Let Her Speak

I’m not here to start a theological street fight—I’m just saying what a lot of us have been whispering in church parking lots for years:

Being a preacher and being a pastor are not the same thing.

A preacher proclaims the Word.

A pastor shepherds a flock.

Yes, the roles can overlap. But biblically, they’re distinct—and confusing them has shut down a lot of callings, especially for women.

Somewhere along the way, we started acting like any woman who teaches, preaches, or opens her Bible with authority must be trying to grab a pastoral title. That’s not just wrong—it’s sloppy theology.

Here’s what happens when we blur the lines:

• Women gifted in preaching get labeled rebellious.

• Female leaders are told to sit down and be quiet.

• The Church misses out on voices God intended to use.

Let’s clean that up:

If a woman is preaching the Word faithfully, under church covering, and not stepping into the role of elder—that’s not rebellion. That’s biblical obedience.

I don’t believe women should hold the office of pastor over an entire church. Not because we’re less capable, but because Scripture lays out a structure (1 Tim 2:12, Titus 1) we’re called to honor. That doesn’t make us second-class. It just means order matters.

But women can still be:

Preachers. Teachers. Leaders. Prophets. Shepherds. Influencers.

Some of us carry a pastor’s heart—deep compassion, spiritual wisdom, a gift for guiding people through valleys. That’s not overstepping. That’s leadership. And it’s needed.

And before anyone quotes “women should be silent” (1 Cor 14), let’s remember context. Paul was addressing chaos in worship—not banning women from ever speaking again. Just a few chapters earlier, he acknowledges women prophesying in public worship.

Biblically, the role of pastor/elder carries a unique spiritual authority and responsibility—and yes, Scripture reserves that role for qualified men. But that doesn’t mean women are voiceless.

We don’t need a title to carry the oil.

We don’t need a nameplate to hold the mic.

If God called us to speak—who are we to stay silent?