The Movement To Ban Women From Being Worship Leaders In Church

Forbidding women from giving sermons in churches might not be sufficient. A supporter for strict male leadership believes that they are likely a problem while heading music.

On Feb. 27, Dale Partridge, president of Relearn.org and founder of Reformation Seminary, tweeted this:

The Bible: “Women should not take authority over men in the church.”

Dale Partridge

Churches: “Let’s have a woman worship leader!”

The truth is, a church learns much of its doctrine by what it sings, and if a woman can direct the church in worship, she certainly has authority over the men.

In less than 24 hours, that tweet received 80,000 views and prompted a large number of replies, both supporting and mocking Partridge.

Paul Trotter, a musician from Princeton, Ill., replied — apparently not in jest: “As a worship leader, I hold the responsibility of making sure the songs we sing are in accordance with biblical principles. Under my leadership, women on my team occasionally sing the melody line while I harmonize. It should be clear that I’m directing. If not, there’s a problem.”

Partridge is an advocate of strict gender roles in church and home. His organization, Relearn.org, bills itself as a ministry to “strengthen biblical literacy in the church.” He is the author of a book titled The Manliness of Christ and another titled A Cover for Glory: A Biblical Defense for Headcoverings. He also has published a children’s book titled Jesus and My Gender designed to teach young children that gender is fixed by God and cannot be changed.

An article titled “Can A Woman Lead Worship?” written by Bob Kauflin is offered in response to what the group says are “many questions about the role of women as worship leaders in the local church.”