The New Testament reveals how women served Jesus, the church, and the Great Commission. This is relevant for at least three reasons: first, the role of women in the church is often depicted as an exception, not an expectation. Second, to focus exclusively on eldership, which is limited to men, distracts from the otherwise diverse and rewarding ministries that both genders engage in.
Third, it’s possible the church asks too little of our Spirit-filled sisters given their plentiful gifts and vitally essential partnership in the gospel.
Healthy churches should encourage women to excel still more in what they’ve been described in Scripture as already doing. God has manifested himself in his image bearers.
Some attributes are more pronounced in men, others in women. If the church will identify, empower, and celebrate that, then our churches will be healthier because the image of God will shine brightly through all his children.