I do have a question about the nature of homosexuality and sinfulness, but I do not have a question about women and sinfulness (not being black and sinfulness). I do have a question about the role of women in relationships (including ministry) and am concerned about what Scripture says about it.

If this is a stereotype that women are sinful and therefore do not belong in ministry, I agree we should blast that one to hell. I’ll load the gun.

In light of my being unsure about the exact nature of a woman’s role, I try to land on the generous side.

1. Lip-service — The pastor at our other Church of God in Mattoon is a woman. She is a tremendous preacher. She has not gotten invited to speak much, but then again, neither have I.

2. Being female is not a sin. Help me out here (seriously). Gender is not the same as race. Men and women are different. Blacks and whites are not different. Rather than double standards, aren’t there different ways of approaching men and women?

3. The brush off. I’ll give you that one. But I have been part of a church that purposely put women into leadership for the sake of having women leadership and it was not good because it wasn’t done for the sake of leadership.

4. Let’s all get along. You’re probably right. I don’t like conflict. I cringe at it. I take it personally. And sometimes it is good just to get it all out there.

5. Separate but equal. You’re right. That doesn’t hold water. That bubble needs burst.

6. Ouch.

7. The token woman. At The Crossover, until recently, my two top leaders, members of the vision team, were women. They weren’t token. They were the visionary leaders of the church. They didn’t act like men. They acted like women and it was a real benefit to The Crossover. And actually, in our church, it isn’t token women I’m looking for. Sometimes I feel like I’m looking for token men because the men are not stepping up to the major leadership roles, at least not the ones gifted for those roles.

Personally I am a fan of women. Recently I stepped into a part-time position so that my wife could begin teaching full-time. She is fantastic and gifted. It felt like it was her time. I sacrificed my career, my time, my freedom, in order to give her the opportunity to step up. She has stepped up and I believe really grown from the opportunity and become much more the person God has created her to be. There are times I fear that I will be seen as less of a man because she makes more money than I do, but that is sin, and I remind myself how great she is doing and how much fruit she is bearing.

This is a very real issue for me and I appreciate your voice on the issue. I hope it helps someone have the opportunity to more fully become who God has created them to be.