The church today has an opportunity to fulfil God’s original purpose for human beings. God outlined an expansive vision for all people at creation, described beautifully in the very first chapter of the Bible. In our time we have the freedom to shake off the bonds of human culture so we may live up to that creation. Are women and men created equal? Yes, we are. God created us for shared dominion.

Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ (Genesis 1:26-28 NRSVUE)

As women, we ought to feel joy for this. Here we see that God created women and men to be equal in his image, and equally to rule the earth. Today, many societies offer some freedom to express this equality of value and potential for both women and men. Ironically, many churches cling to earlier cultural norms that do not represent this flourishing dominion. In this, human culture lays over God’s word, with misrepresentations of a selection of scriptures to back up pre-existing assumptions. Because of this cultural choice, the Great Commission suffers loss. Can we as women grasp the importance of our shared dominion?

Neither Male nor Female

Recently I attended an international mission conference with delegates from Australia, Africa and Asia. It was so joyful to see that the Kingdom of God has the power to remove barriers between people groups. It doesn’t matter what we look like, what language we speak, or what are our traditions, we are one in Jesus Christ. This genuine oneness is God’s greatest gift to us. We really long for the true friendship that is possible in the Holy Spirit. We want to have more and more of it, as we reflect Jesus Christ individually, and as his body, the church. This oneness is what the Apostle Paul termed, “neither Jew nor Greek” (Galatians 3:28).

In the same Galatians passage Paul uses the term, “no longer male or female.” We know that he is not referring to an end of biological sex…women and men still exist today. What has changed in Christ is the oneness between men and women. It is exactly the same oneness that unites former national and ethnic enemies, and heals the antagonism between social classes (“no longer slave or free.”) The oneness described here speaks to a new order: the church as God’s kingdom on earth today. In that kingdom, the Holy Spirit is the mediator between all parties, not culture. That is how true peace can exist.

Separate Tracks or Fruitful Partnership?

In Jesus’s time, there was a great cultural divide between men and women. As in other cultures, Jewish men would avoid interactions with women other than close family. The separation of Jewish women and men is reflected in the gospel accounts. The male and female disciples were not working together in harmony! Some examples spring to mind. When Jesus ministered to the Samaritan Woman, the disciples were scandalised. They couldn’t understand why he was talking to a woman (John 4). Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus with precious oil, but the male disciples criticised (John 12). Again, when Mary Magdalene followed Jesus’s instructions to tell the other disciples He had risen, no one believed her. (Mark 16:9-10)

These interactions are not surprising in an environment of separation. Jesus’s female disciples and male disciples were on parallel but separate tracks. All were disciples of Jesus, but their human culture was in the way. All disciples had fears and prejudices around women that limited their interacting. How could they trust one another and working together?

Jesus’s ways are radically different from the ways of our human cultures, which are still reflecting the curses and separation we read of in Genesis 3. Jesus came to destroy curses, He took them on the cross so we could be free from our sinful past (Galatians 3:13). Our relationships can change to reflect the unity of Christ: they can become fruitful partnerships. The church can and should be different from the culture around us. If we understand that women and men are created equal, our churches can express an amazing unity that is possible only in Christ.

Women Church Leaders are Needed

This unity is important because our churches need women’s gifts now, more than ever before. In the early church, women followed Jesus, breaking free from the constraints of their culture. They served God, empowered by gifts of the Holy Spirit. These opportunities were gradually lost as institutions arose, placing culture above the spiritual body of Christ. Thankfully, the mist is clearing and the church’s institutions are evolving.

Four years ago, I was present at the 2020 launch of a research study into the future of the church in Australia. It gave me great hope to see that this research, drawn from multiple denominational leaders across Australia, led to this conclusion:

Christian leaders believe women are key contributors to spiritual growth in Australia. While being aware of different theological perspectives, they believe churches should intentionally create pathways for women to be raised and released into leadership roles.

Future of the Church in Australia Report, McCrindle, 2020

Since the launch of this research, I have kept my eyes open for signs that this report is being embraced. To be honest, it hasn’t had the visible impact I had hoped to see. Churches and denominations still struggle to create coherent policies and intentions to release women as leaders. Churches as institutions will miss out on the gifts and callings of women, if they do not recognise the significance of men and women working together in shared dominion.

However, this failing does not mean that we women will be missing from the mission field. Because it was God who intentionally created women and men to be equal, and to work as equals, his vision will ultimately win. We will see it on the level of the Kingdom of God, even if not in our institutions.

A Call to Action: for Women

Churches, denominations and movements do not change easily and many are trying to come to an understanding of what God is asking. This is not meant to be a critique of churches and organisations. I am happy to report that the Lifestreams Global Family Conference I mentioned attending this year decided to focus on releasing women into their leadership gifts. Encouraging moves like this give us women confidence, and I am delighted to be part of it. However, these wins are not the most important factor.

You see, the responsibility for releasing women is not actually on the churches. A calling is between God and an individual person. Each woman ultimately bears the responsibility for heeding her calling. So this is my a call to action for women. If churches cannot embrace women in all their potential, women must still follow Jesus. Each woman must find her path forward. She does not get a “free pass” just because churches fail to release her leadership.

I realise that for many women, this will be an uphill climb that comes with enormous challenges. It has been that way for me as well! That is why Gospel Women was created. This ministry exists to serve each woman as she discovers her calling, receives equipping for the journey, and support to keep going. Would you like to find out more about how Gospel Women is working to release women? You can visit our About page here.