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| Q: | My son goes to a WELS Lutheran School. There is a issue with women not being able to be on the school board. I realize women can't vote in the church but as far as the school goes I don't think this should apply. I think for myself & will not let a man think for me. Can you tell me what the rules are regarding women on the school board. | ||||||
| A: | In Mattew 20:25-28 and Mark 10:42-45 Jesus says that the people in the world around us will want to hold the positions of authority so that they can lord it over others. But he tells his followers not to think that way. Instead, following his example, he tells them to seek the positions of serving others which are really the highest positions in God's sight. Just as our Savior did not come to be served but to serve others, so he urges all who believe in him to want to serve others rather than to be in charge of things. If a school board is lording it over the parents rather than serving them, that school board is not following Jesus' command. A school board is to take the lead in setting policies for a school, but they will do that only by asking for input from all the parents and then developing a policy that serves the best interests of the parents, children, and the whole congregation. Jesus also established certain roles for men and women. He wants the men to serve as the leaders. He says man is to serve as the "head" (1 Co 11:3). The head does everything that is in the best interests and for the good of the body. Men who serve as the leaders in various phases of a congregation's work can't possibly do what is in the best interests and for the good of the congregation or its school without consulting with all the members of the congregation or all the parents of school children, men and women. The role God established for the woman from the time of creation is to be a helper (Genesis 2:20b-22, 1 Timothy 2:11-13). Following the leadership of men does not mean a woman is not to think for herself. When she is asked to give input by the leadership she will certainly do so to help the leadership act in a way that is for the good of all. Following the leadership of men does not mean a woman is inferior to a man any more than people whom God asks to be obedient to the government (Romans 13:1) are inferior to their government officials, or people whom God asks to be obedient to their pastors (Hebrews 13:17) are inferior to those pastors. All the roles God establishes for us in life are done in love for us. Those whom he establishes as leaders are to use that role in love to care for those they lead just as Christ does for the church (Ephesians 5:29). Whenever God places us in life as followers rather than leaders we will not resent this status but will gladly serve just as Christ came not to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45). | ||||||
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