For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. ~ Titus 1:5-6[1]
Last month we visited family in our hometown. There is a new and quaint health shake and tea shop that we checked out. While we enjoyed our beverages, we conversed with one of the baristas. We shared why we were home, explaining I was a pastor in Andrews, SC. Our short story caught her attention, and she shared with us her testimony and how God uses her through her business and church, a burgeoning mega-church started by a pastor who had previously done the whole mega-church build. She described her various leadership roles, etc. Lisa and I smiled at her, finished our drinks, and left.
The subject of women in leadership roles continues to plague the American Church. Liberal culture keeps seeping into churches that once were prominently conservative. For instance, the once “purpose-driven” Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, has gone full egalitarian. Egalitarianism means that men’s and women’s roles are interchangeable in an organization. The organizer, and long-time pastor of Saddleback Church, has stepped down. The church called Andy Wood to replace him in the pulpit. Along with Pastor Wood, the church named his wife, Stacie Wood, as a “teaching pastor.” A slope the church continues to slide down. Fortunately, the Southern Baptist Convention made a stand and severed Saddle Back Church’s relationship with them.[2]
Presbyterian Church in America churches may look at this situation and be thankful we hold a complementarian view of men’s and women’s roles.[3] Complementarian means that men and women have distinct and vital roles within the church that are not interchangeable. The men’s roles are essential to the church, and the women’s roles are crucial because that is how God designed the Church. Each “compliments” the other’s work. In other words, based on our view of Scripture and according to our standards, women are not permitted to hold church offices of deacon and elder, and men should not participate in the Women in the Church organization. This biblical concept does not mean that women are not capable of specific functions that men do, or vice versa for men. It means they should not do those roles because God’s Word says so.
For example, women make excellent teachers. Two of my all-time favorite schoolteachers were women. However, God explicitly tells us that women are prohibited from being pastors or teaching elders. Also, women make excellent servants. I learned how to be a servant from a lady in the first church I pastored. Yet, she did not hold the office of deacon because she believed and obeyed God’s Word and our denomination’s standards. She understood, and the church understood, that she did need to have the title of “deacon” to do what she did for the glory of God.
One of the places Scripture teaches complementarian roles of the church is Paul’s letter to Titus. In our passage of study for this post, we observe Paul’s reasoning for leaving Titus in Crete. Crete was a city of moral depravity. It is believed that the Philistines originated there. And the Greeks used their name in a derogatory way for being a “liar.” When a Grecian called someone a “Cretan,” it meant that person was a fraud, told falsehoods, or both. Church history believes there were Christian churches in Crete before Paul arrived, but he planted this particular church for Titus to organize.[4] Hughes and Chapell tell us that “Paul’s words remind us that he had been in Crete previously but was not able to finish establishing the leadership for the church. Further, the lack of mature leadership now seems to have led to negative consequences that Titus must out.”[5]
Hughes and Chappell continue, “Clearly, there is a situation on Crete that demands leadership. Paul’s willingness to have leaders appointed from among the Cretan converts to address the situation makes it clear that the leadership qualifications he will give do not solely apply to apostolically chosen leaders such as Titus. “Elders” (note the plural) were to be appointed “in every town.” The plurality of elders in each place alerts us to the need for multiple persons in our churches who will assume responsibility for the spiritual care of others. How does one qualify for and express this responsibility? Paul answers by telling Titus the qualifications for elders.”[6]
And who are these “elders” to be? Paul is simplistically clear, men above reproach, etc. The Amplified Bible translates this phrase as, “[These elders should be] men who are of unquestionable integrity and are irreproachable.” Barclay, Phillips, Wuest, and countless other commentators and textual critics agree that the “husband of one wife” is a man. Believers must understand Scripture in purpose and meaning. Paul’s greeting to Titus provides insight into what the Holy Spirit wanted him to instruct Titus and the churches in Crete to do. He desires to see people grow in faith, knowledge, and godliness to receive eternal life. Elders are an essential aspect of the church’s purpose. However, we must allow God’s Word to guide us in keeping our central commitments in view. The church’s leadership must emulate and obey God’s requirements. Men and women must live out their faith in the roles God designed for them.
[1] Unless otherwise noted, this article will use the New American Standard Bible (1995). New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
[2] Adelle M. Banks, “Southern Baptists ousts Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church for naming female pastor: Stacie Wood, wife of Andy Wood, who replaced Warren as lead pastor last summer, has the title of ‘teaching pastor,’” Religion News, February 21, 2023, https://religionnews.com/2023/02/21/southern-baptists-oust-rick-warrens-saddleback-church-for-naming-a-female-pastor. Accessed on February 23, 2023, at 12:30 PM.
[3] The PCA General Assembly created an Ad Interim Committee to study this issue, which can be found here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.pcahistory.org/pca/studies/2017_WIM.pdf. Accessed on February 23, 2023, at 1:10 PM. (You may have to copy and paste the link into your server). Unfortunately, some churches in the PCA have twisted this report and given the titles of “unordained deaconess” and “unordained worship pastor,” and other like titles to women in their churches. This is not the intent of the report adopted by the forty-fifth General Assembly and those presbyteries should hold these churches accountable for their actions.
[4] Mark S. Krause, “Crete,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
[5] R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 292.
[6] Ibid.
Andrews PCA 