We at Higher Ground believe the Bible clearly shows God's active use of women in leadership roles throughout the Old and the New Testament.
We believe this was the model of the Church that Christ set up after He ascended.
We believe that women can fulfill all rolls in the Five Fold Ministry: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers.
We believe that the common objections against women in ministry, (1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:12) when seen in the context in which they were written, and taken with the whole counsel of the Bible, show that the prohibition on women as leaders in ministry was made for specific church's needs at that time.
In 1 Corinthians 11:5 Paul is stating that women will prophesy.
Exodus 15:20 and Micah 6:4 we see a story of the prophetess Miriam, who served with Moses and Aaron.
Judges 4-5 we find Deborah who was appointed by God himself to rule over all of Israel and led them to great victories.
Acts 21:8-9 mentions four daughters of Phillip with the gift of prophecy.
Romans 16:1-2 Paul commends Phoebe as a Pastor and an Evangelist.
Acts 18:26 shows Priscilla and Aquilla instructing Apollos, going against the interpretation that no women should teach a man.
Romans 16:7 describes Junia as, not only an apostle, but a notable one among them!
We, as Christ's Church, must be able to discern the cultural context of what is being written so we may more accurately understand that author's intent. Why would Paul, using a few verses, forbid women everywhere for all time from exercising spiritual authority over any man, when there are so many examples from the New and the Old Testament of God appointing and using women to grow His Kingdom in powerful ways. The answer is clear: the passages were interpreted to disallow women as leaders have been done so based on the traditions of man, and not on scripture alone.
We at Higher Ground aim to be the church as Christ made it, with all of His people serving whatever roles He has chosen them to take.