Gathering Place | Statement on Women in Ministry & Leadership

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With everything happening in the world today, there is another conversation simmering within the Church:

Can women lead in the Church?

It's a question that can quickly become controversial. But if our desire is truly to honour God, then our answer cannot be based on culture, tradition, social media, personalities—or even our personal preferences.

We have to go to God's Word.

I actually began studying this subject several weeks before leaving for Florida. Since then, the current news cycle, social media influencers, and conversations across different platforms have increasingly brought the subject to the forefront.

So perhaps the timing is right.

At Gathering Place, this isn't merely a theoretical discussion. Many of the people serving in significant leadership and ministry roles within our church are women—faithful, gifted, committed warriors for Christ who love Jesus, love His Word, and love His Church.

And let me be clear: they are not leading simply because men haven't stepped up. God has genuinely gifted and called women to serve His Kingdom.

At the same time, I know these women would love to see more men rise up—not to replace them, but to stand alongside them. We need men who will become the godly servants, husbands, fathers, mentors, disciple-makers, and leaders God has called them to be.

The Church needs faithful women. The Church needs faithful men. We need one another.

So after prayer, study, conversation, and a sincere effort to allow Scripture—not preference—to establish our position, we have prepared a statement explaining where Gathering Place stands regarding women in ministry and church leadership.

Our goal isn't to tell God's Word what we believe.

Our goal is to allow God's Word to tell us what we should believe.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed, prayed, studied, challenged, asked questions, and invested time into developing this statement.

Above all, our prayer is simple:

Lord, help us honour Your Word, recognise whom You have gifted, and faithfully become the Church You have called us to be.

GATHERING PLACE

Statement on Women in Ministry & Leadership

Love God. Love People.

OUR FOUNDATION

At Gathering Place, we believe that every person—male and female—has been created in the image of God, possesses equal dignity and value before God, and is invited through Jesus Christ to participate fully in the mission of His Church.

Our position concerning women in ministry is therefore not based upon culture, tradition, personal preference, or assumptions about the abilities of women or men. We seek to build our understanding upon the whole counsel of Scripture.

We believe Scripture presents two truths that must be held together:

Men and women are completely equal in value, dignity, salvation, access to God, and spiritual gifting, while Scripture may assign different responsibilities within the order and governance of the local church.

Different responsibility must never be confused with different value.

1. WOMEN AND MEN ARE EQUALLY CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

The biblical foundation begins at creation:

“So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Genesis 1:27 ESV

Both male and female bear the image of God.

The woman was not an afterthought in God's creation. She was not created with less dignity, less spiritual worth, or less capacity to know and serve God.

Genesis 2:18 describes the woman as a “helper fit for him.” The original word in that passage , helper, is “ezer”. The Hebrew word ezer, should never be interpreted as meaning an inferior assistant. The Old Testament repeatedly uses the same word to describe God Himself as the helper of His people (Psalm 33:20; 70:5; 121:1–2).

Therefore, Gathering Place categorically rejects any teaching, attitude, culture, or practice suggesting that women are spiritually inferior to men.

Women are not second-class Christians.

They are daughters of God, image-bearers of their Creator, recipients of the Holy Spirit, disciples of Jesus, and essential participants in the mission of Christ's Church.

2. MEN AND WOMEN ARE EQUALLY REDEEMED IN CHRIST

The gospel does not establish different levels of salvation, access to God, or inheritance based upon sex.

Paul writes:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:28 ESV

This passage does not necessarily eliminate every distinction of responsibility within the family or church, but it unmistakably establishes the equal standing of men and women before God through Christ.

Men do not have greater access to God.

Men do not receive more of the Holy Spirit.

Men are not more valuable to the Kingdom.

Women do not require a man to approach Jesus on their behalf.

There is one Saviour, one gospel, one Holy Spirit, and one family of God.

3. JESUS ELEVATED AND HONOURED WOMEN

Jesus repeatedly treated women with a dignity that challenged many cultural assumptions of His day.

Women travelled with Jesus and materially supported His ministry (Luke 8:1–3).

Mary of Bethany sat at Jesus' feet as a disciple learning from her Rabbi, and Jesus defended her decision to do so (Luke 10:38–42).

Jesus openly engaged the Samaritan woman in a profound theological conversation (John 4:7–26). She subsequently returned to her community and told others about Jesus, resulting in many coming to investigate His claims for themselves (John 4:28–30, 39).

Most significantly, after His resurrection Jesus appeared to women and entrusted them with the announcement that He was alive (Matthew 28:5–10; John 20:11–18).

The risen Christ entrusted the greatest news in human history to faithful women.

Gathering Place will never treat as insignificant those whom Jesus Himself honoured.

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIFTS BOTH WOMEN AND MEN

At Pentecost Peter announced the fulfilment of Joel's prophecy:

“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” Acts 2:17 ESV

He continues:

“Even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:18 ESV

The Holy Spirit is not given only to men.

Spiritual gifts are not distributed according to human status.

Paul teaches that:

“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:11 ESV

Therefore, when God has gifted a woman, the Church should not bury that gift.

We want women at Gathering Place to discover their God-given gifts, develop them, and faithfully use them for the glory of God and the building of His Church.

5. SCRIPTURE SHOWS WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING

Paul acknowledges women praying and prophesying within the Christian community:

1 Corinthians 11:5

Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied:

Acts 21:8–9

Anna is specifically identified as a prophetess and publicly testified concerning Jesus:

Luke 2:36–38

The Old Testament provides additional examples, including Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14–20), and Deborah, who served as both prophetess and judge in Israel (Judges 4–5).

Therefore, Gathering Place believes Scripture provides clear evidence that God speaks through, gifts, and uses women for significant spiritual ministry.

6. WOMEN MAY TEACH, DISCIPLE, AND DEVELOP OTHERS

One of the clearest examples is Priscilla.

Acts tells us that Apollos was eloquent, competent in the Scriptures, and fervent in spirit. Yet his understanding was incomplete.

Scripture records:

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” Acts 18:26 ESV

Priscilla participated in instructing a gifted male preacher in biblical truth.

Paul later calls Priscilla and Aquila:

“my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” Romans 16:3 ESV

Titus also explicitly instructs older women to teach and disciple younger women:

Titus 2:3–5

Gathering Place therefore affirms women serving as teachers, discipleship leaders, ministry leaders, mentors, theologians, Bible instructors, missionaries, evangelists, worship leaders, and in other leadership capacities according to their gifting and calling.

7. WOMEN SERVED PROMINENTLY IN THE FIRST-CENTURY CHURCH

The New Testament does not portray women sitting silently on the sidelines of Christian mission.

Quite the opposite.

Phoebe

Paul introduces Phoebe in Romans 16:

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae.” Romans 16:1 ESV

The Greek word translated “servant” is diakonos, the word from which we receive deacon.

Whether Paul is identifying Phoebe with a formal church office or describing her ministry service has been debated, but what cannot reasonably be denied is that Phoebe was a trusted and significant Christian minister.

Paul tells the Roman believers to:

“welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you.” Romans 16:2 ESV

Priscilla

Priscilla helped instruct Apollos and is called one of Paul's fellow workers (Acts 18:26; Romans 16:3–4).

A church also met in the home associated with Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19).

Junia

Romans 16:7 mentions Junia alongside Andronicus.

Junia is generally understood to be a woman. The precise meaning of Paul's description of Andronicus and Junia in relation to “the apostles” has been debated, so Gathering Place does not build its doctrine of church government upon this single passage.

Nevertheless, Junia is clearly remembered among Paul's respected fellow believers and provides further evidence of women occupying significant places within the earliest Christian movement.

Mary, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis

Paul also honours numerous women for their work in ministry:

Romans 16:6 — Mary Romans 16:12 — Tryphaena and Tryphosa Romans 16:12 — Persis

Paul repeatedly describes these women in terms of their work in the Lord.

The early Church was not built exclusively through the ministry of men.

Faithful women helped carry the gospel throughout the Roman world.

8. WOMEN AND THE MINISTRY OF DEACON

Gathering Place believes there is strong biblical support for women serving in diaconal ministry.

Phoebe is called a diakonos in Romans 16:1.

Additionally, during Paul's discussion of deacons in 1 Timothy 3, he writes:

“Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.”

1 Timothy 3:11 ESV

The Greek word translated “wives” can also simply mean women, which has led many faithful interpreters to understand this verse as referring to female deacons.

While Christians may disagree about the precise interpretation of that verse, Gathering Place believes women may faithfully serve in the ministry traditionally associated with deacons: serving people, meeting practical needs, assisting the vulnerable, advancing ministry, and helping the Church fulfil its mission.

9. WOMEN MAY HOLD SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP AT GATHERING PLACE

We therefore affirm women serving in positions such as:

• Pastoral ministry and pastoral care

• Ministry leadership

• Teaching and biblical instruction

• Worship leadership

• Prayer ministry

• Prophetic ministry

• Evangelism

• Missions

• Discipleship

• Children's and youth ministry

• Administration

• Deacon ministry

• Small-group leadership

• Counselling and mentoring

• Outreach

• Staff leadership

• Other areas for which God has equipped and called them

The title pastor itself comes from the biblical picture of shepherding God's people. At Gathering Place, women may serve pastorally, carry pastoral titles appropriate to their ministry responsibilities, teach Scripture, lead ministries, disciple believers, and exercise meaningful spiritual leadership.

However, we distinguish pastoral ministry from the specific governing office of elder/overseer described in the New Testament.

10. OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ELDER / OVERSEER

This is the area where sincere, Bible-believing Christians sometimes reach different conclusions.

Gathering Place respects churches and believers who prayerfully study these passages and arrive at a different interpretation.

Our conviction, however, is that the New Testament assigns the governing office of elder/overseer in the local church to biblically qualified men.

Paul writes concerning an overseer:

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife...” 1 Timothy 3:2 ESV

Likewise, regarding elders:

“if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife...” Titus 1:6 ESV

Peter also connects elders with shepherding and oversight:

“So I exhort the elders among you... shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight...” 1 Peter 5:1–2 ESV

Paul similarly summons the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:17 and subsequently describes them as overseers responsible for caring for the Church (Acts 20:28).

For this reason, we understand elder, overseer, and shepherd/pastor to describe closely connected aspects of spiritual oversight in the New Testament.

We also take seriously Paul's instruction:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man...” 1 Timothy 2:12 ESV

We recognise the considerable scholarly discussion surrounding the meaning and application of this passage. Nevertheless, because Paul proceeds into qualifications for overseers and grounds his argument in the creation account (1 Timothy 2:13–14), Gathering Place understands this instruction as having significance beyond the immediate culture of first-century Ephesus.

Therefore, the governing office of Elder/Overseer at Gathering Place is entrusted to biblically qualified men.

Where the Lead or Senior Pastor functions as the principal elder/overseer responsible for the doctrinal and governing oversight of the congregation, Gathering Place likewise understands that responsibility to belong to a biblically qualified man.

This conviction must never be interpreted as declaring that men are more intelligent, more spiritual, more capable, more valuable, or more loved by God.

They are not.

Biblical responsibility is not a declaration of superiority.

Leadership in the Kingdom is not about status.

Jesus said:

“whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” Mark 10:43 ESV

Biblical authority is therefore a responsibility to serve, sacrifice, protect, equip, and ultimately answer to God.

11. MALE LEADERSHIP MUST NEVER BECOME MALE DOMINATION

Gathering Place rejects authoritarianism, misogyny, sexism, spiritual intimidation, and the misuse of Scripture to silence, demean, control, or marginalise women.

Jesus' model of leadership leaves no room for domination.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 ESV

An elder is not given authority so that others may serve him.

He is entrusted with responsibility so that he may serve them.

A man who uses biblical leadership as justification for arrogance, control, intimidation, or superiority has misunderstood biblical leadership.

Christlike leadership looks like a towel and a basin.

It looks like sacrifice.

Ultimately, it looks like a cross.

12. WOMEN HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT HISTORY

The influence of faithful Christian women did not end with the New Testament.

Across generations, women have evangelised, taught, discipled, written, planted ministries, cared for the poor, crossed cultures as missionaries, challenged injustice, defended biblical truth, and carried the gospel into places others would not go.

Among the many examples are:

Perpetua — an early Christian martyr whose account became one of the influential testimonies of the persecuted Church.

Macrina the Younger — an influential fourth-century Christian whose theological and spiritual influence was acknowledged within her remarkable family and beyond.

Catherine Booth — co-founder of The Salvation Army and a prominent defender of women's participation in Christian ministry.

Phoebe Palmer — an influential nineteenth-century Methodist holiness teacher, writer, and evangelistic leader.

Lottie Moon — a missionary whose decades of service in China profoundly influenced generations of Southern Baptist missions.

Amy Carmichael — missionary to India who devoted her life to ministry among vulnerable children and whose writings have discipled generations of Christians.

Corrie ten Boom — Christian evangelist and teacher whose family protected Jewish people during the Holocaust and whose subsequent ministry proclaimed forgiveness and the gospel internationally.

Elisabeth Elliot — missionary, author, speaker, and Bible teacher whose writings influenced generations of Christians.

These women came from different traditions, denominations, and historical settings. Gathering Place does not imply agreement with every theological position held by every historical Christian figure.

We honour them because their lives demonstrate something Scripture already makes clear:

God has powerfully used women to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.

13. OUR COMMITMENT TO THE WOMEN OF GATHERING PLACE

To every woman who calls Gathering Place home:

You matter.

Your voice matters.

Your spiritual gifts matter.

Your calling matters.

Your wisdom matters.

Your leadership matters.

Your contribution to the Kingdom matters.

We do not want simply to “allow” women to serve.

We want to equip women to serve.

We want women studying theology.

We want women knowing Scripture.

We want women discipling believers.

We want women sharing the gospel.

We want women leading ministries.

We want women praying boldly.

We want women exercising spiritual gifts.

We want women mentoring the next generation.

We want young girls growing up in Gathering Place knowing that the Holy Spirit can use their lives powerfully for the Kingdom of God.

And we want the men of Gathering Place to celebrate, encourage, protect, develop, and make room for those gifts rather than feeling threatened by them.

14. UNITY WHERE CHRISTIANS DISAGREE

We recognise that faithful Christians who love Jesus, believe Scripture, and seek sincerely to obey God have reached different conclusions concerning women serving as elders or senior pastors.

We refuse to make this issue a test of someone's salvation or love for Jesus.

Our position is a matter of our understanding of biblical church order—not a measurement of another believer's faithfulness.

Where disagreement exists, we will pursue humility.

“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2–3 ESV

We can hold biblical convictions without treating brothers and sisters who interpret secondary matters differently as enemies.

OUR POSITION

Therefore, Gathering Place affirms that:

Women and men are equally created in God's image.

Women and men are equally loved by God.

Women and men are equally saved through Jesus Christ.

Women and men equally receive the Holy Spirit.

Women and men receive spiritual gifts according to the sovereign will of the Holy Spirit.

Women may pray, prophesy, evangelise, disciple, teach, lead ministries, serve pastorally, serve as deacons, participate in missions, and exercise significant leadership throughout Gathering Place.

Women may carry pastoral titles appropriate to their pastoral ministry and responsibilities.

Gathering Place understands the biblical office of Elder/Overseer—and therefore the Lead/Senior Pastor when that position carries the governing responsibility of the principal elder—to be entrusted to biblically qualified men.

And finally:

This distinction of responsibility never establishes a distinction of value.

There is no room in the Church of Jesus Christ for treating women as lesser members of the Body.

Paul reminds us:

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body...” 1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

We need one another.

Men need women.

Women need men.

Pastors need teachers.

Teachers need servants.

Leaders need intercessors.

The Church needs every member of the Body functioning according to the gifting, calling, and purpose God has given them.

Our goal at Gathering Place is not to determine who is most important.

Jesus already answered that question by calling all of us to become servants.

Our goal is to help every person become everything God has called them to be.

We will honour women.

We will develop women.

We will listen to women.

We will empower women to use their God-given gifts.

We will protect biblical order without confusing order with superiority.

And together—as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, servants of Jesus Christ—we will carry the gospel to our community and beyond.

Because ultimately, leadership isn't about who gets the title.

It's about who is willing to carry the towel.

Love God. Love People.

Gathering Place Inverness, Scotland