The Bible contains passages that people interpret both against and in favor of women serving as pastors, so Christians disagree on this question. Some see key texts as limiting the pastoral/elder role to qualified men, while others point to women leaders in Scripture and understand those limits as cultural or situation‑specific.
Passages often used to say “no”
Many churches that do not allow women pastors point to passages where Paul restricts women from teaching or having authority over men in the gathered church. For example, 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14:33–35 are commonly read as forbidding women from the authoritative teaching/elder role, even while affirming their equal value and many other ministries. In this view, the pastoral office (tied to “elder/overseer”) is male by design, but women are encouraged to use their gifts in other ways.
These churches also link the instructions about church leadership in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 with male elders, arguing that the pattern of male headship in the home and church, not superiority, is what is being protected. They usually emphasize that women can still pray, prophesy, evangelize, and serve in many leadership capacities that do not involve being the primary authoritative teacher over the congregation.
Passages often used to say “yes”
Christians who support women as pastors point to a range of biblical examples of women who taught, led, or exercised spiritual authority. They highlight figures such as Deborah (a judge and prophet), Huldah (a prophetess consulted by male leaders), Priscilla (who, with Aquila, helped correct Apollos’s teaching), Phoebe (a deacon), and others who hosted and likely led house churches. They argue that these examples show God at times placing women in roles that involve authoritative teaching and leadership among God’s people.
Supporters also contend that Paul’s restrictive statements were directed at particular problems in specific churches and should not be taken as permanent bans in all times and places. They note that women are described as “coworkers” in the gospel and that all spiritual gifts, including teaching and leadership, are given by the Holy Spirit to both men and women for the building up of the church.
Shared ground and main difference
Most Christian traditions agree on two key points: men and women are equally made in God’s image and equally gifted by the Holy Spirit, and both are called to serve, evangelize, and build up the church. The main difference is whether the specific office of pastor/elder (with final teaching and governing authority in the local church) is reserved for men or open to women as well.
In practice, churches that say “no” to women pastors still strongly encourage women’s ministry in many forms but draw a line at the formal pastoral/elder role. Churches that say “yes” see the biblical restrictions as contextual, so if God gifts a woman for preaching and shepherding, they believe she may serve the church as a pastor under Christ’s authority.
