women as they have served the Lord and their church as members, ministers and as leaders.

The Foursquare Church has followed the biblical pattern of mutual partnership and submission in

the family. It is our conviction that while men and women are equal in the sight of God, He has

gifted each individual with spiritual and natural abilities as He has pleased. These gifts differ, as

do personalities and the destinies which God has placed before them.

The purpose of this paper is not to present an exhaustive study of how women in ministry fulfill

their calling. Rather, it is to answer a consistent stream of inquiries as to the Foursquare Church's

attitude towards the biblical right of women to serve in ministry and leadership, even to the extent

of holding ecclesiastical position. It will also serve as a reminder to women desiring to enter the

ministry of their God-given privilege to "be all they can be," for the glory of God and the good of

our Church.

The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel affirms the place of women in ordained

ministry and leadership. This belief affords women positions in all capacities in the local church,

on the mission field and at all levels of government in the Foursquare corporate structure.

Currently, there are extensive examples of women effectively serving at the local church level as

senior pastors, associate and assistant pastors, youth and Christian education ministers, council

members, elders, deacons, teachers, prophets and administrators. Through the Foursquare

corporate structure, women may serve as district supervisors, district and divisional leaders and

corporate officers.

The Foursquare movement has husbands and wives who each feel a distinct call, as well as

those women who serve, officially and unofficially, as partners in their husband's assignment.

Women, unmarried and married, serving in official Foursquare ministry and leadership, have

been endorsed and encouraged by statements approved and passed as sanctioned Foursquare

resolutions. The 1975 official organization statement, "Women In Public Ministry," reads:

A close study of the Word of God, both Old and New Testament, indicates that God has seen fit

to use women in His service in virtually every way He has employed men.

We, therefore, see nothing that should restrict God-ordained and Spirit-filled ministry of women in

any capacity or office of the Church in keeping with the Word of God which guides men and

women alike.

A 1988 declaration was unanimously passed by the Board of Directors. It reads:

The present and historical position of the Foursquare Church affirms the biblical truth that women

are called of God to a role of leadership and public ministry. We hereby reaffirm and encourage

the ministry of women throughout the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding of our movement's affirmation of women in

leadership roles, we will address: 1) The General Biblical Position; 2) The Ministry of Jesus; 3)

The Ministry of Women in the Early Church; and 4) The Ministry of Women in the Foursquare

Church.

you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent

before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam" (Micah 6:4).

Certainly the words "subordinate" and "inferior' could well describe the cultural status of women

during the time of Jesus. Our Lord, however, by His teaching and actions, affirms the worth and

value of women as persons to be included, along with men, in God's love and service.

Note these example of Jesus relating to women:

The woman at the well (John 4:4-42)

Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)

Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9)

The widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17)

The woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25-45)

Peter's mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39)

Jesus' teaching about "one flesh" (Matthew 19:3-9)

Jesus' example of ministry to women shows that He received them, cared about them and had

compassion on them. Jesus gives the same spiritual privileges to women that He gives to men.

The gospel message elevates women along with men.

Jesus also honored women by allowing them to minister to Him.

Mary anointed Jesus' head (John 12:1-8).

Jesus' feet were anointed by a sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50).

Women were followers of Jesus and ministered to Him (Luke 8:1-3).

Women stood at the foot of the Cross and remained there until His body was taken down

(Mark 15:40-41, 47).

Women were first at the tomb on resurrection morning, for they had come to anoint His

body for burial (Mark 16:1-3).

Women were first to give the message that Jesus is raised from the dead (Matthew 28:7-

8).

Jesus models the inclusion of women; His life and teaching powerfully affirm God's view

of women.

The early Church included both men and women in membership and leadership ministry. There

were women at the first early Church meeting (Acts 1:14-15 - most likely the women noted in

Luke 8:1-3; 23:49,55; 24:10) where they waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:11 - There were women present at the Spirit's outpouring.

Acts 2:17 - There is the prophecy about "daughters prophesying."

Acts 9:36-41 - Tabitha (Dorcas), a devoted disciple, was raised from the dead.

Acts 16:15; 18:1-3; 21:8-9; Philemon 22 - Hospitable women opened their homes to

missionaries and as centers of outreaches.

Acts 16:15, 40 - There were churches in women's homes.

A text which gives validity to women in ministry is Joel 2:28, quoted in Acts 2:16-18, "And it shall

come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons

and your daughters shall prophecy." Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the International

Church of the Foursquare Gospel, frequently referred to this text as the basis for God

empowering both men and women to believe for supernatural manifestations and gifts of the Holy

Spirit today. This text's encouragement of women to minister has served as a biblical basis for

our own (and many other) denominations to include, rather than exclude, women from leadership

ministry.

Women are "the redeemed of the Lord," gifted and called to minister on His behalf. Neither a

prophetic call nor the anointing of the Lord are based on gender, ethnicity or social class. God

has poured out His Spirt upon all, and He is not a respecter of persons.

Because the history of the Foursquare Church is relatively short, we are privileged to have living

sources to provide insight into the historic place women have held in the Foursquare Church. In

reference to our founder and the men and women who served with her, there are the following

observations:

It was a woman, Aimee Semple McPherson, who founded the International Church of the

Foursquare Gospel. God gave her the plan for the "mother" church and the faith to build the nowhistoric

landmark, Angelus Temple. Sister McPherson based her right to preach on the prophecy

of Joel 2:28-29 and the example of other Bible women.

While capable men and women of faith served with Sister McPherson, it was God's anointing on

her that caused Angelus Temple to be a revival center where tens of thousands came to know

Christ and experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit. When Sister McPherson was not preaching,

she would have women and men preach in her place. Among the women were Roberta Semple

(her daughter) and evangelist Reba Crawford.

The Foursquare Training Institute and later LIFE Bible College were founded by Sister

McPherson. Three-fourths of the institute's first students were women. Of the institute's 16

original graduates, 14 were women. The first dean of the college was Harriet Jordan. She held

that office until 1937.

Strong women of faith with unique spiritual dedication have pioneered Foursquare churches,

evangelized, served as missionaries and have done administrative work. Women preachers are a

definable part of the Pentecostal and Foursquare heritage (The Vine and the Branches, Nathaniel

Van Cleave).

The list of Foursquare credentialed women and leaders in the present is also extensive. In recent

years in the United States, women have made up approximately one third of all active

credentialed Foursquare ministers, one of the highest proportions of women ministers of any

Church in the world. In other nations hundreds of women also serve in Ephesians 4 giftings.

It must be noted that not all women ministers serve as the primary overseer of a church or

ministry. Yet, the sheer number of women who have been credentialed reveals that Foursquare

women regard themselves as true ministers and leaders of the gospel in every way. They hold

credentials because they currently do the work of the ministry and desire to minister in an even

greater manner. They are not afraid to take on the burden of serving people, nor to call

themselves leaders. In fact, it is quite common today to find couples who minister together, with

the church recognizing them as co-pastors.

Women in ministry have made a significant contribution to global impact. Certainly, women have

contributed greatly to the spread of the Foursquare Gospel to the more than 90 nations where it

thrives today.

Women have served diligently in fields all over the world, some alongside their husbands, and

some whose husbands are not in vocational ministry. Single women have also served with

distinction, including high profile positions in Bible colleges and Christian education. Each year,

through missions teams, hundreds of women from Foursquare churches minister in other

countries as team members. Currently, in many countries, women serve on national boards, as

district supervisors and as pastors, teachers, prophets and evangelists (Ephesians 4:11). Cultural

barriers to women in ministry are being addressed and women are being released to fulfill their

God-given roles. They are exercising their Spirit-ordained gifts.

There are cultural issues associated with being a woman in ministry. Our commitment to the

authority of Scripture and quality biblical interpretation requires that we attempt to define what is

cultural and what is biblical. Women, like men, must be diligent to study the Scriptures and

understand God's calling on their lives.

Foursquare history is filled with women and men who have found productive ministry, not based

on gender, but based on God's gifting and calling (Proverbs 18:16; II Peter 1:10).

We are grateful to Gary Matsdorf, Committee Chairperson; committee members John Amstutz,

Vickie Becker, Sheri Benvenuti, Beverly Brafford, Eloise Clarno, Jeanie Cosby, Jack Hayford,

Don Long, Ed Stanton, Ivy Stanton and Ron Williams.