If you ever go to the cinema, do you watch to the end? If you are like me, you watch the final scene and when the theme music rises and credits start to roll that is the cue to get up and slide out. After all, it’s just a list of names. You don’t know them. What does it matter who did the film star’s hair? But here is the point: someone did. Those film stars would be nowhere without that massive group of skilled people who perform various crucial tasks.

Romans 16 is like rolling credits. You might be inclined mentally to walk out. Chapter 15 finishes with a resounding ‘Amen’. The following chapter is basically a list of names; most are not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. What is the point?

The most obvious thing is that, like the credits rolling, innumerable people are involved in, and making a significant contribution to, any local church and therefore to the furtherance of the gospel. Every local church is people, all different and special. Some people think church is just about the leaders. Yet here are a bunch of people, men and women, some more prominent than others, maybe, but all were valued.

Women and the local church

 It is no coincidence that Jesus chose exclusively men to be His twelve disciples, who would later be apostles. Many women were His disciples in the wider sense of the term, but the burden of leadership in the church is placed quite clearly and specifically on male shoulders.

There are those who argue that Junia (Rom. 16:7) was a woman apostle. If a woman can be an apostle, they say, she can hold any other church office as well. But there are some problems with this. Firstly, Junia (or Junias) could be either a man’s or a woman’s name. There are many examples of this in our culture – Pat, Hilary, etc. Secondly, the meaning of ‘outstanding among the apostles’ (NIV) is, in the light of recent research, better translated ‘well-known to the apostles’. So even if Junia is a woman she was not an apostle – the apostles knew her well. Thirdly, the word translated ‘apostles’ could just mean ‘church messengers’ as it does elsewhere (2 Cor. 8:23; Phil. 2:25).

Women are not to be leaders in the local church, any more than they were to be apostles. Not that women are inferior in value to Christ or His cause, rather, just as in the family male and female are equal and yet different in role and function, so in the local church there is to be recognisable male headship. The important thing to notice from Romans 16 is how valued the women are alongside the men in the church at Rome. They are appreciated and greeted with no less fervour than the men.

What does Paul says about these women?

Sisters

Normally when Paul addresses the church, he uses the word ‘brothers’. Obviously he’s including sisters in this term when writing to the whole church, for he is well aware the church is made up of men and women. It would be like us saying ‘hey, guys’ to a group of boys and girls. But Paul refers to Phoebe as a sister. There is a family bond between members of the church of Christ; they are not just like a family, they are a family. They have the same Father; share the same inheritance; meet regularly around the meal table. This is why Paul can rely on the church’s support to take care of Phoebe. You can ask and expect this from family.

You didn’t choose your family with its various members but you still hang together. That is the church. God has put this motley band of people together. Love them: they are your family. Make meeting with and supporting them a priority. Many Christian women are good at giving help but not at receiving it. Some Christians have an eleventh commandment: ‘Thou shalt not put anybody out.’ So here is an elderly lonely Christian who struggles to get to church. She is offered a lift but says no ‘because you’ve got to come out of your way.’ It takes grace to receive help. Let a sister or brother put themselves out for you now and then. They are family.

Servants

Phoebe is described as a servant of the church. Men and women assisted the apostles in their ministry, sometimes doing tasks which released the apostles for ministry of the word. Whether Phoebe was recognised with the title of deacon is not the point – she was a servant.

I hope you do not just attend church but serve there. There are hundreds of ways women can serve from the obvious – Sunday school, serving refreshments, arranging flowers, welcoming – to the hidden – writing cards, praying faithfully, making phone calls, babysitting, etc. You might think ‘this is not really my thing’ but when you do it willingly because it needs doing you are serving. Do it for Jesus’ sake, not to make a point or to be impressive.

Fellow-workers

Priscilla and Aquila are described as Paul’s fellow-workers. This team aspect in spreading the gospel is referred to many times in Paul’s letters. God has gifted people differently and a team’s strength is playing to individual strengths. Priscilla and Aquila used their home and got alongside people like Apollos (Acts 18:26).

Think tug-of-war: the more people you have pulling, the more likely your side is to win. A fellow-worker pulls on the rope of gospel work and puts her back into it, whether by prayer, speaking or maintaining the one who speaks. Paul urges the church to join him in his struggle by praying (Rom. 15:30). Priscilla’s part in the struggle included some dangerous business. They stuck their necks out for the gospel, risking their lives. No wonder the churches were grateful to them.

Are you part of the team? Are you using your God-given gifts for the spread of the gospel? Your gifts are for the church not for your own glory. Fellow-workers do not just recognise their own gifts but the gifts of others. They learn to forbear. They refuse to argue and complain. They cheer for the team.

Friends

Persis is described as ‘my dear friend’ (v.12). Friends are special and a friend in Christ is extra special. You go to trouble for your friend, you feel her troubles and celebrate her successes. You sometimes clean up after her, cover for her, bale her out. If you are a good friend, you tell her what she needs to know because you really care. Persis was like that.

The world sometimes seems better at friends than the church. We are polite and courteous to each other but we don’t make the effort to connect emotionally. There are lonely people in churches who need including. Don’t write them off because they are different from you. Invest time in understanding and enjoying that difference. Make friends across generations.

Saints

The church at Rome was asked to receive Phoebe in a way ‘worthy of the saints’ (Rom. 16:2). Christians are chosen by God, set apart by Him and for Him. That will show as we behave in a way worthy of the saints, living up to the name of Christ. Don’t let Him down by rudeness, selfishness, pride and bad temper. Be well-known for generosity, kindness, humility and patience. Never forget that we belong to another world so walk worthy. Encourage each other by prayer, word and example. We all need encouragement to remember we are different and to live differently. Don’t miss out on meeting together. Sing from your hearts to each other, meeting each other’s eyes; we are marching to Zion, together.

Every local church is made up of unique individuals who each have a crucial and valued contribution to make – sisters, servants, fellow-workers, friends, saints. This is what women in the local church should be.

Ann Benton is a member of Chertsey Street Baptist Church, Guildford.