WOMEN AND CHURCH ELDERSHIP Rev. Prof. Dr. Francis Nigel Lee (updated 2000) 1.  THE GENERAL MINISTRY OF ALL BELIEVERS Every  human  being,  regardless  of  age  or  gender,  should  be  involved  in  serving God as a "minister" or diakonos. Rom. 13:4 & I Tim. 1:12 and esp.  I Pet. 4:10-11. And every Christian person (at his or her baptism) has been anointed and appointed to the  general  ministry  or  office  of  all  believers.  See:  Ex.  19:3-8;  Num.  11:29;  Joel 2:16,28-29;  Acts  2:17,38-39;  Matt.  28:18-19;  I  Cor.  12:13-20,26;  Eph.  4:4-5,12- 13,16;  I  Pet.  2:9.  See  too  Martin  Luther,  as  quoted  in  the  Reformed  Ecumenical Synod's  1968  Report,  p.  152;  Belgic  Confession,  arts.  28  &  31;  and  Heidelberg Catechism, Q. & A. 32. By  virtue  of  this  general  ministry,  all  Christians  are  to  be  Christ's  prophets  and priests  and  kings.  So  all  female  Christians  too  are  to  be  Christ's  prophetesses  and priestesses and queens in everthing they do. I Pet. 3:7 & I Cor. 10:51 with. Eccl. 3:1- 13  &  5:18-20  &  9:7-10.  See  too  Dr.  F.N.  Lee's  Principles  of  Biblical  Church Government (especially the section on "The Office of All Believers"). 2.  THE GENERAL MINISTRY OF ALL "SISTERS IN CHRIST" Godly   Christian   women   conscientiously   occupying   the   general   office   of   all believers,  do  wonderful  work  for  the  Lord  and  His  people.  One  need  only  think  of many of the very "elect ladies" mentioned in Scripture (cf. II John 1,5,13). For Sarah was the very "mother" of all truly Christian women — even as regards Sarah's respectful obedience to her husband Abraham (cf. I Pet. 3:6 & Heb, 11:11). The  penitent  Rahab  risked  her  very  life  to  further  the  extension  of  God's  Kingdom (Josh. 2 cf, Heb, 11:51 & Jas, 2:25). Under the blessed influence of her godly mother- in-law  Naomi,  Ruth  even  abandoned  her  own  nationality  —  in  order  to  become  an ancestress of Jesus (Matt. 1 & Ruth chs. 1 to 4). And Esther Queen of Persia risked even her own dethronement — rather than not protest the persecution of the people of God (Est. 4:14-6). Moreover,  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus  gladly  accepted  the  slander  of  evil  men  in exchange for the great privilege of bearing the Saviour in her own body. Luke 2:34-38 &  John  8:18-42.  Too,  Mary  Magdalene  and  Johanna  and  Susanna  and  many  other women  "ministered"  to  the  Lord  Jesus  with  their  possessions  and  through  their services — both during His lifetime and after His death. Luke 8:2-3 & 23:56 to 24:10. Both  the  female  tentmaker  Priscilla  and  the  wealthy  businesswoman  Lydia  placed their homes at the disposal of Paul and other preachers. Acts 16:14,15,40 & 18:2-26. And Timothy's mother Eunice and grandmother Lois gave that dedicated preacher his first  infant  groundings  in  the  God-breathed  Scriptures  which  they  themselves  had absorbed. II Tim. 1:5 & 3:14-17 cf, I Tim, 2:15 & Tit, 2:4-5.