When my son was in a denominational private school, he was persecuted for having a mother who was an ordained minister. He was told all the old carnal minded arguments about a woman wasn't allowed to speak in the church, etc.. He was young at the time and came to me to ask how to answer. This is an article I wrote in response to his questions and he took it to school. Although no one there ever commented on it to me, I believe the truth was planted.
It is short and simple and there is much more that can be said about the subject, but frankly, I have grown weary of the argument.

ALL ONE IN CHRIST

Galatians 3:27-28

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,

There is neither slave nor free, there is neither MALE NOR FEMALE, for you are ALL ONE IN Christ Jesus."

Things of the Spirit must be spiritually discerned. You cannot argue the scriptures with a carnal, soulish minded person. The bride of Christ is comprised of male and female IN THE NATURAL, yet they are IN HIM SPIRITUALLY. Can a male in the natural be a part of the bride of Christ since bride denotes a feminine person? Deep calls unto deep, glory calls unto glory. We must understand the scriptures SPIRITUALLY. The disciples were looking for an earthly kingdom until after the resurrection. We are spirit and must worship Him in spirit and in truth.(understanding).

Eve was selected to be the first one promised to become an instrument of God's redemptive working.

Deborah was a prophetess and a judge. She was a military leader chosen by God. Judges 4.

Huldah was a prophetess that sparked one of the greatest revivals in Israel's history. 2Kings 22:3-20

Esther was an instrument of God to save her people Israel. Esther 4:14

Anna was another prophetess who did not depart from the temple, but SERVED GOD night and day, IN THE TEMPLE. She spoke there -- she was not silenced in the church. Luke 2:36-38

Mary Magdalene was told by JESUS Himself to go and tell the BRETHREN (masculine word) that He had risen. Luke 20:17. This made her the first evangelist and she was commissioned by Jesus.

Mary and Martha were respected parts of Jesus' ministry team. Phoebe was a minister. The Greek word diakoneo is translated here servant and it means servant, minister and deaconess. According to many scholars it was Phoebe that carried the written book of Romans to the congregation. This is agreeable to Psalm 68:11 which says the Lord gave the word, great was the company who proclaimed it. That word company in the Hebrew text is 'host of women". Romans 16:1.

Philip's daughters were prophets. Acts 21:9

This text makes it clear that women did bring God's word by the power of the Holy Spirit and that such ministry was accepted in the early church. This is confirmed by Paul in 1 Cor. 11:5 where he directs that a woman may prophesy but be properly covered. That is, to be rightly related to her husband (if he is in the proper order of God) or other spiritual authority, a regulation given to all spiritual leaders, male or female. 1 Tim. 3:1-13. Women had an equal place in the upper room, awaiting the Holy Spirit's coming and birth of the church age. Then Peter's sermon at Pentecost affirmed Joel's Old Testament promise your daughters and maidservants shall prophesy.

Prophesy to speak forth the words of God under the unction of the Spirit. To proclaim, to preach, to declare and decree.

There are many many more instances of women in ministry in the Word, but we must be careful not to argue. 2 Timothy 2: 23-26 tells us not to quarrel but to be gentle to all. To avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing they lead to strife. To those that are ignorant of the scriptures and those that are seeped in Pharisiacal legalism, only the Holy Spirit of truth can bring them understanding. We must pray that the eyes of their understanding be enlightened that they as our brothers and sisters IN HIM will arise unto the fullness of His word. We are all part of His Body fitly joined together as a joint of supply to one another. We cannot take one or two scriptures out of context and make a doctrine out of them. If we do, we will be like the children of Israel that took the bronze serpent that was used to deliver them (Numbers 21:5-9) and made it a god and burned incense to it.(2Kings 18:4) We must take the Word of God as a whole, believing it all. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Tim. 3:16 ALL Scripture.

If we truly believe women are to keep silent in church, why do we have women's day and allow them to speak? Why are they in the Sunday school room teaching? At what age are they to stop teaching the boys because they aren't to teach a man? Can they teach boys until the age of 13, 16, 18? How can we send women to the mission field to teach men? God is no respecter of persons. Is an African man different in God's eyes than an American man? Why can we finance women on the mission field and not let them speak in our church at home? If we return to the law on one point, wouldn't we have to on all points? Isn't that what the Word says? But it was never a law that a woman shouldn't speak in church. Paul was correcting that congregation that had gotten out of order.

The body must come to unity of the FAITH. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4: 4-6.

If Jesus is coming for a bride without spot or blemish, and we know He is SOON, we must learn to love and respect each other despite our different levels.

Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1