One of the most exciting developments over the last few years at RTS Charlotte is the increasing number of female students in our various degree programs. There is a vibrant community of women on campus led by our Community Life Coordinator, Mallie Taylor.
And these women are some of our best and brightest. Every semester we give awards for the best student papers, and this past year a large percentage of the winners were female students.
And this is good news for the church. Women contribute to and enrich so many different ministries in the church. Examples include: missions, counseling, evangelism, discipleship, women’s ministry, mercy ministry, youth ministry, children’s ministry, administration, college ministry, and more. For more, see my article, “Five Reasons to Include Women on Your Church Staff.”
But, here is the challenge. There tends to be fewer scholarship opportunities available for female seminary students. It’s hard to come to seminary if there are not the resources to pay for it.
For these reasons, I am pleased to announce that RTS Charlotte is launching a new scholarship just for female seminary students. Starting in Fall, 2019, the Charlotte campus will offer the Women in Ministry Scholarship, providing at least a 50% tuition discount to female students.
Nancy Guthrie, speaker and best-selling author of the Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament series, commented on the new scholarship:
“Sometimes women who want to attend seminary wonder if they will be welcomed, respected, and taken seriously by the administration, the professors, and their fellow seminarians. This new scholarship states loudly and clearly to women: We want you here at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte!”
For more info, you can read formal announcement here, and you can watch this overview video below. I hope to see you on campus in the fall!
Charlie says
Bravo to RTS for its commitment to equipping and training the women among us who hunger for God and love his church!
Karen Jelliff says
Doesn’t women in ministry violate the scriptures? No woman is to preach or teach men. Men are the leaders in the Church per Creation Order.
Michael Kruger says
Thanks, Karen. But nowhere have we said that women should be ordained ministers. Rather we think every Christian should use their spiritual gifts in the church and that many of these Christians (women included) could benefit from seminary. Are you saying women shouldn’t go to seminary at all? Surely not. I think you are assuming all students in seminary are going to be ordained pastors. But many of our students go into non-ordained roles.
Karen Jelliff says
Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, I believe this will eventually lead to women pastors in the Reformed Church. This is a slippery slope. Right now there’s a big push for women pastors. This is part of the Social Justice Gospel that has infiltrated the church.
Women have always had ministerial roles teaching children and women. The primary job of a woman is to nuture the youth and teach them the doctrines of the faith. All she has to do is study the scriptures and listen to her pastor.
Women learn the doctrines of the faith from the men of the church. According to scriptures, the man is supposed to be the teacher. The pastor’s role is to teach the church members the doctrines of the faith.
I have read many of your books. I am enjoying your lectures on the canon from Ligonier. Your teaching helps me in debates about the canon with Roman Catholics. They are quite a challenge as they insist that there was no canon until the RCC, in their words “put all the books of the Bible together” .
Karen Jelliff says
I thought historically seminaries were for the equipping of men to shepherd and teach the oracles of God.
Michael Kruger says
Historically, many educational institutions were just for men. But, women have been coming to seminaries for generations. Our core mission at RTS has always been preparing pastors, and that will not change. But there are many other non-ordained ministry opportunities out there. And we are happy to train both men and women for those opportunities.
Karen Jelliff says
What are the non-ordained ministry opportunities?
Michael Kruger says
There are tons of non-ordained ministry opportunities. You ought to ready my article about hiring women (non-ordained) on church staff: https://michaeljkruger.com/five-reasons-to-include-women-on-your-church-staff/
Lorraine Plotner says
I am not attending here. I went to seminary at another school. First of all, for personal edification and learning. When I enrolled, it didn’t matter to me what I was going to “be”. I knew I would not be a pastor, but what went into my heart and brain was tremendous. I eventually turned my learning path to Christian marriage counseling. I felt that was a way to help others without being unbiblical.
Charlie says
Dr. Kruger,
In somewhat keeping with the topic, I too hold that the ordained position of elder/overseer seems in the Scriptures to be reserved for men only. The issue of the diaconate is in my mind less sure. As i understand it the PCA will not ordain women as deacons but may recognize them as such in a less formal way. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Some churches, mainly independent churches, are beginning to appoint elder advisory boards composed of men and women, couples and singles. The purpose of this board is to ensure that the elders have access to the perspective of respected women in the church when considering certain important matters. This seem to me like a good thing for complementarian churches where men only are in ruling positions. Blessings to you.