Question:
Does the admonition in 1 Timothy 2:12 against a woman usurping authority over a man forbid her from speaking or asking any questions in a business meeting and forbid her from even voting as a member?
Answer:
I Timothy 2:11-15 says, “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” I Corinthians 14:34,35 says, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”
The context is learning. “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection…” In that setting, the woman is to remain silent, and is to not even ask any questions publicly, but is to ask her husband at home. The reason is that by asking a question about a certain teaching, you can easily show your disagreement with what has been taught, thus undermining the teaching. Or, you can easily teach the congregation by adding more to it through posing it in the form of a question, “And does not this passage also teach this…?” That would then be placing the woman in a position of teaching the congregation through her subtle use of questions.
Subjects in business meetings vary widely. If it is a subject where the church is discussing where to Biblically stand on a issue, then the women should definitely keep silent. If it is a question about something needed for the nursery, it may be that some women would be asked for input.
As to women being allowed to vote in business meetings; yes, it is conceivable that women could, in some instances, actually override the vote of the men present. Or, a woman could actually vote the opposite of her husband, thus canceling out his vote in a matter. Your question is good, and should be prayerfully considered by the local church.