However, because of inherited corporate type Northview church language, women at Northview can be titled as pastor, but are not overseers or elders.
I reason, that based on a biblical, contextual approach the Northview approach is correct. But, I do acknowledge that the modern workings of this doctrine, can at least be hypothetically difficult, when a woman in a smaller congregation, especially, has the most religious studies and theological education and opines and teaches without significant error. If in some cases the most superior intellect present in regards to Bible, is an educated woman. This is a legit possibly in today's western world where often more women are seeking advanced degrees than men. Even so, I reason that Scripture should be submitted to in context.
I have written on this subject previously. January 2011
I apolozgize that the scans are not perfectly straight. The text is very large and my copier screen, small. For this article. I used software to straighten the images, which cuts off text slightly.
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| Strong page 40: Overseer |
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| Strong page 80: Elder |
So a man, a male.
Also in Ephesians 5 there is the concept of the husband as head of the wife and as Christ is the head of the Church, a reasonable resulting view being a woman, therefore should not be the spiritual head of a local church, if she is not the spiritual head of the home.
I do not conclude from this that a woman should not be a head of a corporation, country, etcetera.
I do not conclude that a woman should not be awarded a PhD or Doctorate in Religious Studies, degrees.
Browning states that when the overseers met they were considered the elders (presbuteroi) Browning (1997: 112).
Wallace notes it in English as (presbytereroi). Wallace (1996: 347).
Thiessen expresses his opinion that the terms pastor, elder and bishop all were one and the same office in the New Testament quoting Acts 20. Thiessen (1956: 418). He quotes Saint Jerome that stated the elder was identical to the bishop in the text the 'Early Years of Christianity' from E. De Pressense. Thiessen (1956: 418).
Wallace states that the term episkopos/overseer is used interchangeably with versions for the word for elder in Acts 20 and in Titus. Wallace (1996: 347). Wallace reasons overseers are always elders but he is not sure that elders are always overseers. Some elders may have not been overseers. Wallace (1996: 347).
If in the New Testament when the overseers met they were the elders then there could be an argument made that the only legitimate elders today in a church are overseers/pastors/reverends. However, with my findings it is not crystal clear that only overseers were elders Biblically.
Northview has, it appears, elders that are not specifically trained Christian religious teachers. Definitely, these are not overseers. But some overseers do serve as elders.
Browning states women could be regarded as deacons. Browning (1997: 93). Deacons were agents of the overseers. Browning (1997: 93).
If the views suggested by Wallace is the Biblical case, then women can become Biblical deacons only.
The terms and meaning for elder and overseer are not identical. But it seems that an overseer, biblically could always be an elder; an elder may or may not be an overseer.
BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Perrysburgh, Ohip, Welch.
THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Perrysburgh, Ohio, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
WALLACE, R.S. (1996) ‘Elder' in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.
