Should the American Church Classify Patriarchy as a Heresy?

The argument for classifying patriarchy as heresy within the American church gains significant strength when evaluated against the criteria and reasoning previously used to declare apartheid and White Christian Nationalism heretical. Throughout Christian history, influential theologians have promoted doctrines explicitly asserting the inferiority of women, often distorting biblical teachings on human dignity, justice, and equality. Given this, there is clear theological and historical justification for contemporary churches to formally classify patriarchal theology as heretical.

Historical Teachings on Women’s Inferiority:

Early Christian theologians significantly shaped the narrative of female inferiority. Influential figures such as Tertullian, Augustine, Jerome, and John Chrysostom explicitly taught that women were inferior, spiritually weak, inherently sinful, and closely connected to demonic influence.

• Tertullian declared women “the devil’s gateway,” directly linking their gender with inherent sinfulness and demonic deception.
• Augustine reinforced that women were primarily sources of temptation, associated closely with Eve’s original sin and susceptibility to demonic influence.
• John Chrysostom taught that women’s inherent inferiority and weakness mandated their silence and submission within the church.
• Jerome went further, labeling women as “the root of all evil,” perpetuating harmful stereotypes of intrinsic female immorality.

Additionally, figures like Clement of Alexandria and Origen underscored the perceived spiritual and intellectual inferiority of women, cementing a doctrinal foundation that justified gender-based exclusion.

Criteria for Identifying Patriarchy as Heresy:

Following previously established criteria, heresy includes teachings substantially diverging from orthodox Christian doctrines by:

• Distorting biblical teachings about human equality, dignity, and spiritual capacity.
• Contradicting fundamental doctrines that affirm equality in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) and unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
• Introducing non-biblical criteria, such as gender, as determinants of spiritual worth or participation in God’s kingdom.

Patriarchy clearly meets these criteria by explicitly and historically promoting the subordination and marginalization of women.

Biblical Grounds for Condemning Patriarchy as Heresy:

The biblical foundation for condemning patriarchal ideology as heretical is robust:

• Genesis 1:27 declares unequivocally that both male and female are created equally in God’s image, affirming their equal spiritual worth.
• Galatians 3:28 explicitly rejects gender-based distinctions within the community of faith, asserting equality and unity in Christ.
• Acts 2:17–18 demonstrates that God’s Spirit and prophetic authority are explicitly given to both men and women, reinforcing equal spiritual agency and dignity.

Patriarchal teachings directly contradict these foundational scriptures by asserting gender-based inferiority and exclusion.

Parallel to Apartheid and White Christian Nationalism:

Patriarchy aligns closely with the theological logic condemned in apartheid and White Christian Nationalism. Both these previously declared heresies promoted doctrines of inherent inequality based on race or ethnicity, distorting biblical teachings about human equality and dignity. Patriarchy parallels these ideologies by promoting inherent inequality based explicitly on gender. Thus, the logic used to identify apartheid and White Christian Nationalism as heretical directly applies to patriarchal theology.

Theological and Moral Responsibility:

Given the historical harm caused by patriarchal doctrines, such as marginalization, silencing, and exclusion of women, the American church possesses not only theological justification but also a moral and spiritual obligation to declare patriarchy a heresy. Such an action would clearly repudiate centuries of harmful doctrine and affirm the church’s commitment to biblical equality, justice, and human dignity.

Addressing Possible Obstacles:

Despite theological clarity, resistance within churches may arise due to:

• Cultural Influence: Long-standing cultural entanglements with patriarchal norms.
• Fear of Division: Concern about internal conflict or loss of membership.
• Institutional Inertia: Reluctance to confront historically entrenched teachings.

However, churches have already demonstrated the capacity to confront equally entrenched doctrines such as racial supremacy and nationalist idolatry. Thus, institutional integrity and fidelity to core Christian teachings necessitate confronting patriarchal theology as well.

Recommended Path Forward:

To move forward, American churches should:

• Formally declare patriarchal doctrines explicitly heretical.
• Publicly educate congregations about biblical equality and the harm caused by patriarchal teachings.
• Engage in intentional repentance and reconciliation processes, acknowledging past complicities and working towards restorative justice and inclusivity.

Conclusion:

Historical precedent and theological analysis compellingly demonstrate that patriarchal theology explicitly contradicts core biblical doctrines of equality, dignity, and justice. Using the same rigorous theological criteria that led to the classification of apartheid and White Christian Nationalism as heresies, it becomes clear the American church should similarly declare patriarchy a heresy. Doing so aligns with the scriptural vision of human equality, preserves the integrity of Christian doctrine, and underscores the moral responsibility of the church to correct harmful distortions of the Gospel.