1. Nowhere, Old or New Testament is there an example or reference to a woman Priest, Pastor, Elder or Teacher over men. This is not merely a “cultural” consideration, for among God's People, Old and New Testament; God's women were truly “liberated” and “protected” more than any women in any culture around them.
   

2. Every Scripture listing the qualifications of a Pastor, Elder or Deacon always address the candidate in the masculine “him”, “his”, etc.
   

3. From Genesis through the New Testament – the Biblical model is for the Godly man to lead and take his biblical responsibilities in the home and the church.
   

4. The only biblical exception to male leadership over the people of God is found in the example of Deborah the Judge. However, the scripture is clear that she merely stepped up to the plate in a dire situation when the men would not. She shamed them for it and God disciplined them for it.
   

5. Biblical “leadership” as interpreted by HHBC means any position of service in the church that would require a woman to be in “authority” over a man. Sometimes we have to “tweak” our ministries when it appears that a situation of a woman exercising authority over a man is occurring, but no ministry is started with the unbiblical concept of women purposely exercising direct authority over men within that ministry realm.
   

6. Although women “prophetesses” (The gift of foretelling the future regarding a specific coming action of God) are mentioned in the Bible – nowhere does it record that they; preached, taught, pastored a church or served as a priest. Nowhere does the Bible indicate that they ever served in authority over any man.
   

7. Although the New Testament mentions several women who had a church in their home, never does the Bible indicate that they were the Pastors or otherwise served in any leadership capacity other than offering their home as a place of meeting and worship.
   

8. Although the Bible once mentions a “deaconness” (Pheobe, Romans 16:1) – it becomes apparent from the rest of Paul's instructions toward the service of women in the church that her “position” of “deaconness” or “female servant to the body” was that of teaching and instructing and waiting on the needs of other women (Ref. Titus 2:4). Neither Pheobe, nor any other woman mentioned in the New Testament is ever referred to as having a position of authority over men.
   

9. We do not believe it is biblical for a woman to be a Pastor or Associate Pastor of HHBC. We do have women “Ministry Directors” - but these positions of authority involve authority over other women, youth or children or are in an “authority nuetral” position. Regardless of gender, ALL MINISTRY DIRECTORS answer to the Pastoral Staff for direct authority and decision making within their ministry realms.
   

10. There were women “disciples” or “followers” of Jesus and they all played very important roles in the Christian faith, however, when Jesus picked the 12 that were to “lead” and “take authority” and “lead the new born church” – he picked 12 men…purposely. None of the women “disciples” are ever presented as “teaching” the men or taking authority over them. None are ever presented as becoming Pastors or Elders. When the 11 apostles in Acts were picking another to replace Judas…they purposely chose a man, who had “been with them from the beginning.” Many women had been with them from the beginning, but they knew that this apostle, more than likely would be a “leader” in the church…so they selected a man.
    

BIBLE TRUTHS

1. Women are simply not to have "authority" or "usurp" authority over men in the home or church.

2. Women are not to be in a position of "teaching" men and thus "directing" their lives. This is especially true in a "teaching situation" that would effectually give "leadership" and direction to the church and the men of the church in the direction of the affairs of the church.

3. Women certainly should serve in meaningful ministries within the church and even leadership ministries and Ministry Director positions...as long as these positions do not put them in places of authority over the men of the church or in a place of "directing the affairs" of the church.

4. Although a woman may be completely "capable" - she should not serve as a Pastor, Deacon, Associate Pastor, Elder, etc.

5. At HHBC - women serve in many meaningful rolls of leadership and ministry. As well as serving in these ministries, they also serve as Directors of these ministries; V.B.S., Children's Church, Preschool, Youth/Student Ministry, Children's Ministry, various Committee positions, etc.

6. WE BELIEVE that womanhood and motherhood should be respected, revered and celebrated. We do not tolerate the disrespect of women, nor is it promoted in any way. We affirm that since the beginning of time, women have sometimes had to assume the places of leadership that men have vacated or failed to assume in the home, church and even in National affairs. God has used and blessed these women, and often, He has disciplined the men for their failure. It is not God's ideal that women should be placed in these "unnatural" positions because of man's failure.

7. WE BELIEVE that in the home and church, a woman's gifts should be Biblically exercised and that her knowledge, ideas, wisdom, expertise and opinions should be heard and considered. When all is said and done and decisions of authority or leadership are made, they should be made and owned by the man. Regardless of the outcome of the decision, the man is responsible for it completely.

8. WE BELIEVE that the above policies are clearly and contextually, Biblical positions. We strive to disciple our men to take their Godly responsibilities of leadership in both the home and church. We continually encourage our men to do these things and then place them in the places of leadership within the church family where the Lord expects them to lead. At HHBC we have an unusual abundance of men attending, serving and leading in the church family. We believe that this is an excellent and Biblical model before our families, especially our children and youth. For the most part the women of our church are thrilled as they see Godly men assume the responsibilities of Godly leadership that the Lord expects of them. As a result the Church at HHBC is unusually healthy and strong.

9. IT MUST BE NOTED - that from time to time a woman will fill in as a teacher in a Sunday School class of men and women (for example), perhaps at the request of her husband, who is the teacher, or at the request of a teacher who is going to be out. This is not the policy or practice of the Biblical philosophy of HHBC. But, rather than embarrass the woman or the man publically (That is NOT what HHBC is about!) - these oversites are handled discretely. The point is that women are not PLACED in places of permanent teaching or authority over men - by the leadership of the church or by the church as a whole.

TYPICAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE POSITIONS STATED ABOVE

1. The Biblical instruction about women is merely "cultural" (See Number 1 under Biblical Observations)

2. Debra was a Judge and thus a leader of Israel with authority over men. (See Number 4 under Biblical Observations)

3. The Bible says that women were "prophetesses." (See Number 6 under Biblical Observations)

4. The Bible says that "...there is neither male nor female in Jesus Christ." (This refers to God's offer of salvation...it is for men, women, Gentiles and Jews...It has nothing to do with "gender equality.")

5. Jesus had "women disciples" who were very important to His ministry. (See Numbers 7,8,10 under Biblical Observations above)

6. I simply believe that a woman is "equal" to a man in every way and should serve in any capacity that she feels called and capable to serve in. (This position sounds admirable, however, it simply is not Biblical. The Word of God is the final and ultimate authority at HHBC...not "feelings" or the "political correctness" of the current culture.)

The Bible Exalts Women and Womanhood! The Bible is not "anti-woman."

1. From Old Testament to New Testament - The women of God's people were given rights, privileges and honor that women of the cultures around them were not given. It is true, that wicked or hypocritical people sometimes abused these rights, but there were provisions of punishment for them. Women helped make decisions in the home, they held places of exaltedness within the community. The entirety of Proverbs 31 is devoted to womanhood, a noble woman and wife who buys and sells property, provides for the management of her home and husband and is highly respected in the community.

2. Women were followers of Jesus. They were important to his ministry. They were the very first to whom Jesus revealed himself after the resurrection.

3. Jesus spoke to, spent time with and respected the "woman at the well." She was a Gentile, Samaritan woman. Even his Jewish disciples were a bit confused at the respect that Jesus showed her.

4. Women were "servants" in the church (ROMANS 16:1) and several are mentioned to have had house churches in their homes.

5. Paul, on more than one occasion commends and sends greetings to various important women in the closing of his letters. Paul wrote the most about the Biblical role of women in leadership, yet there is much evidence from his letters that he highly respected and acknowledged women and their importance to the church.

6. Paul himself points out the importance of Timothy's mother and grandmother with much praise. Timothy would prove to be one of Paul's most important converts and an influential Christian and Pastor in the first century church. These two women were largely credited for "making" Timothy what he was.

7. Paul declares that "salvation" is equally available to women as to men. A very radical concept in the first century Middle Eastern world.

8. Paul declares that a husband is to love, honor, cherish and sacrifice for his wife just as Jesus did for the church. This is another very radical concept in the world and area in which the early church lived.