We had a lady who led our worship music team for ten years....plz read?

Question

A leader from an affiliate church came by our church and thought it was wrong that a man wasn't heading up our worship team and requested that she be replaced and she kindly stepped down, what do ya'll think? This is a Christian church. Serious answers only plz....Thanks.

Answer 1

I don't think a leader of an affiliate church should be able to come into your church and demand anything.

The only scriptures that come into play here is the one where Paul says, I would not allow a woman to have a role in authority over men. That refers to Biblical or Spiritual authority. There is nothing wrong with a woman leading a choir, or praise team. It does not sound like she was too upset, unless you left that part out.

grace2u

Answer 2

It depends on your church's doctrinal position. If you attend a church or denomination that interprets the Bible as claiming male headship in all areas of leadership, then it was right for her to step down. However, if she led for ten years and no one had a problem, then either the pastor(s) did not follow your church's doctrine or the guy who visited from the affiliated church over stepped his rights.

Since I do not know what your church's official position is, then I will give you what I believe the Bible teaches on this issue. First, if the church had no problem for 10 years or so, then this guy comes and suddenly the church changes positions, I would appeal to Paul's situation in Galatians 2. There Peter and Barnabas changed because some leaders from the church in Jerusalem came to visit. Paul confronted Peter publicly, declating that his action was hypocritical.

I do believe in male headship. However, I believe male headship has to do with authority and doctrine. Thus, if the worship leader has been appointed by the Pastor and Elders (Deacons), then whether it is a man or woman will not matter. The worship leader is under the headship of the church leaders. Miriam led the whole of Israel in musical worship before the Lord in Exodus 15, but she did so under Moses' headship. We are told that Philip, in Acts 21, had daughters who prophesied. They were permitted to do so under the leadership of the Apostles and Elders.

So, I would say that the action was wrong, either because it was done in reaction to a visitor's opinion, rather than a thought out doctrinal position of the church, or it was done as a misinterpretation of the concept of biblical headship.

Answer 3

I think it depends on the role the worship leader is playing in the church. If he/she is simply a music leader, then I don't see any problem. OTOH, if he/she is considered a worship pastor, then I do think that it would be best to have a man in the position. I think the answer then is just to make sure that the responsibilities she has are consistent with worship leading and not with pastoring. Note that the relevant verses are not only specifically about a person in a teaching position, but pastors in general.

Besides, I am not sure what the other church's leader has over the leader of your own church. If your pastor has prayerfully considered the issue and decided it does not violate any Biblical mandates, then what does the other leader have to say about it?

Answer 4

Is it possible there is more to the situation that some folks are unaware of? It sounds like an unfortunate situation if the gender of the leader was the sole deciding factor.

At the same time, her kindly stepping down was likely the right thing to do in short term to help limit other problems in the church it could cause (arguments and such) I hope she is talking to the committee in private to straighten things out and then plans on helping folks understand what really happened.

Answer 5

My view of what the Bible says on this is that it has to do with being the Senior/Preaching Pastor. Some churches do say that only a man can have any leadership role at the church. Again, I see that applying to preachers, elders and deacons, but not a worship leader.

Answer 6

I think you need to ask people who are of the same denomination as you. Be prepared for a lot of "Christians suck" comments. Not everyone here will believe the same things you do, so you're going to have comments from people who won't respect your church's right to have your own beliefs. Personally, I think there's a big difference from a woman leading the music and a woman preaching, and that she should have stayed in her position as music leader. But, I don't belong to your church, so what I think shouldn't really matter anyway.

Answer 7

Man has the mistaken belief that only men should be leaders in church. The Bible gives us a great deal of examples of women who were leaders. Paul wrote of several women who led different churches throught out asia minor. Phillip had seven daughters who prophesied. And Mary Magdaline gave the firsst message of the resurrection. God gave us both men and women with the talent and the all on their life, therefore it is very nearsighted to exempt anyone from doing the work of the Lord.

Answer 8

She did the right thing. I don't agree that a woman shouldn't lead worship, but she was right not to cause dissent in the church.
It is her place to obey the Elders of the church, just like at any job. Maybe the next worship leader will take the praise and worship to the next level.

Answer 9

yes, in our church only men can serve on the church council and vote on church matters. I was at a church meeting once and was asked to vote and they asked all the women to step aside. No women are allowed to preach the word of God or serve communion, baptize, etc etc...so I can see that when the church official who came in and seen that your church was not following the rules.
It goes back to Christ and He had Twelve men as disciples.
The Church rules were written in the Book of Acts ...so even though I think you have a reason to be confused. If you read your church by-laws I am sure it is explained in them.
Remember, women in the USA only voted in 1920...it will take a long time before we even come close to equality amongst the sexes. When God made man...she was only fooling! lol

Answer 10

The same Holy Spirit dwells in both men and women. When things like this happen I would ask, who are we aiming to please, God or man? Was the worship service lifting God? Was God's presence in that place? If not, then just maybe there is a reason God sent the man. If that is not the case then it could be that the devil is trying to cause divisions and strife. The Pastor should seek God's will concerning this matter. It could also be that God is also calling her to something else.