When a church does not allow women deacons or elders it is more than likely a complementarian church, even if the church never uses the word. If a megachurch has a husband and wife team as pastors, the husband is always the lead, and it, too, is more likely a complementarian church. If a pastor evades the question when asked what position the church takes, it is very likely the church is complementarian. Male headship and denial of certain positions for women in the church go hand-in-hand.

Many evangelical denominations are complementarian in teaching. Most fundamentalist churches are complementarian churches because their women-limiting teaching is based upon what they claim is a literal interpretation of the Bible.

The majority of Southern Baptist Convention churches are complementarian. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 epitomize complementarian teaching in Southern Baptist churches. This statement of faith was approved by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in the year 2000, thus the name. In most SBC churches, it replaced the Baptist Faith and Message 1963 which had no restrictions against women being pastors nor did it say that wives must submit graciously to their husbands’ leadership. Although the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is not accepted by all Southern Baptist churches (most do accept it), almost all SBC churches practice the restrictions against women found there and will not ordain women as deacons or pastors.

The numbers are staggering

The sheer numbers of those committed to complementarian theology are staggering. In 2025 the SBC claims over 12,300,000 in their 46,608 churches in America alone, which is a decline from 2022. In addition, the complementarian influence extends internationally through SBC missionaries who are forced to sign the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

The Danvers Statement’s influence extends into other denominations and beyond. Although Southern Baptists are the largest group accepting the Danvers Statement, they are by no means the only group that teaches male headship. Far too many other evangelical denominations followed the lead of the SBC and adopted the teachings of complementarianism.

CRU, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ, now with over 15,000  full-time missionaries in 190 countries, has adopted the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and the Danvers Statement. Other prominent complementarian organizations are LifeWay Resources the publishing arm of SBC, Acts 29 with 600 churches on six continents, Focus on the Family with paid staff of 700-900, Provident Films, Liberty University, Hope Academy, Christian publishing houses, booksellers, and locally owned Christian bookstores.

Nondenominational churches, along with Pentecostal and some relatively few Baptist churches have husband-wife co-pastoring teams: however, they cannot be construed as being egalitarian churches, because it is usually the husband who is senior pastor.

Pentecostal and Assemblies of God churches, both leaders in allowing women senior pastors at one time, have few today because they, too, teach that husbands have headship over wives. As one Pentecostal woman said “my husband is the ruler of our home.” Their children are grown and have left home, but the ruler still has her in the home to rule over.

Next subject: How Complementarianism affects your family

Shirley Taylor Books (available on Amazon in print and on Kindle)
The Biblical Marriage Myth: The Devil Comes Calling
The Power of a Book: The Street Evangelist
Raising the Hood: A Christian Look at Manhood and Womanhood
Women Equal: No Buts
Dethroning Male Headship: 2nd Edition
From Wife to Widow: What I Know Now
Beyond the Grave: A Christian Dilemma