What Does VC Family Believe about Women in Ministry?
(This is Pastor Travis’ brief response to this question)
MEN & WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
God has created both women and men with equal dignity, value, and significance.
The command in Genesis 1:28 to "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it" requires both women and men to accomplish. The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, to multiply disciples, also requires men and women working together through the Holy Spirit to accomplish.
The Holy Spirit has been poured out on women and men in the same way and for the same purpose: so that we will all be empowered to live in a manner that demonstrates the character of Christ and fulfill our roles in the mission Jesus has assigned to His Church. The gifts the Spirit gives that equip believers for ministry in and through the local church are distributed to both women and men.
The completion of Jesus’ Great Commission calls on all believers, male and female, to be released and mobilized to put those gifts into action.
Our Lead Ministry Team at VC Family is made up of men and women.
We also believe that equality of personhood does not rule out differences in role. For example, in the Old Testament, only male descendants of Aaron were assigned to serve as priests, not because they were more important or better equipped, but simply because God assigned that role to them.
Based on our best and most responsible interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:8-15 and 1 Timothy 3:1-13, we understand that the role/office of elder is assigned to men, which is why our elder board consists of only male elders who serve the church in this manner.
The command in Genesis 1:28 to "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it" requires both women and men to accomplish. The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, to multiply disciples, also requires men and women working together through the Holy Spirit to accomplish.
The Holy Spirit has been poured out on women and men in the same way and for the same purpose: so that we will all be empowered to live in a manner that demonstrates the character of Christ and fulfill our roles in the mission Jesus has assigned to His Church. The gifts the Spirit gives that equip believers for ministry in and through the local church are distributed to both women and men.
The completion of Jesus’ Great Commission calls on all believers, male and female, to be released and mobilized to put those gifts into action.
Our Lead Ministry Team at VC Family is made up of men and women.
We also believe that equality of personhood does not rule out differences in role. For example, in the Old Testament, only male descendants of Aaron were assigned to serve as priests, not because they were more important or better equipped, but simply because God assigned that role to them.
Based on our best and most responsible interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:8-15 and 1 Timothy 3:1-13, we understand that the role/office of elder is assigned to men, which is why our elder board consists of only male elders who serve the church in this manner.
VC FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS:
FROM OUR STATEMENT OF BELIEFS: MARRIAGE
The first institution God blessed and ordained was the institution of marriage. The first miracle Jesus performed was at a wedding ceremony. God wants us to be intimately involved and considers the marriage relationship the most important of all relationships except for one's personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Marriage is the foundation of the family and all human government. It also is to serve as a model of intimacy and an example of the relationship the church is to have with Christ. This is why God wants to bless marriage above all other relationships. God has made marriage a very holy thing, and we want to honor that.
The Bible has given us God’s design for the gift of sex, and it is to be exercised and enjoyed only within the covenant relationship of marriage between one biological man and one biological woman (Genesis 1:24; 1 Corinthians 7:1-5). God has expressly condemned sexual intercourse outside of the marriage covenant. This prohibition applies to married people committing adultery, to sexual relationships between unmarried men and women, and to homosexual practice (Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9).
It is God’s expectation that the unmarried should live pure and celibate lives, refraining from sexual intimacy (1 Corinthians 7:7-9). Marriage as designed by God is meant to be a beautiful illustration of Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:21-33)..
It is God’s expectation that the unmarried should live pure and celibate lives, refraining from sexual intimacy (1 Corinthians 7:7-9). Marriage as designed by God is meant to be a beautiful illustration of Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:21-33)..
FROM OUR STATEMENT OF BELIEFS: GENDER CREATION IS SACRED
We believe that God wonderfully created each person as distinctly male or female (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:18-25; 5:1,2). These two distinct and complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. While we seek to love, accept, and walk with those experiencing gender dysphoria, we reject all attempts at constructing one’s own sexual identity by medically altering the human body or living as anything other than the biological sex God assigned a person at birth.