Where Mike Winger Went Wrong on Women
This is our all-in-one response to the whole 43 hours of Mike Winger’s sincere – and sincerely misguided – video series on Women in Ministry. By Andrew Bartlett (author of Men and Women in Christ: Fresh Light from the Biblical Texts (2019)) and Terran Williams (author of How God Sees Women: The End of Patriarchy (2022)), this article responds to the teaching that many find problematic. We are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that following Jesus involves living faithfully under the authority of God’s word.
The Heart of the Message
The heart of our message is simple: despite his sincerity and his good intentions, Mike has not read the Bible – or relevant history and commentary – with the requisite skill, accuracy and thoroughness. This requires not squeezing the Bible to make it fit pre-chosen philosophical or cultural beliefs but taking it seriously and reading it carefully, with willingness to learn, listen, and obey. Unwittingly, his teaching is leading many people into error, with damaging consequences.
The following table summarizes the primary differences in biblical interpretation discussed in the response:
| Topic | Mike Winger's View | Mutualist View (Bartlett & Williams) |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage Authority | The husband is the higher authority in marriage. | Husband and wife are equal partners in marriage. |
| Church Leadership | God prohibits women from fulfilling leadership and teaching functions of church elders. | God places no special restrictions on women’s ministry. |
| Foundation | Authoritative male headship. | Equality and complementarity of men and women, made in God’s image. |
Shortfalls in Training and Interpretation
We will show that the reliability of his teaching on this topic is undermined by shortfalls in his training. His videos on Women in Ministry are marred by many mistakes and misunderstandings, and he has not considered weighty objections to the views that he puts forward – objections that remain unanswered. In contrast to Mike’s faulty interpretations, God’s word to women is altogether more wonderful, more life-giving, more joyous, more freeing, and more fruitful.
Key Areas of Biblical Concern
To understand why he can’t think biblically about it, we must examine the following biblical contexts:
- Genesis 1–3: Men and women created as partners.
- The Old Testament: The roles of Miriam, Deborah, and the OT priesthood.
- New Testament Leadership: Qualifications for elders and women deacons, and the roles of Priscilla and Phoebe.
- Apostles: The status of Junia and Mary Magdalene.
- Galatians 3:28: The unity of believers in Christ.
- The "Head" Metaphor: Background to Paul’s metaphor in 1 Corinthians 11 and Ephesians 5.
- 1 Corinthians 14: Why this text doesn't silence women.
- 1 Timothy 2: How Paul deals with false teaching rather than universal restrictions.
That approach has made us into “mutualists”. We understand the Bible to teach the equality and complementarity of men and women, made in God’s image. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, and our message focuses on upholding biblical thinking against a mirage of authoritative male headship.