Why Are Pastors Men?
4/4/24
Leave it to those international scholars to pick up on a distinctive and ask a sensitive question! This time, it was during a visit with an Asian person who had noticed that the pastors in churches she observed as being biblically oriented were all men. Why is this?
I called it a "sensitive" question. Americans are very much into the idea that male and female is an irrelevant factor, at least in most instances. And certainly being a pastor doesn't require the physical traits often seen more in men - height, shoulder size, and upper body strength are generally unimportant in pastoral ministry. Women can certainly understand the Bible just as well as men. They are often more articulate than men, and many times women are seen as more compassionate in care for people who are injured or ill. So why men as pastors?
The sensitive issue is that many well-meaning Christians, based on the ideas I put forth in the last paragraph, would simply be pragmatic and advocate men and women on equal footing as pastors. This is the case in a number of church bodies.
I have a vivid recollection of being cornered in a hospital elevator by a female hospital chaplain, who asked me, "So are you with one of those Lutheran groups that hate women?" My response was perfectly honest, though incomplete. "We love and admire women. Women are great." She and I parted on friendly terms as I went on to visit the patient.
Women are great, but most Christians throughout history have said they should not serve in the pastoral office. This is my belief as well, and is the position of my church body, The American Association of Lutheran Churches. Before you click to send me hate mail, let me explain.
The biblical depiction of male and female shows both as wonderful. However, they frequently have different roles. Some of this is seen in biological ways, with women being uniquely qualified to bear and feed children. Some is seen in more sociological ways, with men generally having an inclination toward activity and overcoming physical challenges, like catching food for the family. The Bible sees this as natural and positive. Different people have different roles.
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter five, men are told to love their wives and lay down their lives for them, as Christ gave himself for the church. Women are told to love their husbands. The husband is a picture of Christ, and the wife is a picture of the Church.
Now this is where I show you I was not just on a rabbit trail. In the Church, the pastor (sometimes called priest, bishop, or elder) re-enacts the work of Christ for the congregation. The church has the role of the wife, and the pastor has the role of the husband. If we look at historic liturgy, we see the pastor acting in the stead of Christ over and over again. The natural conclusion would be that having male pastors fits the picture God gave us in the Bible.
Is this just a crazy idea with no precedent? No, even in an ancient culture where priestesses were an expected norm in the pagan religions, Christians always had priests. This grew directly from Jesus' move to select only men as apostles. There's a gender role. The pastor acts as the representative of Christ, and the church acts in its role. Back to Ephesians five, the mystery of the husband and wife relationship is rooted in the relationship of Christ and the Church.
Just men as pastors then? Yes, that's it. It's a tough job, by the way, laying down your life for Christ's church day after day. Rewarding, but tough. We always need more strong men to join in the work of caring for people's eternal souls. I hope if you think you are one of those strong men you will consider pursuing ministry. Start out by looking at the programs of the seminary where I teach, The American Lutheran Theological Seminary at www.alts.edu - we'd like to talk with you!
4/4/24
Leave it to those international scholars to pick up on a distinctive and ask a sensitive question! This time, it was during a visit with an Asian person who had noticed that the pastors in churches she observed as being biblically oriented were all men. Why is this?
I called it a "sensitive" question. Americans are very much into the idea that male and female is an irrelevant factor, at least in most instances. And certainly being a pastor doesn't require the physical traits often seen more in men - height, shoulder size, and upper body strength are generally unimportant in pastoral ministry. Women can certainly understand the Bible just as well as men. They are often more articulate than men, and many times women are seen as more compassionate in care for people who are injured or ill. So why men as pastors?
The sensitive issue is that many well-meaning Christians, based on the ideas I put forth in the last paragraph, would simply be pragmatic and advocate men and women on equal footing as pastors. This is the case in a number of church bodies.
I have a vivid recollection of being cornered in a hospital elevator by a female hospital chaplain, who asked me, "So are you with one of those Lutheran groups that hate women?" My response was perfectly honest, though incomplete. "We love and admire women. Women are great." She and I parted on friendly terms as I went on to visit the patient.
Women are great, but most Christians throughout history have said they should not serve in the pastoral office. This is my belief as well, and is the position of my church body, The American Association of Lutheran Churches. Before you click to send me hate mail, let me explain.
The biblical depiction of male and female shows both as wonderful. However, they frequently have different roles. Some of this is seen in biological ways, with women being uniquely qualified to bear and feed children. Some is seen in more sociological ways, with men generally having an inclination toward activity and overcoming physical challenges, like catching food for the family. The Bible sees this as natural and positive. Different people have different roles.
In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter five, men are told to love their wives and lay down their lives for them, as Christ gave himself for the church. Women are told to love their husbands. The husband is a picture of Christ, and the wife is a picture of the Church.
Now this is where I show you I was not just on a rabbit trail. In the Church, the pastor (sometimes called priest, bishop, or elder) re-enacts the work of Christ for the congregation. The church has the role of the wife, and the pastor has the role of the husband. If we look at historic liturgy, we see the pastor acting in the stead of Christ over and over again. The natural conclusion would be that having male pastors fits the picture God gave us in the Bible.
Is this just a crazy idea with no precedent? No, even in an ancient culture where priestesses were an expected norm in the pagan religions, Christians always had priests. This grew directly from Jesus' move to select only men as apostles. There's a gender role. The pastor acts as the representative of Christ, and the church acts in its role. Back to Ephesians five, the mystery of the husband and wife relationship is rooted in the relationship of Christ and the Church.
Just men as pastors then? Yes, that's it. It's a tough job, by the way, laying down your life for Christ's church day after day. Rewarding, but tough. We always need more strong men to join in the work of caring for people's eternal souls. I hope if you think you are one of those strong men you will consider pursuing ministry. Start out by looking at the programs of the seminary where I teach, The American Lutheran Theological Seminary at www.alts.edu - we'd like to talk with you!
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