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Egalitarianism vs. Complementarianism: Why We Are Complementarian
Hello, Church Family!
As we strive to plant this new church and see a revival in our little town, our county and our state we have to grapple with some hard questions. Questions like: “Will the church allow female Elders/Pastors?” Additionally, just in our everyday interactions and conversations we are bombarded with questions about men and women, about roles, relationships, and leadership. And let’s be honest those questions can quickly become emotional and sometimes uncomfortable.
Our wider culture is having fierce debates right now about gender, equality, and authority. So I want to unpack for you today what I believe and teach is the biblical stance on the issue. In the Christian community there are two common viewpoints about the role of women in the church and in their households. The first is called egalitarianism (the belief that men and women should have interchangeable roles in home and church) and the second is complementarianism (the belief that men and women are equally valuable yet have distinct, complementary roles as defined by God). I’d like to walk us through why, as a church grounded in Scripture, we embrace complementarianism.
Let’s begin by affirming the essential starting point: God created both men and women in His image (Genesis 1:27), with intrinsic worth, dignity, and the capacity to reflect His character in unique ways. Women are never “less than” men; both are fully equal before God and heirs of salvation (Galatians 3:28). Jesus modeled this by honoring women, in His ministry, teaching, and even as the first witnesses to His resurrection. All at a time when their testimony was most often discounted and disregarded.
So, if men and women are equal, why do we talk about different roles? The answer comes from the biblical text itself, not merely from tradition or culture. When the apostle Paul explained marriage in Ephesians 5:22-33, he compared the relationship between husband and wife to that of Christ and the Church, emphasizing sacrificial love, leadership, and joyful submission. These roles are rooted not in cultural customs but in God’s design (see also 1 Timothy 2:12-13, which anchors his teaching in the created order, not temporary situations).
When it comes to the life of the church, Scripture teaches that both men and women are to use their gifts in every area of ministry, yet it reserves the office of pastor/elder for qualified men (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). This isn’t about competency or value but about reflecting God’s good design for spiritual leadership. Elsewhere, women served as teachers, prophets, and deacons in the early church, modeling every kind of service except the headship of local congregations.
Why does this matter? Because God’s design isn’t about suppressing gifts, but about cultivating flourishing communities marked by order, peace, and mutual trust. Every healthy team, whether in families, churches, or organizations, benefits from both unity and diversity, from leadership that cherishes and equips, and from a shared vision of God’s glory.
Some may ask, “Isn’t this outdated?” Yet, throughout the New Testament, this pattern is connected not to local customs, but to God’s creation design, revealed before sin entered the world (Genesis 2). Far from harming women, complementarianism in the church should result in their empowerment, freeing all to serve with boldness and creativity, within the loving boundaries God himself has set.
Let’s be the kind of church where both men and women are honored, encouraged, and equipped, and where the beauty of God’s design shines, even in a confused world. It’s about celebrating differences as a gift, not erasing it. In God’s economy, leadership is always about loving service and sacrificial care, never pride or power.
Crossings family, as we strive to build this new church community let’s build it to be rooted in truth and overflowing with grace, so that everyone flourishes in the callings the Lord has assigned. Let’s continue encouraging one another to serve faithfully as brothers and sisters, for the good of our church and the glory of King Jesus.
Pastor Justin |
