Articles
Male Leadership in the Church: Misogyny?
Sally Kohn, in an op-ed piece for the Washington Post, makes the following observation of the Catholic Church relative to women:
“Within the Catholic Church, that hierarchy is exclusively male. Not out of habit but by design; the hierarchy of the church gives more power and authority to men. No matter how devout they are, women cannot become leaders in the Catholic hierarchy. This is institutional misogyny that reinforces and rationalizes misogyny in society as a whole, a misogyny that also manifests in the enforced gender codes and norms underlying sexism and homophobia” (6/18/17, B8).
While Ms. Kohn aims her ire at the Catholic Church, her sentiments equally apply to those following the true new testament pattern. Some points of interest:
1. The feminist concern is about “power and authority” and positions of leadership. If I began to list here the crucial contributions made by mothers in the nurturing of their children, or sister-servants such as Euodia and Syntyche who labored with Paul in the gospel (Ph 4:3), or the women who helped financially sustain Jesus during His ministry (Lk 8:2-3), it would be met with scoffing. Only one thing matters to feminists: the total obliteration of any limitation or distinction between the sexes so that women can gain greater power. Feminists disdain the notion of service or occupying a supportive but vital role. It is equal authority (or even dominance) or nothing.
Kohn’s gripe is true of the Lord’s church: the “hierarchy” is exclusively male by design. The new testament specifies that males shepherd local congregations (1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9). Deacons are likewise males (1 Tim 3:12). Men are specified as evangelists and teachers in mixed assemblies (1 Tim 2:8-15; 1 Cor 14:34-35). This instruction follows a long history of patriarchal emphasis stemming from creation itself (1 Cor 11:3, 7-9).
The issue is not one of competence, for individual cases can be cited where women have more knowledge, verbal skill and leadership acumen than some men. The issue is one of fiat: God established the structure of male leadership, our fuming protestations notwithstanding. The bottom line is: Do we respect God’s design for the functioning of His church or not? The feminist answer to that question is clear.
2. Ms. Kohn says barring women from leadership roles is prima facie “misogyny,” or hatred of women. The difference between misogyny and sexism is that the latter includes “behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex” (Merriam-Webster Online). Kohn dutifully trots out all the appropriate buzz words in condemning the principle of male spiritual leadership: misogyny, sexism, homophobia. If women are denied any position, it must be born of hatred arising from fear. In today’s poisonous atmosphere if you want to verbally tar-and-feather someone just call him/her phobic (Islamo-, homo-, ethno-, etc.). This, dear reader, is classic ad hominem argumentation. If you don’t like your opponent’s position, just impugn his motives, demean his character and cast aspersions on his honor – no reasoning needed.
The truth is that humanistic worldviews have a long history of devaluing, suppressing and abusing women. Christianity, rightly practiced, guarantees women an exalted and honored place in the church, home and society.
*Women are created in the image of God (Gn 1:27).
*Women have equal spiritual standing in Christ (Gal 3:38).
*Women are to be afforded every spiritual grace such as love, kindness, patience, mercy, forgiveness, justice, etc. (Gal 5:22-23).
*Widows are especially vulnerable and may even be afforded full support by the local church when necessary (1 Tim 5:3-16; Jas 1:27).
*Wives are to be honored as “the weaker vessel” (1 Pet 3:7). (This is not a patronizing insult but rather an elevation due to her vulnerability.)
*Wives are to be treated as “heirs together of the grace of life” (ibid). A believing wife is to be exalted as a fellow-believer, not merely a mate.
*Wives are to be loved, served and supplied “just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it” (Eph 5:25).
*Women are valuable teachers of children, other women, and even men in settings where their authority is not usurped.
*Wise women are valuable counselors and only ignored by foolish men.
Following Christ’s teaching and seeking to fulfill our God-appointed roles will provide women the physical care and emotional/spiritual satisfaction they need. But a woman who believes the modern rhetoric that she will be less than whole unless no gender distinctions exist will, I suspect, never be satisfied no matter how much she is cared for.
