5 theologically conservative denominations that allow women to serve as pastors

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, June 18, 2023

Evangelical Presbyterian Church

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, a denomination founded in the early 1980s in response to the theological liberalism of other Presbyterian mainline churches, allows congregations to ordain women as ministers.

In a position paper released in June 1984, the EPC explained that “while some churches may ordain women and some may decline to do so, neither position is essential to the existence of the church.”

“Since people of good faith who equally love the Lord and hold to the infallibility of Scripture differ on this issue, and since uniformity of view and practice is not essential to the existence of the visible church, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has chosen to leave this decision to the Spirit-guided consciences of particular congregations concerning the ordination of women as elders and deacons, and to the presbyteries concerning the ordination of women as ministers,” stated the EPC.