Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 01:4 (Fall 1987)
Article: From Our Readers A Biblical Basis for Ministry
Author: Donna C. Fujimoto

From Our Readers
A Biblical Basis for Ministry

Donna C. Fujimoto

Donna C. Fujimoto holds a Master’s of Professional Studies from Alliance Theological Seminary and is currently pursing a certificate to teach English as a Second Language. She and her husband Harry hope to begin a “tentmaking” ministry in Japan within two years.

It is apparent that the Christian church is grappling with the issue of women’s roles in ministry. Many churches rely on conclusions not founded in Scripture as the basis for their policies. This article seeks to illustrate such inconsistencies and challenge each church to carefully examine the scriptures as the basis for their attitudes and policies regarding the contribution of women to the ministry of the local church.

Let me begin by presenting the situation behind my initial awareness of this issue. The daughter of an evangelist, I had an on-going rapport with my father concerning things of the ministry. He removed me from high school so that I could join him and my mother in full-time ministry. During those four years I helped him prepare sermons and gave feedback on his performance, sang solos and led singing, produced puppet shows, taught Sunday School classes and even led an evening service. I also joined him and other ministers in discussions about Greek passages, theology and general Christian practice. Later, after two years of Bible college, I came home announcing my intention to seek ordination. My father was horrified and denounced my decision as being opposed to Scripture. All further discussions ended in disagreement and I suspended my plans in confusion as I re-examined the Bible to see if his claim was true.

In contrast to this example, let me present another. My husband attended a friend’s church. He enjoyed the singing, prayer and worship, but felt that something was different about it. At the end of the meeting he realized what it was and turned to his friend to ask, “Why weren’t there any women involved in the service?” She explained that her church took the scripture let the women keep silent in the church” (I Cor. 14:34) as their rule for the role of women in worship. Women did not preach, pray, sing or in any way speak in the church services. Although I do not support this point of view, I appreciate the uniformity of their policy and sincere desire to live in a way consistent with the Bible.

Such confusion on this issue is not unusual. Neither is the turmoil that it produces in women who feel called to ministry. I believe that the re-examination of the presuppositions behind our opinions is long overdue.

The task of defining the role of women in ministry has many aspects, the most important being that of basing policy on scripture; not allowing cultural n...