Editor’s Note: This article has been adapted from a talk I presented at 9Marks at 9 at the SBC in New Orleans in 2023.
In recent years, a growing number of churches have begun distinguishing between the offices of “elder” and “pastor.”
Typically, the purpose for making this distinction is to create a space for female pastors among complementarian churches. These churches adhere to 1 Timothy 2:12’s prohibition against women having authority over men in the church. Yet by treating “elder” as the authoritative office and “pastor” as a gift, a woman can assume the title of “pastor” while not being an elder.
Current advocates of the pastor-as-gift position include author Rick Warren, pastor Sam Storms, and the late Bible scholar Harold Hoehner. Their argument rests primarily on Ephesians 4, which refers to Christ’s giving gifts. Paul then names these gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers (v. 11).
Notice, says Hoehner, that Paul doesn’t attach a list of character qualifications to these gifts, as he does with elders or overseers in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Elder or overseer is an authoritative office, he says. The gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 are just gifts, not offices.
Why exactly
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
