–– Paul Schlehlein

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Recently, Die Gereformeede Kerke in Suid-Afrika (GKSA) opposed another push for female leadership in their denomination. In their decision, they wrote: “The GKSA are convinced the Holy Scripture does not permit women to serve in the office of minister of the Word and/or elder.”

The GKSA, sometimes called “Doppers,” is a Calvinistic, Protestant denomination that was established in 1859 and includes over 370 congregations across several southern African countries. They are the most conservative of the three, Reformed “sister churches” in South Africa. The other two, the NGK and the NHKA, have long ago succumbed to female church leadership, making the GKSA’s stand all the more remarkable. 

Scripture praises the Christian who resists wrongdoing. For example, the Bible bestows a blessing upon the parents of Moses “because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Heb. 11:23). In a similar way, I applaud the GKSA, who can see that male leadership is beautiful and are not afraid of denominational edicts. 

Biblical Basis

The GKSA report gives a host of biblical reasons for their decision. Here are six of them. First, in 1 Timothy 2:11-15, Paul does “not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” Instead, women should “learn quietly.” 

Second, the creation account in Genesis 1-2 shows that while men and women are equal in dignity, they differ in role. Third, the Fall in Genesis 3 results in women seeking to usurp the headship of their husbands. 

Fourth, in the Old Testament, the priests, prophets, and kings (with the exception of evil Athaliah) were all male. In the New Testament, the apostles and deacons in Acts were men. Fifth, in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus, Paul demanded that an elder be “the husband of one wife.” Sixth, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 tells women that they “must keep silent in the church.”

Objections

But as Scripture warns, there’s been pushback against orthodoxy. Like waterless clouds (Jude 12), GKSA leaders have resisted the biblical pattern of male-only leadership. Influential professors and ministers within the denomination have used crafty arguments to encourage female authority. 

For example, GKSA Prof. Dr Wim Vergeer argues that 1 Timothy 2’s prohibition against female leadership is “not relevant for the modern church” because Paul is accommodating “cultural practices.” Vergeer fails to acknowledge that Paul specifically grounds his ban on female leadership within the creation order (vv. 13-14), not a Nigerian or Brazilian culture. 

Prof Koos Vorster believes obvious and straightforward passages like 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14 are actually not clear at all and should be interpreted in light of Galatians 3:28. “There is no male or female.” Vorster ignores the fact that this passage speaks of men and women’s equal footing in salvation, not equality in roles. Thus, Paul says, “you are all one in Jesus Christ.” 

More objections include the following:

·       Women may rule as elders as long as they submit to their husbands. Answer: It makes no sense for a woman to submit in her mini-church (her home) but then rule in a large congregation. Moreover, a woman-elder would practice authority over her husband in the church. 

·       Paul only censures domineering women in the church, not all female leaders. Answer: If so, why prohibit only women from being domineering and not men?

·       If a woman feels called, how can the church deny it? Answer: God’s Word always trumps feelings. The heart is deceitful (Jer. 17:9). God will never call contrary to His Word. 

·       Women prophets in the Old Testament show that they can pastor in the New Testament. Answer: The Old Testament prophetesses (e.g. Deborah, Miriam, Huldah) enjoyed no formal leadership, and their prophecies were relatively private. 

Conclusion

In 1972, 1982, 1988, and 2009, the GKSA Synod determined that women may not serve as elders or ministers of the Word. Yet, some GKSA churches still ordain women into office. In 2026, the GKSA called these churches to repent, giving them one year to release them or face expulsion. 

With so much resistance, one wonders if the GKSA will eventually buckle beneath the pressure and allow female elders. The Bible teaches that women are profoundly gifted, just not as leaders in the church, home, or society. Feminism resents this and urges women to lead, which in turn only brings them misery. GK Chesterton said: “Twenty million young women rose to their feet with the cry, ‘We will not be dictated to,’ and promptly became stenographers.” God made women to honour, nurture and help, not lead, provide, and protect.

The lesson we can learn is that false teaching is deceptive, destructive, and relentless (2 Pt. 2:1). The great heresies of our day point their cannons toward the doctrine of anthropology. Unless the church remains vigilant and courageously committed to God’s Word, she will fall into error.