Good morning Moni!
Before I "word-vomit" on you in this post, I just want to say that I'm trying to clarify what I meant, answer your questions, and generally engage in this great place of community and fellowship! I am teachable and willing to learn and I will NOT ever claim to be finished understanding the word of God.
BLUF: Pastor - over a congregation versus Pastor - a piece of paper claiming education and training. I'm not suggesting that women become lead pastors. Only that they can help in ministries such as lead pastoring with their husbands.
I grew up in a non-denominational church (formerly Lutheran, WAY before my time) but as an adult I have been a part of several Assemblies of God denomination (actually Cooperative Fellowship) church bodies. So I'll use them in my examples.
When you said "attaching titles to their wives such as Pastor" this is a term given to any person who has completed one of three levels of credentials in the AoG. My wife could be a Pastor if she wanted but just as Brad explained last week, it's just a piece of paper showing that she's completed the minimum education and training required to have that title. I know members who are "Pastors" who mow the lawn once a week in service for their church and are not heads of congregations.
If, when you say Pastor, you mean the head of a congregation then this is a position elected by the local congregation (again not in the style of some denominations). I'm sure there are some churches out there, even in the Cooperative Fellowship of the AoG, that have elected a female Pastor but I'm not defending that as a practice I believe is biblical.
However, a wife of a Pastor can serve in this ministry alongside her husband (whether or not she has the piece of paper showing she has the minimum education and training) and, in my humble opinion, serve in a similar role for the women of the congregation as the Pastor does for the entire congregation.
Growing up, my Pastor and his wife went on missions trips and on one of the trips my Pastor passed away. For a short time his wife continued to operate in the church until her son became the Lead Pastor and she helped him and his wife, as a widow, similarly to how she had helped her husband. She was and is a great example of a Servant, just like Jesus.
Are you saying culturally it was not uncommon for a wife to minister with her husband?
I'm saying that today it's not uncommon for a wife to minister.
Not familiar with the term “new covenant age” what Biblical time period would you consider this?
The new Covenant is immediately following Jesus' death on the cross:
The New Covenant is a promise made by God to forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned towards Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and His death on the cross is the basis of the promise.
Key Features of the New Covenant
• God’s laws will be written on the hearts of His people, rather than on tablets of stone (Jeremiah 31:33).
• God will put His laws into the minds of His people, and they will be able to live according to His will (Hebrews 8:10).
• The New Covenant is a covenant of forgiveness, where God promises to forgive the sins of those who turn to Him (Jeremiah 31:34).
• The New Covenant is a covenant of empowerment, where God gives His people the power to live according to His will (Ezekiel 36:27).
To help me understand where you are coming from, what would you say is the next item on the Eschatological Calendar?
I'm not sure exactly what you mean? I will say that we are in the last days, since Jesus died on the cross.
Many Pentecostal leaders that I come across these days are attaching titles to their wives such as Pastor. However I have not come across a female Pastor in any Biblical Scripture, just the opposite...
Culturally, in the old testament, there were women who lead.
Miriam was a prophet to Israel during the Exodus, alongside her brothers Moses and Aaron (Exodus 15:20).
Deborah, both a prophet and a judge, directed Barak to lead the army of Israel into successful combat against Israel’s oppressors (Judges 4 to 5).
Huldah, also a prophet, authenticated the scroll of the Law found in the temple and helped spark religious reform in the days of Josiah (2 Kings 22:14–20; 2 Chronicles 34:22–28).
In the new testament: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy... Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28,29; cf. Acts 2:16–18).1 That women as well as men are to prophesy is indicative of their inclusion in the ministries of the new covenant age.
Tabitha (Dorcas) initiated an effective benevolence ministry (Acts 9:36).
Philip’s four unmarried daughters were recognized prophets (Acts 21:8,9).
Paul singled out two women, Euodia and Syntyche, as “women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers” (Philippians 4:2,3).
Priscilla was another of Paul’s exemplary “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:3,4).
In Romans 16, Paul greets numerous ministry colleagues, a large number of them women. In these greetings, the word Paul uses to speak of the work (kopiao), or labor, of Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis (Romans 16:6,12) is one he uses extensively for the labor of ministry (1 Corinthians 16:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17).
The AoG says in their position paper: "These instances of women filling leadership roles in the Bible should be taken as a divinely approved pattern, not as exceptions to divine decrees. Even a limited number of women with scripturally commended leadership roles affirm that God does indeed call women to spiritual leadership."
