Where we complementarians can get it wrong with preaching

Posted on January 29, 2026 
Filed under Theology

“Over my past 26 years of ministry, I have become increasingly aware of a problem in the way complementarians teach about who should be allowed to preach.

Let me be clear—I am a complementarian, and I believe that a faithful application of 1 Timothy 2:11–15 includes a prohibition against women authoritatively teaching (now referred to as preaching) to a mixed congregation. I also believe that women who have the gift of preaching should be encouraged, trained, and given appropriate contexts to exercise that gift. I want to affirm and train women in this area.

However, complementarians often speak about 1 Timothy 2:11–15 in isolation from 1 Timothy 3:1–7. …”

– Fiest published in the ACR’s Synod 2025 Journal, Moore College’s Dean of Students Mal York points us to the full context of what Paul says about who should preach.

Image: Mal York preaching at Moore College chapel.