relate to. He can only remain near offering what comfort and support he can. Here we may understand why in Gods eternal plan men are ordained and are held responsible to be the Spiritual Father of the family and serve as Pastor/Leader “Father” to the body of the church.
Why you ask?
Because this is how a man participates in the birthing process. Now please consider carefully. The Mother is ordained to bear, give birth and sustain her children participating with God in His eternal plan of bringing souls into the world. The Father is ordained to be the spiritual leader of the family providing protection and spiritual instruction to the family with the end result being that they understand their relationship with God, are spiritually Born Again and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit all of which are explained in Scriptures by which Fathers (men) participate in God’s eternal plan of bringing souls into the world and the Kingdom of God.
Now we see how a man becomes a father after Gods own heart. By teaching and being with his children, modeling his life based on faith in Jesus Christ and keeping the commandments. Through “living” these principles the Father now truly bonds with his children and Mother remains near offering support, advice and comfort. He is the true Father we would like to have and a blessing to the Mother and their Children. It is here men also mature socially becoming an asset not only to his family but to all those around him.
In Gods wisdom men are called as the spiritual leader of the family responsible to love, teach, and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ together as a family adopted into the Kingdom of God. This responsibility reaches beyond to extended members of the family and those unaware of the promise of salvation, to be shepherded “Fathered” and “Born Again”.
When it’s done Gods way the bond between a Father, Wife and Children will stand the test of time. With homes such as these Wives, Sons, and Daughters will respect and honor their Father and the wisdom they inherit as they are loved, taught by words, and deeds to acknowledging him before men and God.
Daniel http://www.knowingforyourself.com