Role of Women in the Church
Elder Discussion #4, April 15, 2025
As discussed in our March Board meeting, 3/11/25, we agreed to meet on 4/15/25 to further discuss our individual positions on the role of women at FBC.
Review
- Our first discussion occurred on October 22, 2024, where each elder presented their positions on the role of women as a result of the readings assigned beginning in Jan 2024. For instructions for this meeting, see Discussion Meeting #1, October 22
- Our second discussion occurred on November 19, 2024. In light of FBC search for a worship director, and the potential that a woman may be the best candidate, Mike had requested some input from the Board at the next Board meeting on whether to pursue that. This discussion was very brief, as it was held during our regular, one hour, elder prayer time.
- Our third discussion occurred on December 10, 2024. A portion of the regular elder meeting was devoted to further discussion Mike's question briefly considered during the brief discussion on November 19th. This third discussion concluded that the qualifications of the then open position of worship director did not include the requirement that the candidate(s) must be a male.
- The goal is to understand each person's position, not to argue whether that position is valid.
- Any discussion about whether or how to modify our current policy will occur at a later time, if warranted.
In preparation, below are links to the positions taken by members of the Board, discussed as a board on 11/19/24. These are scans of copies of the notes distributed by the board members, including my own. Some of these documents have a few of my notes taken during that meeting.
- Kevin Key
- Mike Waldrop (did not prepare any notes on his position, participated in discussion)
- Joe Kolb (original), (revised, 4/13)
- Robert Renton, (did not prepare any notes on his position, did not participate in discussion)
- Dan Hall
- Brandon Wolters (even though he departed FBC on or about 3/1/25, he did participate in the discussion of 11/19; his perspective is included for completeness)
- Jonathan Price
- Richard Price
Reminder: Linked
documents are stored in a Dropbox account. A Dropbox account is
not required to read or download any file; simply
close out any popup windows that request a login. Look carefully for an X
to close the window; read carefully any dialog box for "cancel,"
"close," "no thanks," "skip," etc. If you want to print a document
stored in Dropbox, download it first and print it from
your local device.
Further, I recommend that we familiarize ourselves with our current policy.
- FBC Policy on Role of Women in Ministry, 1995
- The document is a broad statement of FBC's policy position regarding the role of women.
- In terms of application in our practices at FBC, the following paragraph is central.
-
It is also the commitment of our leadership to seek the counsel of godly women as we make decisions and minister together. In areas where service does not require a biblically sanctioned office, we encourage the active participation of women in ministry within the parameters established in the Word of God. For instance, we encourage our women to pray publicly when given opportunity in our worship services but would discourage such prayer
if used for divisive purposes or in opposition to their husband’s leadership. Similarly, we encourage women to prompt worship through special music and song, but only when supported by her husband and ministry supervisor. In ministries where discussion and interaction form an integral part of the learning environment, we encourage participation by women. Further, those positions in the church which do not require biblical office remain open to godly and faithful women (Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Sunday School Secretary, Area Directors and so forth). - FBC, 2013 Discussion of application of 1995 policy [1]
- Then senior pastor Bill Himmel, author of the 1995 policy, engaged in an email exchange with elders Joe Kolb and Richard Price over the role of women in leading in worship.
- Specifically, the question was raised as to whether we were acting in accord with the 1995 policy. Were we "acting consistently with this statement by having women lead in public prayer or read the Scriptures in the worship service and ABFs," activities in which were were engaged?
- Conclusion: were were acting in accord with the 1995 policy.
- Further, questions were posed regarding future revisions or applications of the 1995 policy. "However, I [Joe] think there needs to be more discussion before I state where it needs to be changed."
- No further discussion ensued until the Board agreed in late 2023 to reengage in the discussion of the role of women in church. This was prompted by the hiring of a women as worship director due to a vacancy in the position.
Links to previous readings
- If you wish to review any portion of our prior readings (assigned throughout 2024), here is the link, so you don’t have to dig through old emails.
- This link will take you straight to our most recent discussions.
- Blogs always present the most recent posts at the top of the list.
- The first readings were started in Jan’24, distributed by email. For ease of access, I gathered all of the reading assignments from January-July and posted them to my blog beginning in Aug’24. All subsequent reading assignments were posted to the blog as well.
- If you want to read or browse the posts in chronological order, you’ll need to open up the posts in 2024 by month.
- On the left of the blog window, click the right pointing arrows under the “Blog Archive” heading.
[1]This policy was also discussed and effectively affirmed in the 12/10/24 Board meeting where the Board agreed that the qualifications of the then open position of worship director did not include the requirement that the candidate(s) must be a male (cf. FBC Board Minutes, 241210 and FBC Board Minutes, 250114).
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