What Does St. Paul REALLY Say About Women in Ministry and Leadership?

And Also With You

Under nearly every video, photo, or post we make on the internet as two women clergy, there is at least one comment that says: "Paul has entered the chat." It's meant as a snarky condemnation of our work as women leaders in Christian faith, implying - as many believe - that St. Paul thought GOD thought women should never lead. Or speak. Or do anything interesting in church except maybe ...give money?

Well, spoiler alert, as two women with six degrees and nine years of ordained ministry between us: we HAVE read the New Testament (a lot) and we are well aware what Paul says about women in ministry. And it's definitely not what the trolls seem to think.

So we're here to bust open the myth and the cherry-picking of Scripture that wants to keep St. Paul and women clergy small and silent. Join us as we dive into 1 Timothy 2:11–15 and its contrast in Deacon Phoebe, whom we meet in Romans 16, and so many more texts that explore how much Paul actually worked with and empowered women clergy, and walk with us as we unravel some of the clobber texts that have been used to attempt to silence us. Because we've entered the chat, too.

Articles we referenced/recommend for further reading:

Deacons and Diakonia in Early Christianity: https://discerningdeacons.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/What_did_Phoebe_s_position_and_ministry.pdf

Highly recommend following and reading the scholarship of Marg Mowczko here: https://margmowczko.com

... And some articles on 1 Timothy that get to bits we couldn't address in this episode due to time:

On the Ephesus situation in 1 Timothy: https://margmowczko.com/1-timothy-212-unique-bible-verse/

On "being saved by childbearing:" https://margmowczko.com/saved-through-childbearing-1-timothy-215-meaning/

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Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org

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St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA

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