Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 02:1 (Winter 1988)
Article: From Our Readers
Author: Susie C. Stanley

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From Our Readers

Holiness Perspectives on Headship and Women’s Equality

Susie C. Stanley

Dr. Susie Stanley is professor of church history at Western Evangelical Seminary

Currently, the debate surrounding women’s role in church and home in conservative circles focuses on the issue of headship. The Evangelical Theological Society in 1986 devoted its plenary sessions to a discussion of this topic. Because each side debated the meaning of kephale, the Greek work for head, by quoting their favorite lexicons in an attempt to bolster their position, Aida Besançon Spencer referred to this meeting as “the battle of the lexicons.”

Many opponents of women’s equality attribute the current agitation for women’s rights in the church and the home to the secular women’s movement that resurfaced in the 1960’s. They charge that any arguments for equality reflect the influence of this movement. However, a biblical defense of women’s ordination and the equality of women and men is not new. Leaders in the Holiness Movement which emerged in the United States during the nineteenth century are among those who articulated a hermeneutic which affirmed both women clergy and equality.

While John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, formulated holiness doctrine, Phoebe Palmer redefined it and served as the mother of the Holiness Movement in the United States. The Nazarenes and the Church of God (Anderson) are among the larger groups which emerged from this movement The doctrine of holiness or sanctification is the belief in a second distinct work of grace which follows conversion. One attains Christian perfection through the work of the Holy Spirit in the experience of sanctification. Because of their emphasis on the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit, most holiness adherents affirmed women preachers at a time when the majority of churches refused women the right to speak in public.

This article will examine briefly the views of headship expressed by three leaders in the early Holiness Movement: Alma White, founder of Pillar of Fire, B.T. Roberts, a founder of the Free Methodist Church, and William G. Godbey, a prominent Holiness evangelist. They claimed that the doctrine of headship or submission was irrelevant in arguments - opposing women’s ordination and limited the discussion of headship to relationships within marriage.

If one relied on isolated statements by White or Godbey, there would be no question about their belief in headship within marriage. White stated unequivocally: “There can be no organization without a head, and the head of the home is the husband.” (1) Godbey described his understanding of the marriage relationship: “So our Lord has been very good to organize the family on a solid foundation. It must ...

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