I Must Beg To Differ, John.

John Piper says women shouldn't lead parachurch organisations.

Michael Gryboski  29 June 2023 

(Photo: Getty/iStock)

(CP) Notable theologian, author and Bible teacher John Piper argued this week that women should not hold spiritually authoritative positions in parachurch organisations, believing that this runs afoul of "God-ordained differences" between men and women.

In an episode of the "Ask Pastor John" podcast posted on Desiring God's website on Monday, a listener sent a message asking about female leadership in a parachurch ministry.

"I work for a global parachurch organisation which is well-known. Recently our leadership decided that all positions of leadership within the organisation will be opened to women. This includes campus leadership, regional leadership, and national leadership," the listener enquired.

"Previously, these positions of spiritual authority over men were reserved for men alone. The reason given for this change is that a parachurch organisation is not the church. Therefore, the commands addressed to churches about the role of men and women in relationship to one another do not apply in this case. How do you see it?"

Piper said he was "sad to hear" of the ministry's decision and considered the move to be an example of rejecting "God-ordained differences" between men and women because of "cultural, societal pressures."

"The culture as a whole is in a free fall of denial. Nobody in this free fall has on a parachute. It's all going to end tragically, the evidences of which are all around us," said Piper, the chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. CT.