Bobbi Houston, leader of the now global Hillsong megachurch movement has explained her strong support for women in church leadership roles.
'If we go back to the beginnings and origins [of time], God created us male and female in the beginning ... and He spoke of ... both men and women together,' Houston told Faithwire.
With her husband Brian she co-founded Hillsong church in Australia, which has since become a global movement, with bases in London, New York, Los Angeles and one to come in Israel.
'And, I think, down through history, down through culture, and down through hurdles of time, the truth of God's true intent has been distorted,' she added.
'And sometimes that comes from cultural complexities, and sometimes that comes from religious complexities. The point is that [when] Christ came, he did an amazing intervention for humanity. He actually came ... to redeem life as the Father intended. In our [church's] experience, [women in leadership] doesn't have to be an issue.'
Houston has travelled the world encouraging women in the church and the call to women in leadership. She pioneered the Colour Conference, an annual, global event that champions the 'value, worth and contribution of women'.
According to recent Barna research, 79 per cent of Americans are comfortable with female pastors, while among evangelicals – with which Hillsong would identify – only 39 per cent support the idea.
