A Theology of Women in Ministry

Here are some thoughts on a theology of women in ministry. Note that I am bracketing discussions of husband-headship, which biblically are tangential to this question.
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I. All Christians are called.

• “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called with one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4:4).
• "Those he pre-arranged for resurrection, he also called. Those he called, he also made right with him. Those he justified, he also will glorify" (Rom. 8:30).

II. All Christians have gifts to use.

• “We have different gifts according to the grace that was given to us” … prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, showing mercy… (Rom. 12:6-8).
• 1 Pet. 4:10

III. All Christians are ministers.

• Leaders “equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-12).
• We are all salt and light. We are all evangelists. We all exercise our gifts.

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Now some theological groundwork.

IV. A "Pentecostal" Theology of the Spirit

• “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Acts 2:17). 
• “There is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. There is not ‘male and female,’ for you are all one in Christ” (Gal. 3:28). The verse is about who can be saved and be members of the people of God, yes. But it also relates to the spiritual realm in general (e.g., Acts 10:34-35).

V. The Arc of Scripture

• Genesis 1 shows Adam and Eve to be equally in the image of God, equally called to rule and tend the world.
• Genesis 2 shows Adam and Eve as co-laborers in the Garden.
• Genesis 3:16 describes the consequences of the Fall -- conflict within the family, domination by the husband.
• Christ redeems all the sins of humanity, including the sins of Eve.
• In the kingdom, women are not "given" in marriage (Mark 12:25). They are full equals. This is the trajectory of the kingdom.

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VI. Some women are called to a focused ministry -- for which there are no limitations.

• Phoebe is a deacon (Rom. 16:1).
• Priscilla teaches and disciples men (Acts 18:26).
• The daughters of Philip are prophets (Acts 21:9).
• We should assume that Priscilla (Rom. 16:3-5), Lydia (Acts 16:40), and Nympha (Col. 4:15) are elders in their own house churches.
• Junia was an apostle (Rom. 16:7).

Appendix: The Clobber Verses 

• 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 has to be about disruptive speech, not spiritual speech, because the core issue in 1 Corinthians 11 is the fact that women pray and prophesy in worship.
• 1 Timothy 2:12-15 is about the husband wife relationship, so is irrelevant to the question of women in ministry. It's a distraction.