FEMALE ELDERSHIP CONVERSATION
August 2024
Over the past year and a half, the Elders of South Fellowship Church have been engaged in a discernment and study process regarding the participation of women on the Elder board. This process has now concluded. On August 6th, the Elder Board presented their decision to the congregation. The event recording and the position paper that was read that evening is available below.
We encourage you to review the content thoroughly. We recognize that this decision may evoke a wide range of responses within the community. Therefore, we invite you to engage in a prayer and discernment process similar to the one described by the Elders. This process is designed to help you thoughtfully, prayerfully, and intentionally evaluate the scriptures, the voice of God, and your own feelings on the subject.
FEMALE ELDERSHIP CONVERSATION
July 2024
Elder Discernment Process Update – Aug. 6th, 7-9pm
The South Fellowship Elders have been asking the question of whether or not women should be invited to participate on the elder board. To date, South’s elder board has been made up of only men, and a little over a year ago, we engaged this question. Thank you for your participation, patience, and prayers as we’ve moved through this process.
We have completed our discernment process, and we’d like to share the outcome of that process with you on the evening of Tuesday, Aug 6th, at 7pm in the Worship Center. That evening, Bill Wizeman (Lead Elder), Dan Elliott (Community Care Pastor/Elder), and Alex Walton (Lead Pastor/Elder) will lead us in sharing the outcome of our discernment process, details of the process, and a review of scripture from exegetical, narrative, and trajectory perspectives.
Registration is not required for this gathering, except to sign up for childcare (Deadline is Aug. 4th). A recording of this meeting will be available for those unable to attend.
FEMALE ELDERSHIP CONVERSATION
May 2024
FEMALE ELDERSHIP CONVERSATION
November 2023
Scripture
Genesis 1:26-28
Genesis 2:18
Genesis 3:16-19
Genesis 4:7
Judges 4:4
Acts 2:17
Acts 18:26
Romans 12:3-8
Romans 16:3
Romans 16:7
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
1 Corinthians 14: 34-35
Galatians 3:26-28
Ephesians 4:11-13
Ephesians 5:21-28
1 Timothy 2:11-15
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Titus 2:3-8
Two Views on Women in Ministry
As an elder board, we are currently reading Two Views on Women in Ministry. This book is written by James R. Beck (Editor), Stanley N. Gundry (Series Editor), Linda L. Belleville (Contributor), Craig L. Blomberg (Contributor), Craig S. Keener (Contributor), and Thomas R. Schreiner (Contributor). It is, in our opinion, a thorough and exegetically robust book on the subject of women in leadership. The book is organized as a debate in written format. There are four contributors, 2 of whom hold a complementarian view and 2 of which hold an egalitarian view. Each contributor writes a thorough summary and defense of their position, citing the relevant biblical texts and the extra-biblical sources from which they draw their support. The other three authors then write a response to that contributor. This process is repeated to present four positions and three responses for each.
Interestingly, each of the four contributing authors was able to agree on the following statement: “We believe one can build a credible case within the bounds of orthodoxy and a commitment to inerrancy for either one of the two major views we address in this volume, although all of us view our own positions on the matter as stronger and more compelling.” To us, this speaks to a beautiful example of the concept of “charitable orthodoxy.”
A Complementarian Perspective
Matt Chandler is the lead pastor at Village Church, based in Flower Mound, Texas, and the executive director of the board of the Acts 29 Network. Matt preached a sermon to his church, explaining the basis of his church’s commitment to a position inconsistent with female eldership. We believe that Matt’s communication, while by definition imperfect, is clear, well-founded in scripture, and does a good job of outlining some of the basic tenets of this commonly held position.
Matt’s sermon can be found here: Matt Chandler Sermon on Female Leadership in the Church
An Egalitarian Perspective
Tyler Stanton is the lead pastor at Bridgetown Church, which is based in Portland, Oregon. Tyler held a midweek lecture, explaining to his church why and how the elder board arrived at a position consistent with female eldership. We believe that Tyler’s communication, while by definition imperfect, is clear, well-founded in scripture, and does a good job of outlining some of the basic tenets of this commonly held position.
Tyler’s lecture can be found here: Tyler Stanton Lecture on Female Eldership in the Church
An Invitation to the community of South Fellowship
As we continue to lean into the topic of gender and the role of eldership at South, we are committed to considering additional perspectives. If, after considering the references above, you are aware of additional references, apart from scripture, that could bring important additional perspectives, we hope you will consider sharing those materials. Please email Bill Wizeman, the chair of the elder board, at [email protected] to share additional references or to request a copy of the book Two Views on Women in Ministry.
In addition, members of the elder board would consider it a privilege to hear your thoughts on this topic and answer any questions about the process we are engaged in. If you are so moved, please feel free to contact the elders to schedule a time to get together (access each elder’s contact info via our Staff/Elders page).
FEMALE ELDERSHIP CONVERSATION
September 2023
At South’s Annual Meeting on August 27th, we gave an update on our progress regarding the question of female leadership (this meeting is available to watch online). Below is a brief summary of what was shared at the annual meeting:
The question of Female Eldership at South
- The question of female eldership has been a topic at South Fellowship in some form for many years. The topic was last formally considered by South’s board of elders in 2016 when the board elected to open pastoral roles to women.
- Based on the lack of clarity concerning South’s differing positions about female pastors versus elders and the existence of an ongoing conversation among some parts of the community, the elder board felt compelled to ask God whether this topic should be a point of study and consideration at South. The elder board felt no pressure from the broader community or culture about seeking God’s will around engaging this topic. After an intentional, prayerful conversation within the elder board through the latter half of 2022, the board conducted a two-day-guided discernment process. During this 2-day discernment process, the elder board sensed clear and unanimous permission from God to engage this question and involve the South community in the conversation.
Listening Forums
- One of the first steps to involve the community in this process was to host Listening Forums. These forums were designed to allow the elder board to hear from the community and for the community members to hear from one another.
- In early August, after seven forums with more than 70 participants were conducted, the listening forums phase was completed. The elder board conducted forums until no further participants registered for upcoming forums so that all who wanted to participate could do so.
- The community of South Fellowship engaged in these conversations with honesty, grace, and thoughtfulness. Many differing views and opinions were shared, but always respectfully and with love for one another. The elder board is heartened and honored to be a part of a community that has engaged this conversation so well!
Next Steps
- The elder board is committed to anchoring this process in God’s Word. We began this process with an examination of scriptures and commentaries on scripture. We are continuing this and are diving deeper as we go. In the near future, we will share a detailed list of scripture references and commentaries we are studying here on this website. We invite the community of South to study alongside us.
- We have also invited two experts from Denver Seminary, one complementarian and one egalitarian, to meet with us so that we might further understand the scriptures that are particularly relevant to this question.
- We are grateful to you, the community of South Fellowship, for engaging this conversation well, and we would very much appreciate your prayers for the elder board and the community during this process.
- Our best estimate for the time required to conclude this discernment process is mid-2024. However, we intend to take the time to address the question thoughtfully and prayerfully.
