In the past year, there has been attention drawn to the issue of the Southern Baptist Convention opposing women’s ordination. This has sparked discussions about the role of women in ministry within the church, with some supporting the ordination of female pastors and others opposing it.
Recently, pastor Z from an emerging house church in Central China suggested that male believers should hold the key positions and ministries within the church. He emphasized the importance of men taking on significant roles in the church's core ministries.
Reflecting on past experiences, Z mentioned that while the faith of female Christians was passionate, it could also be emotional. He believed that the role of women should be as helpers. Consequently, the church he serves has gradually transitioned from having female believers as core workers to having males take on core ministry roles.
He did not oppose female believers serving in the church but believed that Christian women whose husbands didn’t believe were not particularly suited for core ministry roles in the church. This was because it could lead to many family conflicts, as female Christians should spend a great deal of time taking care of their families. On one hand, they lacked the energy and time for ministry, and on the other hand, it posed significant challenges for them with unbelieving husbands to engage in ministry.
Pastor Z mentioned that, due to practical considerations, female Christians might have disadvantages in terms of energy and time compared to male ones in serving. If conditions allowed, the church still encouraged men to take on service roles.
He believed that, in general, male Christians tended to be spiritually stronger than female ones. However, he emphasized that this was not an absolute rule but rather a common observation.
This pastor added that once male believers firmly established their faith and commitment to the church, they were seen as having stable and continuous spiritual growth. On the other hand, women's involvement in ministry might fluctuate more, and factors such as marriage and family could impact their service. Married Christian women have to balance ministry with their family responsibilities.
Regarding the selection of core workers for the church, Z considered several factors. He looked at whether the individual's faith was strong and whether they could work in harmony with the church leaders. He also considered whether the core workers had settled in the local area, as this could affect their long-term commitment to ministry.
He mentioned that it was necessary to observe whether the person was giving tithes and offerings.
"If a man cannot even tithe, how can he devote his time and energy, selflessly and without complaint, to do the work of the Lord?" Pastor Z asked.
Education is another factor considered when selecting church workers. Z believed that theological education was important, but he suggested that it should be built upon a foundation of general education. He pointed out that an individual's educational background could influence their understanding of scripture and their approach to interpersonal relationships.
In cases where believers had lower levels of education but were eager to serve, Z advised them to participate in volunteer service.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
去年以来，关于美南浸信会不接受按立女牧师的事件引发了关注。其对于女性在教会中的神职身份认同也引发了诸多讨论，在讨论中有支持女性按立牧者的，也有不支持女性按立牧者的。
最近，华中一位城市新兴家庭教会的牧师建议教会的核心侍奉以及核心同工位置都让弟兄来担任。
Z牧师分享说，在疫情的几年中，他的教会基本没有受到太大影响。因为教会的核心成员是稳固的家庭和信仰稳固的丈夫们。Z牧师很强调弟兄们在教会中要担当起核心侍奉的重任。
反思之前牧会的经验，Z牧师说：“姊妹们信仰是很火热，但是也容易情绪化。此外，姊妹的角色应该是帮助者。”因此，他牧养的教会慢慢由姊妹做核心同工过渡到让弟兄做核心服侍结构。
Z牧师并不反对姊妹在教会做侍奉，不过Z牧师认为，丈夫不信主的姊妹尤其不适合在教会做核心侍奉，因为会导致很多的家庭矛盾。这些年看到有些丈夫不信主的姊妹，她需要照顾好家庭，一方面她没有精力和时间做侍奉，另外一方面，参与侍奉对丈夫不信主的姊妹来挑战很大。
Z牧师分享说，出于现实的考量，姐妹的精力、时间相较于弟兄做服侍是有劣势的。如果有条件方面允许，教会还是鼓励弟兄起来服侍。
Z牧师说：“这有一个条件在里面，就是一定全家信主，妻子信主，丈夫信主，孩子都信主了，然后丈夫起来服侍。”这样的家庭妻子是丈夫的帮助者和支持者，首先对这个家庭来说，不容易因为侍奉出现矛盾，因为两人在想法上更容易达成一致意见。
Z牧师认为，弟兄信主后生命相对姐妹稳固性更强。他也指出，这个不是绝对的，只是他观察的一个普遍现象。弟兄一一旦信主，归到神的名下，他一旦坚定了信仰，就会有稳定和持续性的生命成长。
此外，Z牧师认为姊妹侍奉的波动性比较强。此外，如果姐妹没有成家的话，那么侍奉上也会受到成家、生子等家庭因素的影响。已婚的姐妹也会受到家庭的较大影响。
除了强调弟兄做核心服侍之外，Z牧师也分享了他牧会的教会在考核弟兄做核心同工时的关注点：
Z牧师表示，首先会看这个弟兄信仰是否稳固，观察他在教会能否和牧者同心。另外他会看核心同工考虑人选在教会所在地是否置业,因为这个会影响他在此地的长期服侍
同时他提到，需要观察这个人是否做好奉献。除了观察十一奉献，还有爱心奉献，宣教奉献等等。
“如果一个弟兄，他在十一奉献上都不能做到的话，那他怎么去奉献时间精力，无怨无悔，任劳任怨来做神的工作？”
其他的方面，Z牧师在拣选教会同工时也看弟兄的受教育程度。他认为神学教育很重要，也不过，他建议在受过大学教育的基础上再学习神学。因为信徒的学历也影响其思维，以及对圣经话语的理解，也影响其为人处世的方式。
“基础教育（社会教育）一定要有，这个也是一个作为参考的一个方面。如果两个弟兄一个是受过大学教育的，一个是受过小学教育的，我还是比较倾向于受过大学教育（的人做同工），起来服侍。”Z牧师说。不过，也指出，这个不是绝对的，只是他自己的领受。
对于受教育程度程度较低的信徒，也有热心想侍奉的人，Z牧师主张这样的人可以在教会参与义工的服事。
一位牧者认为教会需激发弟兄担当起核心同工的潜力
In the past year, there has been attention drawn to the issue of the Southern Baptist Convention opposing women’s ordination. This has sparked discussions about the role of women in ministry within the church, with some supporting the ordination of female pastors and others opposing it.
Recently, pastor Z from an emerging house church in Central China suggested that male believers should hold the key positions and ministries within the church. He emphasized the importance of men taking on significant roles in the church's core ministries.
Reflecting on past experiences, Z mentioned that while the faith of female Christians was passionate, it could also be emotional. He believed that the role of women should be as helpers. Consequently, the church he serves has gradually transitioned from having female believers as core workers to having males take on core ministry roles.
He did not oppose female believers serving in the church but believed that Christian women whose husbands didn’t believe were not particularly suited for core ministry roles in the church. This was because it could lead to many family conflicts, as female Christians should spend a great deal of time taking care of their families. On one hand, they lacked the energy and time for ministry, and on the other hand, it posed significant challenges for them with unbelieving husbands to engage in ministry.
Pastor Z mentioned that, due to practical considerations, female Christians might have disadvantages in terms of energy and time compared to male ones in serving. If conditions allowed, the church still encouraged men to take on service roles.
He believed that, in general, male Christians tended to be spiritually stronger than female ones. However, he emphasized that this was not an absolute rule but rather a common observation.
This pastor added that once male believers firmly established their faith and commitment to the church, they were seen as having stable and continuous spiritual growth. On the other hand, women's involvement in ministry might fluctuate more, and factors such as marriage and family could impact their service. Married Christian women have to balance ministry with their family responsibilities.
Regarding the selection of core workers for the church, Z considered several factors. He looked at whether the individual's faith was strong and whether they could work in harmony with the church leaders. He also considered whether the core workers had settled in the local area, as this could affect their long-term commitment to ministry.
He mentioned that it was necessary to observe whether the person was giving tithes and offerings.
"If a man cannot even tithe, how can he devote his time and energy, selflessly and without complaint, to do the work of the Lord?" Pastor Z asked.
Education is another factor considered when selecting church workers. Z believed that theological education was important, but he suggested that it should be built upon a foundation of general education. He pointed out that an individual's educational background could influence their understanding of scripture and their approach to interpersonal relationships.
In cases where believers had lower levels of education but were eager to serve, Z advised them to participate in volunteer service.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Pastor Proposes Male Church Leadership
