Biblical Insights on Women in Leadership

For the past several months, readers of The Network have been engaging with a thoughtful series by Bev Sterk examining women in leadership through the lens of Scripture. The series has sparked discussion, encouraged reflection, and invited readers to take a fresh look at familiar biblical passages.

For Sterk, the project began as a desire to understand Scripture more fully and to consider how the church's interpretation of key texts affects the lives of people around the world. "My main reason [for this focus] at this point is that a growing number of women in the Middle East, especially Iran, have become Christians in the past five years," Sterk explained. "How the West views women in the church influences the global church because the West sends pastors to other countries who often teach those perspectives."

Her interest in the topic also became personal, she said, when her daughter was born in 2005.

"At the time, I thought, 'I wonder what will happen with her at our church if she's a gifted leader when she grows up,'" Sterk recalled. "Now she's a young adult and leads in various ways in our community and in a different church."

Over the years, Sterk's study led her to explore questions about biblical interpretation, church leadership, and the role of women in the church. She became increasingly interested in historical context, language studies, and the ways certain passages have been understood throughout church history.

One of the themes that repeatedly surfaced, she said, was the importance of examining Scripture carefully and in context. Sterk points to details such as the cultural setting of Ephesus, the influence of local religious practices, and the significance of Greek words that appear only rarely in the New Testament. "I would wonder, ‘Why are we not talking about these different aspects?’" she said. "Since then, I keep coming across additional pieces that I believe need to become part of the discussion to get more of the complete picture."

As she continued writing, another theme emerged as particularly significant: the biblical principle of mutuality. "We have spent so much time, energy, and ink debating who has authority, who has to submit, and who is the leader," Sterk said. "Instead, Scripture repeatedly points us toward mutual submission, cooperation, and sacrificial love."

She notes that the New Testament contains dozens of "one another" commands that shape how believers are called to live together. Those passages, she believes, provide an important framework for understanding relationships within the body of Christ.

Rather than focusing primarily on questions of power, Sterk hopes readers will consider how Christians can work together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

"I hope the discussion can move beyond complementarian versus egalitarian, us versus them, men versus women," she said. "I hope people see a beautiful, healthy view of how we relate with and work together with one another for God's kingdom."

Sterk also hopes the series encourages readers to engage with Scripture deeply for themselves. While passages related to women in leadership are often discussed in terms of a few well-known verses, her research has led her to explore a much broader range of biblical and historical evidence.

The response from readers has been encouraging, she said, particularly from women who have experienced hurt within church communities.

"When I share these insights along with biblical truths about who people are in Christ, women who have been hurt by the church are especially encouraged," Sterk reflected. "Some experience a level of healing from deep wounds, and seeing that healing has been an answer to prayer."

The Christian Reformed Church has long affirmed the importance of studying Scripture carefully, seeking to understand God's Word through faithful interpretation, historical awareness, and communal discernment. Sterk's series reflects that ongoing commitment and invites readers to wrestle thoughtfully with Scripture, ask questions, and pursue deeper understanding together.

Whether readers agree with every conclusion or not, the series serves as a reminder that engaging God's Word is an ongoing journey. Through study, conversation, and prayer, believers continue seeking wisdom and understanding as they discern how Scripture speaks to the life of the CRCNA today.