Introduction

The topic of women in leadership has always been controversial since the biblical times. In the Bible, leadership is considered as a spiritual call, compared to the contemporary world. It was also regarded as a special gift that God gave His chosen people to use to help other people. The Bible has a lot to elaborate on the roles of Christians both women and men. However, when it comes to leadership, most Christians seem to have disagreements concerning the position of women. God considered women to have the same capabilities as their male counterparts[1]. The New Testament highlights various stories whereby women were aggressively involved in leadership roles especially in the church.

According to the Bible, women were considered to have the same leadership influence like their male counterparts. Women’s role depended on the region; however, this did not deter them from holding leadership positions[2]. Phoebe was one of the women that were considered as leaders. She held a position as a servant of the church, whereby, she was a deacon. In the early church, a deacon could hold the administrative task. According to Paul, ministers were mainly involved in the role of spreading the word of God.

Therefore, it shows that Phoebe was considered as a leader in the early church. She was also regarded as a helper, a title that was held in high esteem in the Bible. Phoebe’s ministry had a great value that it influenced beyond her followers[3]. She had the same role as Paul and other male leaders. Apart from influencing her supporters, she also had a great impact on Paul’s life. In addition, she is referred to as a woman whose authority made her gain respect from the believers. Her role in the early church shows that women were recognized as capable leaders during the early church.

Another woman who is recognized as a leader in the bible is Priscilla. She is considered as a respected leader whereby she taught the scriptures together with her husband. She held a higher status than her husband, and this shows that women were respected in the Bible. Currently, many women hold higher positions than men in both the church and government offices. The Bible frequently mentions Priscilla’s name before her husband. During the early times when a person was mentioned before another, it showed that he or she held a high position. The scripture also teaches that women had the ability to hold special leadership status. It is also believed that Priscilla’s leadership highly awed Paul and Luke[4]. It is assumed that she had a tremendous impact on the spiritual life. For instance, when Priscilla and her husband were sent to teach the word of God in Ephesus they met a young leader named Apollos. The two recognized the young man’s confidence and decided to guide him in his spiritual mission. Priscilla is viewed as the first teacher among the couple, and she had a great influence in Apollos’ life[5]. Additionally, Paul asks the church to respect those people that he worked with including Priscilla. It is clear that Paul considered her as an equal leader and did not hesitate to recognize her in the leadership arena. He argued that Priscilla’s work showed that women had the right to proclaim the word of God.

In Macedonia, women were given high religious positions, and they were quickly promoted to principal ranks in the church. For instance, Paul recognized women that helped him in his work of ministry. The women worked with him, and this means that they held the same position as leaders[6]. In the Bible, Paul also considers the work of the prophetesses which shows that women were given significant attention in their leadership roles[7]. In the contemporary world, there are also women who have held high leadership ranks, including administrative positions. It, therefore, highlights that they were ordained by God just as the Bible stipulates.

Other leaders that were recognized in the Bible include Timothy’s mother and his grandmother. The two were considered to have a strong spiritual influence during the biblical times. It highlights that the two women were considered as leaders; hence, they were respected in the society[8]. Paul also recognizes the leadership of Junia, who ministered together with her husband. She suffered persecution due to her faith together with her partner. They were both recognized as outstanding leaders in the society and also influencers[9]. However, her role as a leader has been considered vague because of the change of the scriptures. In some cases the scriptures seem to portray her as a man thus, causing confusion. Nevertheless, some scriptures have continued to depict her as a prominent female in the early leadership.

Mary Magdalene was as well described as a leader as she was considered as Jesus’ companion. She held a high rank in the early church whereby she had strong authority in the early Christian lives. She also influenced the people to start ministering to God. Her role portrays the part that women played as spiritual leaders in the bible[10]. Another woman recognized in the Bible was Tabitha as a disciple of God. She influenced people with her charitable works, hence, being considered as a leader in the early church.

Jesus also challenged the marginalization of women in the society whereby portrayed them as good and capable leaders. Although his male followers could reject the role of women, he proved that women were equal to their male counterparts. He built a close relationship with them, and he also treated every woman in respect[11]. During his time, the culture did not recognize women in the society especially in handling the vital issues. Nevertheless, Jesus authorized women to proclaim the word of God. For instance, when he resurrected he used women to go and announce that he was alive[12]. The action by Jesus paved the way for women to hold particular leadership places mainly in the church. Currently, some women are depicted as church leaders. Their role is respected in the church, and they have many people who look up to them including men.

Conclusion

The New Testament highlights various stories whereby women were aggressively involved in leadership roles especially in the church. The recognition of women should influence persons in the contemporary world. Most of the time women are gifted with leadership skills; however, some cultures do not offer them the opportunity to exercise their capabilities. In the Bible, women were given a chance to speak loud and influence other people. They were admired by some male leaders who asked other believers to respect and allow them an opportunity to proclaim the word of God. For instance, Paul was one of the leaders who supported the women’s leadership role in the Bible. He respected and endorsed various women who were called to perform the spiritual tasks.

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