Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 12:2 (Fall 2007)
Article: Women In Ministry In The Vineyard, U.S.A.
Author: C. Samuel Storms

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JBMW 12:2 (Fall 2007) p. 20

Women In Ministry In The Vineyard, U.S.A.

Sam Storms

President

Enjoying God Ministries

Kansas City, Missouri

Introduction

The Pentecostal and Charismatic movements have witnessed a progressive move during the course of the last century toward embracing and empowering women at all levels of spiritual authority and ministry.1 Today, complementarianism is decidedly a minority view among those who believe in the continuation of all spiritual gifts in the life of the church.

Charisma magazine, the flagship publication of the Pentecostal-Charismatic world, has repeatedly defended egalitarianism and actively promotes the ministries of several high profile women such as Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Marilyn Hickey, Gloria Copeland, Juanita Bynum, and Cindy Jacobs, just to mention a few. J. Lee Grady, Charisma’s Editor, has himself written a defense of egalitarianism in a book with the intentionally inflammatory title, Ten Lies the Church Tells Women: How the Bible Has Been Misused to Keep Women in Spiritual Bondage.2

Those within the mainstream Word of Faith movement, as well as most advocates of the so-called “health and wealth gospel,” are typically vocal egalitarians. It almost goes without saying that among the thousands of independent charismatic churches most would endorse the ordination of women to the role of senior pastor in the local church.

However, there are a few exceptions, the most notable of which would be Sovereign Grace Ministries, under the capable leadership of C. J. Mahaney (who serves on the Board of CBMW). I should also mention New Frontiers and its leader, Terry Virgo, who have now planted more than 500 churches found on five continents, primarily in the U.K., with an increasing number in the U.S.

Grace Churches International, based in North Carolina, embraces more than 300 churches globally and is generally complementarian in its perspective on the role of women in ministry (see www.gracechurchesinternational.net).

JBMW 12:2 (Fall 2007) p. 21

The following statement is taken from their International Handbook:

Grace Churches International recognizes that women may enjoy the privileges of ministry without the responsibilities of government. In light of this, Grace Churches International ordains men into local eldership and five-fold ministry offices listed in Ephesians 4:11.

Women in the Vineyard

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