We know that Jesus is the head of His Body, the Church, and we also see in Scripture that He appoints men to oversee and care for local expressions of the church throughout the world. The terminology

We know that Jesus is the head of His Body, the Church, and we also see in Scripture that He appoints men to oversee and care for local expressions of the church throughout the world. The terminology used in the Bible for this position or office is threefold: overseer/bishop, elder, and pastor.  These three terms are used interchangeably and synonymously in the New Testament as they display different aspects of the same position and responsibilities. For example, Peter uses elder, overseer, and shepherd in his exhortation to leaders in 1 Peter 5:1–2. We hold that the New Testament describes elders as pastors and overseers who are to shepherd the flock of God, protect the flock, watch for and guard against wolves, be examples to the flock, visit and pray for the sick, exercise oversight in the church, take care of the church, preach and teach in the church, exhort in sound doctrine, and refute those who contradict. We also see these passages speaking directly to men who are to be in this position in the local church (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:6-9). This leads us to believe only in male eldership. We still greatly value women as equal, not lesser, partners in the gospel at Redemption Church. Women are encouraged and accepted in all areas of service and leadership in the church that we clearly see in Scripture (Acts 18:26, Romans 16:1), but this excludes women from being pastors and elders.