Women in Ministry
November 13, 2025

Pastor's Note: Women in Ministry

By Tom Petter

 

Scripture is Our Guide

The first question raised when discussing women in ministry is: what about the texts that prohibit women from public speaking, teaching and preaching? (1 Timothy 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. See The Gospel Coalition Commentary online for a summary of the issues). In the orthodox Protestant tradition, we view the Scripture as authoritative (our final appeal), inerrant (without error), normative (our boundaries) and sufficient to "make the man of God complete, equipped for every good work (anthropos as generic for both men and women, 2 Timothy 3:17). We are bound by conscience and the Word of God to seek the Scripture diligently to inform all our practices. We will not be swayed by the wind of cultures to fit the teachings of the Bible into current worldviews and ideologies.


"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity"

We recognize these are difficult texts to deal with. We should always have a posture of humility when interpreting passages of Scripture that are hard to understand. The Bible is true and inerrant, but our own interpretations aren't always accurate! This is why certain topics are conversations, and we should not be legalistic and hard-headed about our conclusions. We humble ourselves and recognize we need the Holy Spirit to guide us to understand the literary, grammatical and historical contexts to determine meaning. If it's a hard text to figure out, we seek to find its meaning also with what Scripture says elsewhere.


Summary

Since this is a longer and more detailed blog, here is the gist: Can women teach? Yes, women can teach Scripture, but Paul issues a strong command against a particular teaching that was present in Ephesus, the context of 1 Timothy. This command for women not to teach men has universal implications: a woman can never teach just because she is a woman, as if she possesses special spiritual insights and powers over man. Paul goes back to the origins of the creation of man and woman (Genesis 2-3). Both Eve and Adam are "transgressors" and left to themselves have "enmity" (Genesis 3:15) against each other. But Paul reminds us that Eve was the first transgressor, not Adam. The original signature (primeval) temptation of man is to lord it over woman and others ("he will rule over you," Genesis 3:16) with violence if necessary (Cain murders Abel in Genesis 4). The primeval temptation for woman is to "desire," which is the same word used for Cain's "desire" for sin: "Sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is to have you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7). This "desire" translates into the deception Eve fell for when tempted by Satan to eat of the fruit and to become a transgressor (read Genesis 3). Adam also ate of the fruit but because he was created first, he becomes the primary "transgressor" and causes the entire human race to fall into sin. Paul makes it clear the guilt lies with Adam in Romans 5:12-14, but Eve is equally guilty, which is the point Paul makes in 1 Timothy 2. Both man's and woman's signature temptations are of course interchangeable since it boils down to wielding control over others, but biblical wisdom holds: man must control the urge to lord it over others and his desire/craving for power (including by violent means; how many wars have been started because of man's ego?). Woman must also bring her desires under God's control.


Teachers, Leaders and Writers of Scripture: Mostly Men and a Few Women

It is a fact the prophets and apostles who wrote Scriptures (see 1 Peter 1:10-12 and 2 Peter 1:21) are men and that leaders in Scripture are men (Covenant mediators Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the 12 tribes of Israel, David's kingship and his descendants, Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant, the 12 Apostles and the writers of the New Testament). Nevertheless, the Scripture also describes several women who rise up to teach, write Scripture and lead both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Examples are well known: Deborah is both prophet and judge, a dual role only Samuel shares in the early days of Israel (Judges 4:1-5; 1 Samuel 7:6, 16-17). In her call, Israel (in the Hebrew, "all the sons of Israel") go to her for "judgment," which is Bible-speak for Scripture-informed guidance (Judges 4:5). She co-authors a song of victory against the Canaanites and Sisera (with Barak, Judges 5). Huldah was a contemporary prophet to Jeremiah at the time of King Josiah of Judah (late 7th Century BC). She prophesies the demise of the kingdom of Judah, codified in writing in 2 Kings 22:14-20. Other composers of Scriptures include Hannah who writes a poem celebrating the birth of Samuel and prophesying the coming Messiah-Anointed King David. Mary's Magnificat mirrors Hannah's song (1 Samuel 2:1-10; Luke 1:46-55). Luke makes a point to emphasize women in his account of the life of Jesus. Acts 2 proclaims the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon men and women. Priscilla and Aquilla teach Apollos (Acts 18:26). Paul has female "co-workers" (see the list in Romans 16).


Here is the dilemma: on the one hand, Paul's prohibition against women speaking in public cannot be cancelled or ignored from the record (1 Timothy 2:11-15), which is a routine tactic of feminist-liberal interpreters. On the other hand, we cannot cancel from the record that a few women do in fact write the Scripture, rise to prominence and play significant roles in redemptive history. Is there a way to bring these two realities together, a stern prohibition against women teaching men and the presence of women leaders in Scripture?


A Summary of the Texts Regarding the Universal Prohibition on Women Teaching (1 Corinthians 14:34-35; Timothy 2:11-15)

First Corinthians 14 is the 'easier' text to handle. The Gospel Coalition Commentary (online and free) on 1 Corinthians does a fine job explaining what it is the women were doing (prophesying indiscriminately in public worship) and why Paul silences them and their practices as a universal principle. The prohibition in 1 Timothy 2 is more complicated, and convictions are entrenched about what the text means for today's context and what Paul intended to say. What is the nature of the prohibition? What is it that Paul demands? The context of Ephesus where Timothy is ministering is helpful. In 1 Timothy 1:6-8, Paul mentions "certain persons" who are spreading false teaching. The historical context from Acts is another clue as to what was going on at the time. The goddess worship of Artemis in the temple of Ephesus attracted worldwide appeal. Artemis was "magnificent...whom all Asia and the world worship" (see Acts 19:27). Practices included profoundly immoral rituals (check out what Artemis looked like). To add to the mix, women in Ephesus dressed provocatively and flaunted their wealth, acquired through the lucrative profits gained from the temple economy (Acts 19:23-27). Paul says Christian women should behave very differently and be "respectable, with modesty and self-control" (1 Timothy 2:9).


Specific Commands to Women in 1 Timothy 2

With this context in mind, Paul gives a succession of commands to women in general: "let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness" (1 Timothy 2:11), which gives them permission to learn but with the clear expectation of an attitude of teachability without a sense of superiority nor loudness. We might say, 'don't be a know-it-all and a loudmouth.' With this premise in place, Paul delivers the central charge: "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather she is to remain quiet" (2:12). This is a categorical prohibition that leaves no loophole. A female person can learn but cannot "teach" nor have "authority" (in the sense of domineering or controlling) over a man. Paul doesn't stipulate a public or private setting though the chapter does suggest public worship. The reason for this 'no-exception' command comes next. It's enshrined in the record of Creation in Genesis 1-3. Here Paul affirms the primacy of Adam and what we call primogeniture: all the blessings and privileges given to the first born: "for Adam was formed first, not Eve" (2:13). But more to the point, it was in fact Eve who was "deceived,” not "Adam" (1 Timothy 2:13; see Genesis 3:1-6, with the emphasis on "the woman"). She became a "transgressor" (2:14; Note that Adam is not off the hook either, see Romans 5:12-21). If Eve was deceived and is a transgressor, Paul argues, then a "woman (in the singular) can't teach nor exercise authority over a man; she is to keep quiet" (2:12). The reasoning makes sense: why would you have someone who is a deceiver teach anyone? Furthermore, why would someone who came second in the lineage (Eve) receive the patrimonial blessing and authority over the firstborn (Adam)? Paul here is restoring the 'pecking order' of the beginning of creation of humankind as male and female (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:18-25). Adam is the source of Eve in their interdependent relationship. Adam is also the recipient of primordial authority and receives the blessing of the first born, not Eve.


Biblical Authority Defined

Before we continue with Paul's line of argument in 1 Timothy 2, it's important to remind ourselves that authority from a biblical perspective is never a means to lord it over others, but rather a privilege and responsibility to serve others, as Jesus corrects the disciples’ definition of authority (Mark 10:42-45). If you are craving authority and power as the disciples were, you will be in for a big surprise. Jesus's kind of authority and how we exercise it is defined for us: death to self and sacrificial service to others! More on this definition of authority below.


Redemption of Eve

The final point Paul makes in 1 Timothy 2:15 seems to confirm what he's had in mind so far. He appeals to both the archetypical "woman" who "will be saved through childbearing" and all her followers "if they (plural) continue in faith and love and holiness and self-control." So, Paul concludes where he started in his admonition to women with the idea of "self-control" (2:9). Self-control in the worship of Artemis didn't exist and this sort of reckless craving of appetites for sexual gratification, attention, affluence and gaudy appearance also translated into reckless and irresponsible teachings.


The Nature of the Prohibition

As with every difficult text in Scripture, we need to tread with caution, hold our interpretation humbly and be open to having our minds changed. It is the Bible that is authoritative and inerrant, not our interpretation of it. Let's begin with what we can say without question: the prohibition stands across time and cultures about a woman teaching a man and is very real. But what is less clear is the nature of the prohibition that applies to all times and cultures. Paul seems to confront and debunk a universally held false belief that women in general were more spiritually enlightened than men. They bragged about it and openly taught this heresy in public, flaunting their special spiritual knowledge over man, just because of their womanhood. Paul shuts the door on this false teaching. Instead, Paul commands women can in fact grow in Christ and learn but it must be done in a posture of humility and discretion, “let a woman learn quietly in all submissiveness" (1 Timothy 2:11). In other words, just as you shouldn't flaunt your wealth and draw attention to yourself (2:9), do not parade your knowledge as if you were superior. Be humble and learn in submissive attitude and put on display a "respectable" appearance "with modesty" and, in a highly sexualized culture, "self-control." Paul here echoes Proverbs 31 ("a woman of worth, who can find?") where he defines authentic feminine beauty as "godliness" and "good works" over undue fascination about outward appearance (1 Timothy 2:9; Proverbs 31:10).


Restoring the Record of Creation

The command for "a woman not to teach or exercise authority over a man" (1 Timothy 2:12) is directly tied to the order of Creation ("for Adam was formed first, not Eve," 2:13). By appealing to the Creation account of man and woman (Adam and Eve in Genesis 1-2), Paul tears down the entire goddess worship system that puts a female first in the order of Creation as the source and authority. At the center of Paul's prohibition is the false teaching that "the woman" as the archetype somehow has authority over men based on Eve's special insights (and after her every woman, including, presumably the goddess Artemis). Acts 19:34 offers a window into the fanaticism of Artemis's worshipers when a huge crowd gathered in Ephesus's theatre and “for about two hours they all cried with one voice ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.’” This distorted view of Eve and the resulting perception of women is the corrective that universally stands for all times and cultures. Women do not de facto carry any special powers over men. In fact, in primeval terms, it was the exact opposite: Eve was deceived! What is construed as special spiritual insight is pure deception! This is why women who believe in the primacy of woman over man can't ever teach man under any circumstances; they are teaching demonic lies (Satan says to Eve: if you eat of the tree, you will "know good and evil," Genesis 3:4-5). Paul will have none of that in Ephesus or anywhere else for that matter.


From Eve to Mary

Nevertheless, the archetypical woman represented by Eve is redeemed from her deception and "she (singular) will be saved through childbearing." Women (plural) are "to continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control" (2:15). Here interpretations can easily go off the rails and infer that salvation for women will come if they bear children. This is decidedly not the case, since salvation is apart from any works, including raising children (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, Paul seems to create a connection between Eve who was the archetype of deception and Mary ("she") who was the bearer of the Savior, by the Holy Spirit. This is a difficult text to interpret so we should hold our opinion lightly. Nevertheless, what remains clear is the prohibition Paul puts before all generations: we don't put a goddess on the throne. Instead, we worship God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Women in Ephesus and through all times can't ever claim the mantle of primogeniture and its inferred source and authority. This belongs to the first man Adam, not the first woman. Mary brings the Savior into the world born of the Spirit, but it is the Second Adam Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the patrimonial blessing, that saves us, not Eve or Mary or any other goddess (Romans 5:17 ;1 Corinthians 15:45-49). To replace the worship of the preeminence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit with female categories is the heresy Paul has in mind.


Our Patrimonial Blessing from the Father in Christ, the Son of God

This heretical worship produces no inheritance (which is at the heart of the patrimonial blessing). By faith in Jesus, we, both man and woman, receive the full blessing and the glorious inheritance of the first-born (Ephesians 1:18). Galatians 3:26-29 states clearly: "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith...there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus...heirs according to promise." In Christ alone we are the full beneficiary of the patrimonial blessing of the inheritance of a first-born son (which is the precise meaning of primogeniture). This inheritance is glorious, "imperishable... and kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). To be sure the redeemer came "born of woman" (Galatians 4:4), but we have received our inheritance as "sons" by adoption and thereby have been given the right to call God "father" (Galatians 4:4-7). Christ alone has earned on our behalf the full patrimonial blessing of righteousness, holiness and glory in our place when He died and was raised from the dead (Romans 3:22; 4:25; 1 Corinthians 1:30, and so on). God the Father says, "This is my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11). In the Son of God, our Father is Heaven is pleased with us, male and female, and we receive the Holy Spirit with whom we are sealed for the Day of Redemption (Ephesians 4:30).


However, before we rush to concluding that God is male only (swinging the heretical pendulum the other way), humankind as male and female are bearers of the image of God in the creation account (Genesis 1:27). God is Spirit (John 4:24) and reveals Himself in the richness of biblical imagery as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He also cares for us as a mother nurtures her children (Deuteronomy 32:18; Isaiah 42:14; 66:13; Matthew 23:37, and so on). We can't cancel God's feminine attributes any more than we can cancel his masculine attributes.


Both a Contextual and Universal Application

Thus, it seems we need to take into consideration the context of the prohibition of false teaching in Ephesus, but without dismissing the universal force of the command. Proponents of the context of goddess worship and the primacy of Artemis in Ephesus have Acts on their sides. There are also considerable extra-biblical documentary sources and cultural background material on goddess worship in Ephesus and elsewhere in the Greco-Roman world. However, the contextual arguments lose their persuasive appeal when the universal dimension of the prohibition is not taken seriously. The primacy of Adam stands forever. We can't go back to the Genesis account and rewrite it to make the text say something that it doesn't say. In other words, it's not enough to say, 'Oh, it's part of the First-Century heresy and nothing really applies today.' This would be true if Paul didn't appeal to the archetypal woman "Eve." But he does! Clearly there is something harking back to creation that Paul wants us to preserve, a commandment that applies beyond the historical context of Ephesus. The proposal here offers a sort of via media and argues that women who are anchored in the teachings of Creation-Redemption through the primacy of the First-Born of God – the Second Adam, Jesus Christ – can in fact teach men (if they have the spiritual gift of teaching). But if women promote the teaching that they somehow possess innate special spiritual powers over men with unique insights that men can never have, then the application of the text stands for all times.


The Heresy of the Primacy of Women in History and Today
To be clear, there are far more heresies spread by men than by women both in the Bible and through church history. Man's primeval sin of control and unchecked power over woman is reflected in brutal stories of patriarchal abuses of power, violence and cruelty following the fall of Adam and the resulting curse ("he shall rule over you" Genesis 3:16). If you can stomach it, read Judges 19 as a horrendous account of men's depravity. This sort of behavior is roundly condemned in biblical law which views women as a protected class. Nevertheless, a primeval temptation for women also exists. In the First Century, goddess worship was Artemis, Diana for the Romans, and Isis and Hathor in Egypt. These all derive from the fertility goddesses Asherah in ancient Israel, Ishtar in Mesopotamia and their antecedents in the earliest recorded history (look up the "Munhata Lady" of Neolithic times and you will understand). This false perception of human identity morphs according to culture and keeps appearing through history: today's gender confusion is one example, as is secular ideologies that promotes autonomy rather than the blessings of biblical interdependency between male and female (1 Corinthians 11:11). The rejection of the primacy (source and authority) of man is also a typical expression of the same temptation. It may be outright (organized religions that favor women in roles of authority) or perhaps more subtle through manipulation. The undue elevation of Mary in some Christian worship is also a manifestation of the same problem. We pray to the Father in Jesus's name and to no-one else. We don't need a female mediator to pray to our Father. As Paul says in the same context of Christian worship in 1 Timothy 2:5, "for there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ" (and we could add the interpretation: 'and it's not a female mediator').


True Authority

As a final thought, for anyone who misconstrue spiritual power, authority, and brags about special spiritual insights, Jesus offers a brutal reality check: your primeval "authority" is for you to lead the way Jesus went to the cross (Mark 10:45). There is no earthly glory and ranking in that posture! Philippians 2:3-8 defines this authority: humility, self-emptying and sacrificial service, even unto death if need be. This is the mindset we should all have, men and women. In 1 Timothy 2, women are targeted. In Ephesians 5:25 men are targeted. Paul essentially shuts down the primeval temptation of men to lord it over their wives in marriage or, by implication in any circumstances.

Biblical Models of Governance

By Tom Petter • October 30, 2025
Biblical Models of Governance by Tom Petter Our Final Appeal for Governance: Jesus Christ and His Word Church governance can be a complicated matter. Many churches over the centuries have split over matters of governance. As we celebrate Reformation Day (October 31), Martin Luther famously broke away from the idea of the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. King Henry VIII, perhaps for less noble reasons, also severed ties from Rome to form the Church of England. Protestants have myriads of sub-groups who differ over minor points but also at times major points of doctrine. Within our congregational tradition harking back to the Puritan era (1600s), our final appeal is the authority of Jesus Christ, as revealed in His Word. Defining Board, Deacons and Ministers at TCC TCC is blessed to have a strong foundation for leadership stability with the current by-laws drafted in 2010. We are a board-led church who is composed of members elected by the congregation for a term of 3 years (renewable after one year off). The board consists of men and women (with no particular ratio of representation) who display evident characteristics of spiritual wisdom and managerial gifts. The Senior Minister is a member of the board. Per by-laws, "the Senior Minister shall lead the Church to accomplish its mission and shall be the spiritual and administrative leader of the Church, reporting to the Board." Deacons comprise an even number of men and women with no less 10 members. Our ordained pastoral staff are "ministers." Where do these categories fit within the testimony of Scripture? Elders and Overseers The New Testament has particular designations for church leaders: "overseers" (episkopos in Greek) and "elders" (presbyteros) are used interchangeably in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:5-7). In the two lists of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, elders/overseers are to be spiritually wise leaders, hospitable, well versed in matters of doctrine and of impeccable character. Specifically, they are to be family men faithful to their wife. Paul essentially shuts the door to the Old Testament (illicit) practice of polygamy and harks back to Genesis 2:24 where the ideal of marriage is defined as union of man and one woman (see Ephesians 5:31). Paul confirms Jesus's teaching on sexual ethics, which itself upholds the Old Testament teachings on sexual practices (Matthew 19:1-12). An elder (and his wife, see Proverbs 1:8) must make every effort to raise obedient children in the Lord (Titus 1:6). Many denominations take these guidelines and apply them to what constitute qualifications to be elders in a church: only men can be elders, though governing church structures do not restrict the role to married men with children. At TCC the qualifications for board membership are derived from the lists of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. We also draw from other characteristics of spiritual leadership and gifting listed elsewhere in the Scripture. This comprehensive approach to scriptural qualifications allows for the inclusion of both men and women on our board (see next sections). Ministers, Deacons and Servants Ministers, deacons, and servants are variably translated from one word, diakonos: In Colossians 1:25, Paul is a "diakonos/minister." In 1 Timothy 3:8, Paul speaks of the office of "diakonos/deacon." Phoebe is a diakonos/servant in Romans 16:1. Jesus's mission is to "diakoneo/serve" in Mark 10:45, which directly connects to the substitutionary sacrifice of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. In the same context, He calls His followers not to lord over others like the Gentiles do but to be diakonos/servants (10:42-43). In 1 Timothy 3, the deacons must exhibit the same characteristics as elders/overseers. Finally, to be a "servant/minister" is a title every Christ-follower holds since we follow in the footsteps of the Lord every day of our lives (Mark 8:34). Pastors, Shepherds, Teachers and Apostles In Ephesians, Paul takes another angle and characterizes church leadership around the five spiritual gifts sovereignly distributed to certain "men" in the sense of gender inclusive "humankind/anthropos" rather than male-specific "man/andros" (Ephesians 4:7-8). As such, the list of "apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/shepherds and teachers" are all in the masculine in Greek which can also be taken as a generic masculine. This approach seems to be confirmed with Priscilla who is clearly a teacher of the Gospel (along with her husband Aquilla; Romans 16:3; Acts 18:25-26). Phillip has "four unmarried daughters who prophesied" (Acts 21:9). Less certain is "Junia...well known to the apostles" (ESV of Romans 16:7). The NIV leaves the door open to the interpretation that she belonged to the guild ("outstanding among the apostles"). In Ephesians 4:8, "pastors and teachers" are linked together in Paul's list, but he doesn't seem to single out the office of pastor above the other spiritual gifts. In the modern church, we have elevated the role of "pastor" as the leader of the flock from the perspective of a spiritual "shepherd." The metaphorical imagery from the Scriptures is rich ("the Lord is my shepherd," "I am the good shepherd"). The leadership of Israel are called shepherds, for better or, more often than not, for worse (see Ezekiel 34). So it's perfectly fine to call church leaders “pastors” as long as we understand that any sense of authority (in the way Jesus defines authority as serving others) never comes from ourselves but from the Word of God and the spiritual gifts God has given us. All of us have spiritual gifts (see the lists in Romans 12:3-8; also 1 Corinthians 12-14) and we should never view one gift as superior to the other, as Paul corrects the foolish Corinthians who were so enamored with their celebrity preachers and quite taken by their own veneer of spirituality (1 Corinthians 1-3). On the contrary, our ultimate authority (and boasting!) rests upon the Word of God and Jesus Christ (John 1:1-2). The Church is built upon both the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets (those with the authority to write down the Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16) and the "cornerstone," Jesus Christ, upon whom all authority has been given (Ephesians 2:20). In sum, the big picture of the available biblical models of governance allow for some variables in how these specific texts are applied to our church leadership structure. In our elected and appointed board and deacons, we have men married with children, we have women who are gifted leaders, teachers, managers (Romans 12:8), we have single men and women, from various backgrounds and cultures. On the pastoral team, we have "ministers"who are set apart for service to the Lord in full time or part time roles. The common qualifications are people who are above reproach, humble and broken by their weakness but strong in the grace of God, with a servant heart, knowledge of the Lord and the Word (they go together, always!), and wisdom to apply truth in love with one another (see Ephesians 4 for a masterful description of the "truth and love" principle). At the membership level and regular attendants at TCC and in every areas of our community life, we have people with the gift of compassion and mercy in serving others in practical ways, intercession, evangelism, and so on. What brings us together is that we are all servants of the Lord and ministers of the Gospel. Final Thought: Do We Have Apostles and Prophets Today? Apostolic authority lies with those who saw Christ (so the 12 and Matthias in Acts 1). It also includes, crucially, Paul himself, to whom Christ revealed Himself (1 Corinthians 15; Galatians 1; Acts 9, 22, 24). Paul had to defend his apostolic authority fiercely in Galatians and also in 2 Corinthians. The foundation of the apostles and prophets in Ephesians 2:20 has now been closed since the Scripture has been written and no new texts can be added since the end of the first Century AD. We do not have apostles who can write the Scripture after this first generation who saw Christ. In fact, anyone who claim that mantle are false teachers and prophets in Scripture (2 Peter and Jude). There are, however, prophets in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 12 and 14; Agabus in Acts 11:17-20) who are still able to see events in the future, but not to the extent that their revelations become Scripture. This is why Paul says if someone prophesies today, we are to test these prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). False prophets would be Joseph Smith and his "book of Mormon," and in the early Medieval period, Mohammed who claimed to have received the final revelation of God in the Quran. Modern day equivalents include those who claim to know when Christ will return, a knowledge that Christ didn't even possess while on earth in His incarnation! In our next Pastor's note, we will discuss the matter of women in ministry and ordination. Stay tuned....

Guiding Principles 2025-2026 and Vision Casting 2026-2036

By Tom Petter • September 19, 2025
GUIDING PRINCIPLES 2025-2026 and Vision Casting 2026-2036 Resilient Witness: Spreading the Gospel in the Power of the Holy Spirit Key verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The spread of the Gospel from Acts 2 to Acts 28 takes about 30 years (ca. AD 33 to ca. AD 65). It takes time for these events to unfold but in the narrative, things happen very fast, one after another. We will use Acts as our "resilient witness" theme for the year. In spite (or perhaps because) of opposition, the Word of the Gospel spreads throughout the Roman empire and to "the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). In Acts we see the fruit, but this fruit is against the backdrop of three decades and a lot of hardships and opposition. The goal is that TCC would grab hold of the call of God and the commission that is upon all of us. We are all ministers of the Gospel as members of the Body; that we would be emboldened to bear witness by the power of the Holy Spirit here in Metrowest ("Jerusalem"), in our country ("Judea and Samaria") and throughout the world ("the ends of the earth"). The hope is that we too will be able to testify that "the Word of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:24) in and through us this coming year. VISION CASTING: BUILDING UP THE BODY (2026-2036) Looking beyond next year One of the themes in the book of Acts is community. How did the early Church interact with one another and with the world? What can we apply and learn from them? How can we fulfill our mission to “Be and Make Disciples of Jesus Christ” in the years to come? Building up the Body Through Growth Groups: Being Disciples, Becoming Disciplers This year and in the years to come, we are building upon the foundations of last year's launch of our program for discipleship and outreach. Growth Groups focus on transformation, intentional community and outreach in line with the church's mission "to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ." By God's grace, Growth Groups will accomplish several things this coming year: To welcome new believers into the faith in close community semester by semester. This fall we have six growth groups scheduled. To strengthen our walk with the Lord for those of us who are already established in the faith. The curriculum for fall 2025 will be Mateus de Campos's lessons in discipleship from the Gospel of Mark. To pursue outreach initiatives in our community with the goal of conversion and discipleship. The Book of Acts exemplifies what outreach to the community is: bold proclamation of the Gospel to others. It is simply not enough to provide community services to our neighbors if the Gospel is not at the center of the outreach. Community is also grounded in our unity in Christ, in caring for one another and in growing in love for one another as fellow believers. In the early Church unto this day, this love and unity becomes a powerful witness to the world around us (and conversely, factions and divisions projects a poor witness, as in the case at Corinth! See 1 Corinthians 1-4). Building Up the Body: Pastor-Planting (2026-) The Book of Acts commissions all of us to be missionaries (the word in Acts is "witnesses") to our neighbors, and to the world. Some of us have and will physically relocate because of the leading of the Holy Spirit, while most of us will stay here in the Wayland area and continue to bear witness in our daily lives and various callings. Whether sent out locally or regionally or internationally, TCC is a sending church empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20). This coming year, we are excited to build upon the successful pilot residency program that launched Aaron Verbosky into a senior minister role at South Peabody Congregational Church in 2024. This past year, we have had an internal candidate for the Residency program in the person of Jen Calverley to prepare her for the role of Minister of Community Life. In 2026, the goal is to launch a new initiative to form and send out pastors who will fill pulpits in our region. By partnering with Made to Flourish Pastoral Residency Program, TCC will bring in one pastoral resident in the fall of 2026 for a duration of two years. During this residency period (much like a medical residency), the candidate will learn and grow in the skills needed for a successful and long-term tenure as a senior minister in a local church. The short-term goal is to launch the program next fall. The long-term goal is to send out pastors in New England to fill the many vacant pulpits to bear witness to the Gospel in this post-Christian generation. Instead of church planting, this is a pastor planting vision to train future pastors in preaching, leadership and pastoral care in existing churches in our area. Other churches nation-wide have joined in this movement (about 80 of them) and we are excited to be able to partner with Made to Flourish in this coming year. God willing, Made to Flourish will provide some of the funding for the next five years to help us launch this program to compensate our residents. Building up the Body: Long-term Maintenance of Our Facilities (2026-36) TCC has inherited a wonderful physical space for the worship of the Lord. Thanks to the "Higher Ground" initiative of the 2000's, we have first-rate facilities for our many ministries (completed in 2009). One area that remains in need of 'higher ground' is the sanctuary which has not been updated since the early 1970's. In a rapidly changing world, the technology in the sanctuary needs updating and the space needs a refresh to a more energy efficient space. In addition, the long-term upkeep of our buildings requires setting monies aside for future expenses such as the roof and the AC systems in the main building (installed in 2009). For the next 10-12 years, we will need to spend considerable amounts of money to upgrade these systems. In 2026, the goal is to implement a plan of action that prepares us to address these long-term needs so that we can 'hand off' our facilities in better shape than we found them to the next generation of worshipers at TCC. The space we have inherited was designed to be poised for numerical growth. The Book of Acts teaches us that it is God who "adds to the numbers" of His people (Acts 2:47). For our mission at TCC, the number of 'people in the pews' can never be confused with spiritual growth. One can fill large sanctuaries with large crowds, but are they disciples in the way the Book of Acts describes? The models of church ministry of the past such as stadium outreach in the 1950's-80's or "seeker" sensitive church services of the 90's-2010's simply cannot be re-applied to our post-Christian and post-modern context today. Numerical growth at TCC will not come by clever marketing schemes or programs or buildings or personalities. God is the One who will bring the growth as Scripture tells us (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Our responsibility is to grow in Christ and bear witness to this growth with our public display of the fruit of the Spirit. In these spiritual realities, we are trusting in the Lord for 'Route 20 Revival' which means we need to prepare ourselves and our physical space for the next wave of Awakening in New England (after the First Awakening in the 18th century, the Second Awakening in the 19th century, and the Third Awakening in the mid-20th Century in our area). God has done it before, and He can do it again! We need our physical space to be ready for what the Lord is doing. By-Laws Boundaries and Accountability Principles The Board, committees, Senior Minister, Pastoral and support staff, and the congregation as a whole come under the accountability structures established in the TCC By-Laws of 2010. We are all accountable to the Lordship of Christ and His Word. In Christ, the Judgment of the Last Day has already come to us as “righteous” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Also, we will all have to give an account on that Day as to what we did in the body in our justified state (2 Corinthians 5:10), whether we were zealous for good works or not (Titus 2:11-14).

Guiding Principles for 2024-2025

By Tom Petter • September 5, 2024
Trinitarian Congregational Church Guiding Principles for the Ministry Year 2024-2025 Ministry Theme: Return and Rest Theme Song: "Another In The Fire" by Hillsong UNITED (video below) Key verse: “Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 This ministry year we embark on a journey into the depths of the Gospel according to the Book of Isaiah. Some people have called Isaiah “the fifth gospel” because of its profound impact on the gospels (“the suffering servant” of Isaiah 53) and the rest of the New Testament. Isaiah’s call to rest in the Lord in the challenges of life, whether existential, physical or emotional (or all of the above) rings so true today! In an election year and a world in turmoil, the prophet, empowered by the Spirit of Christ (1 Peter 1:11; 2 Peter 1:21) asks us: Who do you trust? Your “chariots and horses” (Isaiah-speak for our own resourcefulness), “Egypt” (=political parties, elected officials, ideologies)? To know who you trust will inevitably be tested in these troubling times but here is the promise: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-2). The goal and the prayer for TCC this year is that Isaiah’s call (“Here I am! Send me.”) will spark our own call to “dream big” (“they shall declare my glory to the nations” 66:19). World evangelization and preaching the gospel to our neighbors are impossible tasks, but we serve a God that is far greater than we can ever imagine, for whom nothing is impossible. As to the how this can be done, Isaiah is convinced that the power of God’s Word draws people in, not marketing strategies or fancy programming (is this what the American church trusts today? Isaiah would be sure to ask us!). Instead, it’s the Word alone that serves as the attractional pull and He (the Word is Jesus Himself) never returns empty (Isaiah 2:1-4; 40:8; 55:1). This year we commit ourselves to returning and resting in Him and His Word. In an age where the proclamation and application of Scripture is increasingly deemed irrelevant, if not viewed downright offensive, we instead put the Spirit and the Word at the center of everything we do. Such a commitment to the sufficiency of the Word of God will inevitably demand we cut back on certain things and add others. We are committing ourselves to resetting priorities to bring the good news to our neighbors (“for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” 11:9). We are the hands and feet of Jesus; so these “boots [or feet] are made for walkin'…” (“How beautiful are the feet of him/her who brings good news…who declares ‘our God reigns” 55:7)! Growth Groups This year we are launching a brand-new program of discipleship and outreach. To fulfill our mission for intentional biblical witness and discipleship at TCC, we are implementing a semester-based small-group format that runs in the fall and spring (with option for groups during the summer as well). Groups focus on transformation, intentional community and outreach which create a social space where we learn God’s character and live in openness and brokenness with one another. In the fall, Growth Groups will all read and discuss the book Empowering Missional Disciples. In the spring, one of the options will be integration of Isaiah’s themes such as repentance, the fear of the Lord, how to hear God’s voice, intercessory prayer, biblical meditation will be the topics of weekly discussion. Facilitators with the support of the pastoral staff will choose topics and themes. An integral dimension of our Growth Groups is outreach: together we will participate in outreach events such as sharing our faith with others in our communities and works of service. For TCC to fulfill her destiny in this generation and for her to lay firm foundations for the next generation, we need to recover, in the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer what “religionless Christianity” is all about (as opposed to rote church attendance as a religious ritual without any noticeable transformation in our lives); we need to recapture the vision for community and “life together;” we need to reconsider what the true “cost of discipleship” means as followers of Jesus Christ in the 21st Century. Sanctuary Renovations “I will beautify my beautiful house” (Isaiah 60:7). Our beautiful facilities at TCC are instruments for worship. Once in a while, we must tune them and make sure they function properly. Funded from bequest funds, we are thankful for this provision though we do anticipate the inevitable additional costs (included in the proposed budget for 2025 as part of our stewardship campaign). Scheduled for February of March 2025 (if everything goes well), the much-needed sanctuary renovations will include a newly reconfigured stage, lighting, sound, along with other aesthetic and structural improvements. The project timeline is two or three months during which time our worship service will take place in the Gym.