Romans 16:1 (ESV)
[1] I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at
Cenchreae,
Paul begins this final chapter of Romans by commending Phoebe to the church
in Rome. He then launches into a long list of greetings by name. Phoebe is a
Christian woman called a “servant” or “deacon” of the church in Cenchreae. He encourages
the Roman church to welcome her and help her in any way needed since she has
helped so many. The list of names that Paul then greets includes at least nine
women who are specifically mentioned. Perhaps women have always been involved
in church ministry to a far greater extent than we have imagined.
Too often in modern times, I think, women have been ignored or treated as
second class ministers in the church. This has resulted in women’s ministries
developing within the church that are often a hotbed of contention and
conflict. There is usually a disconnect between the leadership of the women’s ministries
and the church leadership, resulting in further conflict. These are
generalizations, I know, but such has been my too regular experience in church.
What if we honored and respected women in ministry as Paul did? What if we recognized
their giftings and contributions to the overall health of the ministry? Rather
than relegating them to women’s ministries and children’s ministries, perhaps
we have robbed the church of the influence of women in broader roles of their
giftings. Paul refers to women prophesying in 1 Corinthians 11. Acts 21:9 refers
to Philip’s “four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.” One has to wonder where
those women are today in our churches.
We can hold to a complementarian view of women without relegating them to secondary service. Growing up I remember at least two of my childhood Sunday School teachers being men, while the Youth Group leader was my Grandmother. Women have played a significant role in my spiritual growth. Women should be respected, honored, and listened to in our congregations. They often bring a biblical and social perspective that men miss. Paul has been accused of being anti-women, but that is not reality. He held a high view of women, and honored them in these final greetings of his to the believers in Rome. God bless the women who have prayed for us and spoken into our lives over the years. Without them we would not be where we are today.
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