What is the role of a woman in the church? If you asked me this question as a young teen, I would have said the following:

A woman can be a Sunday school teacher for children.
A woman can be in charge of organizing meals for church dinners.
A woman can be a church secretary.
A woman can be a children’s class volunteer or a youth group volunteer.
A woman can sing in a choir.
A woman can be the wife of a minister.

If we look to the Bible for answers, we can find the text from Paul in the book of 1 Timothy 2:11-15 that says, “ A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or have any authority over a man; she must be quiet, for Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing-– if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with propriety.”

Some of you may read that and nod your head, thinking, “Yes, that’s what I believe, always have, always will.” But, If you’re like me, a verse like that might make you reevaluate this whole Christian thing altogether. That passage makes me angry.

Is it ok to feel angry over something written in the Bible?

In my college history class, we were given a list of questions that historians ask themselves when reviewing a historical document. When analyzing a written document, the first step is to identify if the document is a:

Letter
Chart
Report
Speech
Memorandum
Patent
Advertisement, etc.

Next, you should observe its parts:

Who wrote it?
Who read/ received it?
When is it from?
Where is it from?

Now, try to make sense of it:

What is it talking about?
Why did the author write it?
What was happening at the time in history this document was created?

Upon reading through this checklist, my mind went straight to the Bible. Why don’t we use something like this when we read the Bible? If we read the Bible through the lens of the time it was written, our views would change tremendously, especially the passages that mention women.

It’s common knowledge that women were treated as second-class citizens for much of the past. The book of 1 Timothy was written between A.D. 64 and 65. At that time, women had almost no importance or value outside of their homes. They were to be wives and mothers and nothing more. They were lucky if they were able to receive any education at all, though even those who were given some education were still not taught to write. They were under the authority of their fathers and brothers until they were married, then their husband was to be in authority over them. If that was the way women were regarded at that time, of course there were going to be rules for them everywhere they went. They were treated like children who required rules to keep them in line.

How can we allow ancient man-made rules to be the same rules we live by today?

I grew up drinking the conservative Christian, patriarchal kool-aid. I always wore dresses to church on Sundays. I dreamed of becoming a youth pastor’s wife. (ironic much?) I participated in the “object lesson” competitions at church camp while my male counterparts competed in the preaching competitions. I made myself small when it was a male’s turn to say the prayer or answer the question. I even remember explaining to friends why I believe a woman should never be president of the United States. “What if she were on her period and feeling extra emotional? Should someone in that state be in charge of waging war? Women are far too emotional to run a country.” -words by Melinda of the past, circa 2003.

Over the last few years, I have had the desire to preach. I enjoy writing, especially writing about my experiences, beliefs, and what I’m passionate about. The things I write are basically sermons unspoken. I enjoy teaching; and what is preaching?...teaching…about what you’ve written. My grandfather was a pastor and my father was a pastor and to be honest, I never thought about myself being a pastor until the last couple of years. It never occurred to me that it was an option. Now, here I am, a 3rd generation pastor. (I’m a youth pastor at the church my family attends in Austin.) It’s important to me that my title be “youth pastor” rather than “youth leader” or “youth director” because 1. The male staff members are referred to as pastors or ministers over their departments, and 2. Because I am pastoring. I am teaching, caring for, and guiding my “congregation” which just happens to be a motley crew of pubescent tweens and high schoolers whom I adore.

Why should my gender keep me from teaching about God? I realize for some of you, the answer will be, “because scripture says it is not allowed.” We must ask ourselves, “When was the Bible written? How were women treated at that time in history?” I’d like to think women are a lot more respected today than they were in A.D. 64. Remember that in the not-so-distant past, women weren’t allowed to go to college or vote. We have grown and evolved and are learning to revere women for the amazing creatures that we are. I mean, we bring life into the world, for heaven's sake.

We raise our daughters telling them that they can grow up to be anything they want to be…except you can’t preach. Teach the word of God? Absolutely not. Maybe try rocket science.

Ludacris. I just know in my heart that Jesus had to have had female disciples. After all, it was his female followers who first found that the stone at his tomb had been rolled away. The way Jesus approached women in the Bible was the same way he treated men. He treated men and women with equal respect. I do not believe that Jesus would ever tell me that my female body was inadequate in teaching his story.

Why is it so important to me to be named pastor? Could I do my job just the same with the title director? Yes, but, I’m not willing to take a position where my title can not be equal to that of men. I cannot take part in a church or any workplace where only men can hold a title that women can’t. You may ask, “so you’d turn down the chance at giving kids/ teens a great teacher and leader all because you don't get the title you want? My answer is this: what kind of example would I be to my daughters and the girls in my youth group if I were to accept a job where my male co-workers were all in authority over me simply because they are male? If someone is unwilling to give you a certain title based on your gender, no matter how great of a person they may be, they do not truly see you as equal. If they did, “they’d throw caution to the wind, turn a deaf ear to the denomination or congregation and stand up for your human rights.

Back to the question I asked toward the beginning of this post: Is it ok to feel angry over something that’s written in the Bible? My answer is, how could you not be angry about some things in the Bible? There’s genocide, slavery, murder, patriarchy, rape, and incest, just to name a few. The Bible is full of stories that are inappropriate for our day and age and I’d include Paul’s letter to the church in that category. The church should be a place where voices are lifted and heard for our own unique interpretations of the world around us.

Hey baby girl, you want to be a pastor? You go be a pastor.