Ordination of women in Christianity

==Overview of the theological debate==
Most (although not all) Protestant denominations ordain church leaders who have the task of equipping all believers in their Christian service ({{bibleref2|Ephesians|4:11–13}}). These leaders (variously styled ''elders'', ''pastors'', or ''ministers'') are seen to have a distinct role in teaching, pastoral leadership.

Protestant churches have historically viewed the Bible as the ultimate authority in church debates (the doctrine of ''[[sola scriptura]]''); as such, the debate over women's eligibility for such offices normally centers around the interpretation of certain Biblical passages relating to teaching and leadership roles. The main passages in this debate include {{Bibleref2|1Cor|11:2–16|ESV|1 Cor. 11:2–16}}, {{Bibleref2|1Cor|14:34–35|ESV|1 Cor. 14:34–35}} and {{Bibleref2|1Tim|2:11–14|ESV|1 Tim. 2:11–14}}, {{Bibleref2|1Tim|3:1–7|ESV|1 Tim. 3:1–7}}, and {{Bibleref2|Titus|1:5–9|ESV|Tit. 1:5–9}}

Increasingly however, supporters of women in ministry argue that the Biblical passages used to argue against women's ordination might be read differently when more understanding of the unique historical context of each passage is available.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Women_Service_Church.htm|title=Women's Service in the Church: The Biblical Basis by N.T. Wright|access-date=14 March 2015}}</ref> They further argue that the New Testament shows that women did exercise certain ministries in the apostolic Church (e.g., {{Bibleref2|Acts|21:9}}, {{Bibleref2|Acts|18:18}}, {{Bibleref2|Romans|16:1–4}}, {{Bibleref2|Romans|16:7}}; {{Bibleref2|1Cor|16:19|ESV|1 Cor. 16:19}}, {{Bibleref2|Philippians|4:2–3}}, and {{Bibleref2|John|20:1–18|NRSV}}. Often quoting {{Bibleref2|Galatians|3:28}}, they argue that the good news brought by Jesus has broken down all barriers and that female ordination is an equality issue that Jesus would have approved of. They also quote {{Bibleref2|John|20:17–18|NRSV}}, and argue that in talking to Mary, Jesus is calling for women to evangelize

In turn, those who argue for a male only ministry say that the claims to contexts that change the apparent meaning of the texts at hand to one supporting female ordination are in fact spurious, that the passages that appear to show women in positions of authority do not in fact do so, and the idea that the good news of Jesus brings equality before God only relates to salvation and not to roles for ministry.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grudem |first=Wayne |title=Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism |last2=Piper |first2=John |publisher=Crossway |year=2021 |isbn=978-1433573453 |edition=Revised |location=Wheaton, IL |language=English}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}