Did God Call Women to Preach the Gospel?

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By Rev. George A. Bates ’76

Published June 24, 2024

  According to scripture, do women have the right to preach the gospel? That’s the question Bates was challenged to explore by a friend who serves as a senior pastor at his congregational church. While the passage “Suffer not a woman to teach,” is often pointed to as proof that women should not preach the gospel, what else does the Bible say? Did God Call Women to Preach the Gospel? (Christian Faith Publishing) provides an opposing argument in support of women preaching gospel. Bates points to a handful of women leaders in the Bible including King Deborah, Esther, and Ruth, as well as highlights passages that support his argument.

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Terri Sewell ’86 at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, stands next to a portrait of civil rights leader John Lewis.
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