【070】今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY：教会是否应该考虑选举女性长老 Should the Church Consider Electing Female Elders (Special Edition 特别版)

【SCRIPTURE 经文】：圣灵立你们作全群的监督，你们就当为自己谨慎，也为全群谨慎，牧养神的教会，就是祂用自己血所买来的。我知道，我去之後 必有凶暴的豺狼进入你们中间，不爱惜羊群。就是你们中间，也必有人起来说悖谬的话，要引诱门徒跟从他们。所以你们应当儆醒，记念我三年之久昼夜不住的流泪、劝戒你们各人。如今我把你们交托神和他恩惠的道；这道能建立你们，叫你们和一切成圣的人同得基业; Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (使徒行传 Acts 20:28-32)

【SHARING 分享】:《今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY》中分享的经文是使徒行传 20:28-32。许多牧师在讲道中都引用过这段经文。使徒保罗在此郑重地向以弗所教会的长老、监督和牧师们告别，嘱咐他们要以警醒、关怀和恩典牧养神的教会。保罗警告他们即将到来的危险：“凶猛的豺狼” 将从外面来吞吃羊群。因此，保罗将他们托付给 “神和他恩惠的道”，因为只有神和他恩惠的道才能建立教会，并确保圣徒们承受他们的产业。作为长老、监督或牧师，你们的呼召并非自我膨胀，而是以恩典为中心带领 —— 服侍或宣扬上帝的旨意，活出悔改的榜样，藉着圣灵内住的大能和引导，传播信仰，并彼此代求，也为羊群代求。记住，正如使徒行传 20:35 所说：“施比受更为有福。” 要以爱心带领，以谦卑服侍，不要追求教会的地位或职位，而要信靠圣灵和祂的恩典；祂必扶持你们在以基督为中心的教会中服侍。

现在我们已经了解了经文中的教导和含义，这需要我们有仆人般的领导和服务态度，让我们继续了解和谈论今天的敏感话题 —— “教会是否应该考虑选举女性长老” —— 尤其对我们这些上帝的儿女，以及加拿大各地基督教会和新教教会的成员而言。在以基督为中心的教会中，上帝的儿女作个基督徒是否应该任命女性长老是一个极具争议的话题，主要有两种观点，分别基于对圣经的不同解读。

许多圣经学者似乎认为，在新约中，“牧师”、“长老” 和“ 监督”（主教）可以互换使用，指代同一个职分。例如：（1）使徒行传 20:28 称长老为 “监督”，并说他们 “牧养群羊”；（2）彼得前书 5:1-2 指示长老 “牧养群羊” 和 “作监督”，这三个词同时出现在同一上下文中；（3）提多书 1:5-7 也认为 “长老” 和 “监督” 是同义词，含义相同。因此，圣经似乎没有区分长老和牧师的角色 —— 牧师就是长老，长老就是牧师。 “牧师” 一词通常指的是教导和讲道的职能，而非一个独立的职位。

关于性别问题，认为女性不能担任长老但可以担任牧师的说法似乎缺乏圣经依据。希腊语“presbuteros”（长老）既可以指男性也可以指女性，正如提摩太前书 5:2, 9-10 所记载。提摩太前书 3:1-7 和提多书 1:5-9 中对长老的资格要求也适用于担任领导职务的男性和女性。认为女性不能担任长老的观念很可能源于后来的教会传统，而非圣经本身。正如哈珀斯教会的鲍比·哈灵顿牧师 (Pastor Rev. Bobby Harrington of Harpers Church) 在 2026 年 1 月 26 日的博客中所解释的那样，许多出于好意的信徒因此变成了平等主义者或互助主义者。他们拒绝男性领导，反而教导说男性和女性在家庭和教会中的角色完全可以互换，男性没有独特的领导角色。女性在社会各领域担任着重要的领导职位 —— 包括大型企业的首席执行官 —— 因此她们当然可以与男性一同担任长老。这些观点很容易引起共鸣，许多人坚称这种转变并非受文化影响，而是基于更符合当代语境的圣经解读。基于这些情况和解读，圣经似乎呈现了一种统一的长老/牧师/监督的角色，这使得许多人得出结论：圣经中没有任何理由将女性排除在长老的角色之外 —— 她们同样蒙召担任这一领导职位。

然而，使徒保罗也表达了与传统福音派教会类似的观点。这些教会秉持互补论，普遍认为女性不能担任长老，因为这个角色是为男性保留的。这种观点基于对使徒保罗著作的解读，以及传统福音派和保守派新教教会, 例如美国南方浸信会和长老会的传统观点。他们认为圣经将长老/监督的职分限定于合格的男性，例如：（1）提摩太前书 3:1-7 和提多书 1:5-9：这些经文概述了长老的资格，要求他们 “只娶一个妻子” 或 “只爱一个女人” ，并且要妥善管理自己的家庭。传统主义者将其解释为特指男性；（2）提摩太前书 2:12：保罗说： “我不准女人讲道，也不准她辖管男人，她必须闭口不言。” 这被解读为教会的永恒原则，而不仅仅是针对以弗所教会的临时性地方性指示；（3）在提摩太前书 2:13-14 中，保罗以亚当先被造、夏娃受试探为例，支持其对女性的限制，并论证男性领袖是上帝所设计的秩序的一部分。此外，支持者指出，耶稣只任命男性为十二使徒，保罗也限制了教会的权柄和治理角色仅限于男性。

尽管对圣经的解读存在差异，并且考虑到当前的管理模式和西方行政文化，不分教派基督徒都想作个神的传福音好器皿，尤其是我们作为加拿大宣道会的地方教会，特别是我们作为加拿大宣道会地方分会的成员，正在探讨女性是否应该在我们加拿大宣道会的地方分会中担任长老的问题。这要求我们在深刻的圣经教义和对合一的承诺之间取得平衡。加拿大宣道会的政策承认，真诚的、以圣经为根基的基督徒 —— 无论是在我们教派之内还是之外 —— 在这个问题上持有不同的观点。因此，加拿大宣道会教派秉持 “大帐篷” 理念，既欢迎主张男性专属长老会制度的互补观点，也欢迎主张开放长老会制度的平等主义观点。正如中国谚语所说，“家和睦，国安”，所以宣道会的政策不让在此问题上的分歧损害他们的使命。无论长老会是完全由男性组成还是包含女性，他们的使命始终不变：赋能所有信徒，使他们能够共同服侍、尊崇神的话语，并在加拿大乃至全球各地团结一致地传播福音。

加拿大宣道会政策的要点如下：(1) 女性可以在加拿大宣道会接受祝圣和按立，并拥有 “牧师” 的头衔；(2) 地方教会的章程可以被解释为允许女性加入长议会，尤其是在三分之二多数票赞成的情况下。关于（3）神学自由：加拿大宣道会教派承认互补和平等两种解释，认为它们符合加拿大宣道会在加拉太书 3:28、提摩太前书 2:12 和使徒行传 2:17-18 中阐述的 “多元一体” 原则，尤其强调女性和长老的任命。鼓励双方领袖彼此尊重，视对方为 “以基督为中心”，即便他们在长老的性别问题上存在分歧。

综上所述，关于地方教会选举女性长老的问题，特别是我们作为加拿大宣道会地方分会的成员，鼓励所有教会成员继续祷告，寻求圣灵的引导和启示，并进行一段时间的教育和大会，充分讨论这些价值观，并确保所有教会成员在正式投票前充分告知和理解这些价值观。圣经教导信徒要谦卑地视自己为传扬福音、服侍教会其他成员的器皿 —— 不是为了名利、地位或职位，而是作为上帝谦卑的工具。让我们引用使徒保罗在哥林多后书 4:7 中对服侍教会的鼓励： “我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里，要显明它的大能是出于神，不是出于我们。” 这个比喻强调，信徒如同脆弱而不完美的器皿，承载着福音的神圣宝藏，确保一切荣耀都归于神，而非人的成就或名声。

The scripture shared in《今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY》 is Acts 20:28-32. Many pastors have quoted this passage in their sermons. Here, the Apostle Paul solemnly bids farewell to the elders, overseers, and pastors of the church in Ephesus, instructing them to shepherd God's church with vigilance, care, and grace. Paul warns them of the impending danger: "fierce wolves" will come from outside to devour the flock. Therefore, Paul entrusts them to "God and the word of his grace," for only God and the word of his grace can build up the church and ensure that the saints inherit their inheritance. As elders, overseers, or pastors, your calling is not self-aggrandizement, but rather leading with grace at its center—serving or proclaiming God's will, living out an example of repentance, spreading the faith through the indwelling power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and interceding for one another and for the flock. Remember, as Acts 20:35 says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Lead with love, serve with humility, do not seek church positions or titles, but trust in the Holy Spirit and His grace; He will sustain you in your service in a Christ-centered church.

Now that we have understood the teachings and implications in the scriptures, which require us to have a servant-like leadership and service attitude, let us continue to understand and talk about today’s sensitive topic — “Should the church consider electing female elders”— especially for us, God’s children, and members of The Alliance Canada across Canada. Whether God’s children as Christians should appoint female elders in a Christ-centered church is a highly controversial topic, with two main viewpoints based on different interpretations of the Bible.

Many biblical scholars seem to believe that in the New Testament, “pastor,” “elder,” and “overseer” (bishop) are used interchangeably to refer to the same office. For example: (1) Acts 20:28 refers to elders as “overseers” and says they “shepherd the flock”; (2) 1 Peter 5:1-2 instructs elders to “shepherd the flock” and “serve as overseers,” all three terms appearing in the same context; (3) Titus 1:5-7 also considers “elder” and “overseer” to be synonyms with the same meaning. Therefore, the Bible does not seem to distinguish between the roles of elder and pastor — a pastor is an elder, and an elder is a pastor. The term “pastor” usually refers to the function of teaching and preaching, rather than a separate position.

Regarding gender, the claim that women cannot serve as elders but can serve as pastors seems to lack biblical basis. The Greek word “presbuteros” (elder) can refer to both men and women, as recorded in 1 Timothy 5:2, 9-10. The qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 also apply to both men and women holding leadership positions. The notion that women cannot serve as elders likely stems from later church tradition rather than the Bible itself. As Pastor Bobby Harrington of Harpers Church explains in his blog on January 26, 2026, many well-intentioned believers have thus become egalitarians or mutualists. They reject male leadership, instead teaching that men and women have completely interchangeable roles in the family and church, and that men have no unique leadership role. Women hold important leadership positions in various sectors of society — including CEOs of large corporations — so they can certainly serve as elders alongside men. These views resonate easily, and many insist that this shift is not culturally influenced but based on a biblical interpretation more relevant to the contemporary context. Based on these circumstances and interpretations, the Bible seems to present a unified role of elder/pastor/overseer, leading many to conclude that there is no reason in the Bible to exclude women from the role of elder — they are equally called to this leadership position.

However, the Apostle Paul also expressed views similar to those of traditional evangelical churches. These churches hold a complementary view and generally believe that women should not serve as elders because the role is reserved for men. This view is based on interpretations of the Apostle Paul's writings, as well as the traditional views of traditional evangelical and conservative Protestant churches, such as the Southern Baptist and Presbyterian churches in the United States. They believe that the Bible limits the office of elder/overseer to qualified men, for example: (1) 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9: These passages outline the qualifications of elders, requiring them to "have only one wife" or "love only one woman" and to manage their households well. Traditionalists interpret this as specifically referring to men; (2) 1 Timothy 2:12: Paul says, “I will not allow a woman to preach or have authority over a man; she must keep silent.” This is interpreted as an eternal principle of the church, not merely a temporary local instruction for the church in Ephesus; (3) In 1 Timothy 2:13-14, Paul uses the example of Adam being created first and Eve being tempted to support his restriction on women and argue that male leadership is part of God’s designed order. Furthermore, proponents point out that Jesus appointed only men as the twelve apostles, and Paul also limits the authority and governing role of the church to men.

Despite differing interpretations of the Bible, and considering current management models and Western administrative culture, Christians regardless of denomination want to be a good vessel for God to spread and peach the gospel. Especially we, as local churches of the Alliance Canada, and particularly as members of the Alliance Canada Local Chapter, are exploring the question of whether women should serve as elders in our Alliance Canada local churches. This requires us to strike a balance between profound biblical doctrine and a commitment to unity. The Alliance Canada's policy acknowledges that genuine, biblical-based Christians — both within and outside our denomination — hold differing views on this issue. Therefore, their denomination embraces the "big tent" concept, welcoming both complementary views advocating for a male-only Presbyterian system and egalitarian views advocating for an open Presbyterian system. As the Chinese proverb say, "Harmony in the family ensures national peace," they have not allowed disagreements on this issue to undermine their mission. Whether the Presbyterian Church is entirely male or includes women, their mission remains unchanged: to empower all believers to serve together, honor God's Word, and spread the Gospel in unity throughout Canada and around the world.

Key points of the Alliance Canada's policy are as follows: (1) Women can be consecrated and ordained within the Alliance Canada and hold the title of "Pastor"; (2) Local church bylaws can be interpreted to allow women to join the Board of Elders, especially with a two-thirds majority vote. Regarding (3) Theological freedom: The Alliance Canada recognizes both complementary and equal interpretations, considering them consistent with the principle of “unity in diversity” as articulated by the Alliance Canada in Galatians 3:28, 1 Timothy 2:12, and Acts 2:17-18, with particular emphasis on the appointment of women and elders. They encourage leaders from both sides to respect each other and view each other as “Christ-centered,” even if they disagree on the gender of elders.

In summary, regarding the issue of electing female elders in local churches, especially those as members of the local chapter of the Alliance Canada encourage all their church members to continue to pray, seek the guidance and revelation of the Holy Spirit, and conduct a period of education and general meetings to fully discuss these values and ensure that all church members fully informed and understand these values before officially voting. The Word of God in the Bible teaches believers to humbly regard themselves as vessels for spreading the gospel and serving other members of the church — not for fame, fortune, status, or position, but as humble instruments of God. Let us quote the Apostle Paul's encouragement for serving the church in 2 Corinthians 4:7: "For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that its mighty power may be from God and not from ourselves." This parable emphasizes that believers are like fragile and imperfect vessels, carrying the divine treasure of the gospel, ensuring that all glory belongs to God, not to human achievements or fame.

【070】 Whisper Web transfers sharing from Dr. John King 张皇卿博士 on “今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY” at 分享自脸书网站：www.facebook.com/johnking9999 and 和 维克斯站：johnking9999.wixsite.com/website Edmonton, AB, Canada Friday 03.20.2026.