When I was a young woman trying to map out the course of the life before me, I often struggled with whether or not I should go into ministry. It was never a question of whether or not I could be a minister, for to me, there was no reason I could not. From my days as a new believer reading the Bible for the first time, to now, as a more mature believer who has read in-depth translations, studies and commentaries regarding what Paul said to women in the Church, and has heard innumerous theological debates on whether women should or should not be in Church leadership and ministry, the scriptures have only reinforced to me that God has used and continues to use both men and women to tend to His sheep.

Perhaps, because of my Lutheran, Charismatic and Pentecostal background, for many years, it did not even occur to me that anyone would question that women could be ministers. It seemed so obvious to me that we could. Only in recent years have I been shocked out of this ignorance to find what a hotly debated topic this is in Christendom. I thank God that I made it through my formitave years as a Christian blissfully unaware of this. I was very fortunate; unlike some women who long to fulfill a calling preaching the word or pastoring a church only to be rejected or stifled by voices saying, "You do not have the right equipment to lead," I had no outward resistance, only an internal struggle: as a Christian was I obligated to be in ministry, even if I didn't want to be a pastor or a missionary?

This internal conflict was because I felt called to serve God, and I thought that meant I must be in a recognized ministry position-- be it pastor, missionary, evangelist, or an otherwise ordained minister. But, it turns out, I don't have to have a ministry title or position if God calls me to minister. For He calls all of us to minister. (Scripture verse). I can minister it as violist on a worship team, as a wife and a mother, as a writer, as a friend, and as a random stranger in a coffee shop. When I think back to those who have ministered to me the most and drawn me closer to God, the majority held no ministry titles. Instead, it has been the friend who has been the sounding post when I needed to vent without judgment or condemnation as well as the gentle correction in love when I was off track;  it has been other Christian bloggers who bare themselves online, showing what ferocious grace, love and mercy are; it has even been bands, both Christian and secular, whose music somehow spoke to a place of redemption and Christ in a time of pain and betrayal. Once, on a particularly bad day, it was someone who ahead of me in the Starbucks drive-through who paid for my $5 mocha.

So, then, the question isn't really whether or not women can minister. No, it's about who can hold what ministry titles and positions and power. It may seem odd that, as a woman who has absolutely no desire to preach or pastor or lead a worship team, or really lead in any "titled" capacity at all, I have such a strong passion to see other women have the opportunity to do so. But I do, because I know that in hindering them from the fulness of their callings can only mean that we are missing out on the gifts God gave to them to edify and build up the Church. The Church's restriction of women in leadership teaching, and ministry positions is much like Chinese foot binding:*I personally, have grown weary and saddened by the debates, and at this point, I don't really care to argue about it. Because, it doesn't really matter whether or not they think women can lead; if I ever felt God calling me to lead or to minister, I will, and He will make a way. Given my early experience in the Church, clearly there are plenty of places and believers who will make room for a ministry gift, man or woman. If  I am not welcome in one place, I will simply "shake the dust off my sandals" and leave.

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*I did not expound on thee theological arguments for women in ministry and Church leadership  in this article, as it has already been thoroughly and eloquently written about by many other authors. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, I recommend the following:

Rachel Held Evans

Ed Cz

Please feel free to add other blogs or book links in the comments!