While there are denominations that prohibit women to take up leadership roles or to speak on matters that influence the direction of the church, the Celebration Church Borrowdale Pastor Tom Deuschle, said that when the Holy Spirit came down, men and women received the same spirit and why cant women take leadership roles too?
During a Sunday Morning Service at the Celebration Church Borrowdale which was broadcast live on Facebook on the 21st of July, the founder and senior Pastor of Celebration Ministries International Tom Deuschle said that women always surrounded Jesus during his ministry and cited a number of women in the Bible who worked for God and were in leadership as well during that era.
This was at the back drop of the graduation of women in his church who had gone through a discipleship called ROOTS that seeks to develop women in every facet of their lives that includes women as leaders in the market place, home and community.
“The coming of the Holy Spirit wasn’t for men only but for women too. Jesus Christ, during his ministry was always surrounded by Mary, Martha and other women and he did not say men are the only ones who can be leaders. To God there is no man or woman. I am so grateful with women who rise up and take control if we are to look in the word of God.
“Women just like man should take up leadership roles, rather it is mostly the women who prophesied like Huldah (2 Kings 22:14) and Deborah (Judges 4). This means this leadership is from God. In the Bible there are women like Deborah; a prophetess, a judge, a wife (Judges 4 and 5); men said they would not go to battle if she did not go with them. It is important to encourage women with zeal to pray to stand as intercessors.” Said Mr Tom.
One of the key verses that has remained contentious is 1 Corinthians 14:34 which says that, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law”.
Pastor Tom explained that many have used this scripture to justify the marginalisation of women from playing mainstream roles in churches but he urged women to rise up and take up the challenges. He explained that this particular Scripture was given to those in Corinth during that time as there had been heresy as a result of misinformation and lack of education, but by no means was this banning women from being leaders in the gospel.
He kept giving scriptures with reference to Biblical women who made it through leadership during eras where women were looked down upon and where it was easy for men to be considered as fit for the leadership roles.
“Jesus is calling women to be his disciple look at the women like Joanna the wife of Chuzza (Luke 8:2–3.) The story of Joanna provides us with some thought-provoking lessons that Christian women would do well to imitate her Godly spirit. Do not sit back and watch men do it for you. Joanna also ministered with Jesus she was among the disciples and why not you?
“They even provided for Jesus along with other women who were with her. Both men and women were in the upper room meaning women can be also be leaders in Ministries focusing on the Gospel of Jesus likewise. God empowered women to preach the Gospel too.
Jesus appointed women to evangelise and tell men about his resurrection and He chose the womb of a woman to carry a Saviour as we can see in Genesis, God says let us make man in our image.
This is not in reference to gender but humankind, before a male and female were separated. In this case, God is the best equaliser. Leadership is through spiritual ranking, it cannot be physical or considered by gender
“What about Mary the mother of Jesus? She takes up a leading role as she carried our Saviour in her womb. Women must be respected and if a woman in her womb carried Jesus what disqualifies women to preach in the church and take up other leading roles in the church? If Jesus was carried in her womb, why can’t they carry him in their mouth preaching the good news about the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
“Miriam represented women and she was a prophetess but religion of today denied women basic rights to lead anywhere including in churches. Culture will not allow them but I am going against that culture and that women should get out of that zone and take up leading roles just like those women were doing in the Bible.” Said the Man of God.
The African culture is however full of Queens who ruled kingdoms, the present day aunties who are part of decision making in the families and communities are a representation that women can lead and should lead in the home and beyond.
The Bible believes that women can teach, prophesy and pray for others because rejecting some of those leadership roles is rejecting God. Women are taking up leadership roles and that is a good move as we can see that even here in Zimbabwe there are a handful of Ministries led by women. When God calls a person, he does not look at gender. Even in the Bible, women played a very important role. For example, we have Esther, who rescued the Jews from a death decree.
“If we have the Esthers of today, they would save us from our problems, rescuing us where it is necessary. I urge women to be not afraid but take up the responsibilities for the sky is the limit. Women should be also in the fore front of these Ministries because there is no female in Jesus Christ we all access to the Gospel of God,” said Pastor Tom.
Men always argue that women are weaker vessels and that they should sit down watch the services in the benches and not going to pulpit but is that so? The man of God, Pastor Tom argues that women should not be like that because we are all created in the image of God where is gender coming in because women are also able to make the work go forward within these Ministries.
Deborah led the children of Israel and Mary Magdalene heralded the resurrection of Christ. He argued that women do most of the work in the church, they give, they serve in the ministry and look after everyone, why should they not be accorded openly their leadership role?
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