Women In Ministry: Is It Gender Before Gift Or Gift Before Gender?

Women in ministry is a controversial topic. So let me ask you this question.

When there is a position to be filled in a governance position in your church do you look for gender first and then gift, or gift first and then gender?

When there is a position to be filled in the children’s church do you look for gender first and then gift, or gift first and then gender?

I love the descriptive word picture Paul uses to describe the way in which God desires for His body, the church, to function in order to ensure its health and growth.

Paul likens the gifts God has given to His people, given in accordance with how He personally desires, to the various parts of the human body.

In Ephesians 4:16 Paul says that the body is edified by that which every joint supplies. Each part does its own special work, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12 Paul says the human body has many parts, and the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.

Then he goes on to talk about the foot, hand, ear, and eye. He states that not one of them can say, ’I am not a part of the body,’ and one part cannot say to another part, ‘There is no need for you’.

Is there a male or a female foot, hand, ear and eye in your body; or are they all gender free? Each one is required to function in accordance with how it is designed.

Therefore as a woman in the body of Christ, God wants you to be actively functioning in that which your joint, or gift, can efficiently and effectively supply.