77No, 1. Qualifications for overseers and elders • 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9: The requirement is "husband of one wife" and the pronouns are masculine throughout. Defenders read this as a pattern, not an accident. 2. Creation order • Man was created first and given the headship role before the Fall (Gen 2:15-18; 1 Cor 11:3, 8-9; Eph 5:22-33). Pastoral authority reflects this order rather than overriding it. 3. Christ's choices • Jesus chose twelve men as apostles, even though He honored women and had female disciples. Defenders note He broke other cultural norms but not this one. 4. Consistent biblical pattern • Priests in the Old Testament, apostles, and the elders appointed in Acts 14:23 are all male. Women served in significant roles (Deborah, Priscilla, Phoebe, Junia, Philip's daughters), but not as teaching elders over the congregation. 5. Tradition • Historic Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, and most Protestants until the 20th century) read these texts this way for nearly 2,000 years.