Co-Leadership in the Kingdom

Co-Leadership in the Kingdom: Leadership Is Shared, Not Reserved for One

“Why would God give women His Spirit if He didn’t intend them to lead? Leadership in the Body of Christ is not reserved for men alone, nor is it meant for one person to always be in charge. Scripture shows a radically different design: men and women called together to govern, conquer evil, and advance His Kingdom side by side. Leadership can shift depending on giftings, situation, and God’s direction.”

Co-Leadership in the Kingdom: Unity, Freedom, and Shared Authority for All Believers

The Flaw in "Only One Can Lead"

The idea that leadership requires a single, permanent authority is rooted in worldly systems of hierarchy, not in the servanthood of Jesus. In the Kingdom, leadership is about shared responsibility, humility, and valuing one another’s spiritual gifts—thinking of others as equally important, not inferior or superior (Philippians 2:3).

Leadership in the Kingdom can be exercised by one person at a time, but it is not fixed. One may lead in one area while another leads in a different situation or season. God’s design is about faithful stewardship, not static control, and it honors the gifts and strengths He places in each believer.

When one person always has the last word, it isn’t unity—and it’s not freedom. It’s control! True unity and freedom are found in God’s design: mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21), collaboration, and honoring the Spirit of God in each other.

Why Would Women Want to Marry Under This System?

If women’s voices and rights don’t matter, if their opinions are dismissed, and if they are told they must follow no matter what—the question becomes: why would any woman want to marry under such an evil dominion?

Marriage in the Kingdom is meant to be a covenant partnership, not a dictatorship. God never intended women to lose their agency, voice, freedom, rights, or God-given wisdom.

Research shows that marriages built on shared responsibilities, co-leadership, and mutual honor—where both partners contribute to decisions, chores, and parenting—tend to have lower divorce rates and higher satisfaction. When both husband and wife are valued and empowered, the marriage reflects God’s design for partnership, unity, and flourishing.

From the Beginning: Co-Leadership

In Genesis 1:26–28, before sin entered the earth, God gave both male and female the same mandate: to govern, rule, and steward creation together in His image. His plan has not changed! Leadership in God’s Kingdom was never gender-exclusive.

The fall brought hierarchy and domination through Adam’s rebellion. Eve was deceived by the serpent but took accountability before God. Adam chose to eat the forbidden fruit, betray Eve, blaming her and even God Himself without taking any accountability. Therefore, God warned that, because of Adam’s hardened heart, he would now choose to rule over her (Genesis 3:16). (see my blog Adam’s Rebellion for more info)

But in Christ, we are offered redemption instead of rebellion. The cross restores co-heirs, co-workers, and co-leaders (Galatians 3:28), allowing men and women to govern together in partnership, humility, and mutual honor.

What Does It Say About Women and God as Creator?

If leadership is reserved only for men, what does that imply about women? It suggests that women are somehow less capable, less wise, or less equipped to reflect God’s image. We are treating women like children instead of adult human beings. Scripture, however, teaches otherwise:

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

Both male and female equally reflect the image of God. The devil’s plan is to silence half of humanity so he can assert his dominion more easily on the earth. Limiting leadership to men not only demeans women—it distorts God’s character and His plan to advance His Kingdom. It portrays Him as a Creator who made women deficient or secondary, rather than powerful image-bearers with purpose, authority, and calling.

Why is it that women can be led by the Holy Spirit and thrive when living independently, yet some are expected to enter a form of captivity under men’s “leadership” after marriage? Captivity is being under the control of another while appearing independent.

When we recognize men and women as co-heirs and co-leaders, we honor God, reflect the wholeness of His heart, and experience the unity and freedom He intended for His creation.

But What About “Men Taking Charge”?

Some women have been taught to want a man who will “take charge.” But the Kingdom way is not about one person holding all authority while the other remains silent. Jesus calls every believer—male and female—to be bold as lions, to overcome, and to confront evil head-on.

God's Spiritual Kingdom is not passive. It’s not silence in the face of oppression. It’s courage, authority, and partnership in Christ.

Scripture Calls All of Us to Take Charge in the Spirit

• Be bold and courageous: “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)

• Overcome by faith: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

• Expose evil, not remain silent: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

• Warriors in God’s strength: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:10–11)

• More than conquerors: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

  
  

Our Shared Calling

Every believer is called to the same commissioning:

• Take charge against evil, not excuse it.

• Govern in righteousness, not dominate in pride.

• Stand as warriors in Christ, not shrink back in fear.

• Speak truth boldly, not stay silent when injustice rules.

  
  

As Jesus said in Matthew 28:18–20:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

God does not call women to stand back while men “take charge.” He calls all His sons and daughters to rise up in His authority, to confront darkness, and to advance His Kingdom together. Our shared authority is over the powers of the enemy only, never over each other. Leadership in God's Spiritual Kingdom is situational and shared. Confident, humble men have no problem letting women or their wives lead according to their talents, strengths, spiritual gifts, and anointing.

There is no such thing as “headship” in the original Greek of the Bible. The word translated “head” actually means origin or source, not authority or leader. If God had designed headship, He would have instructed the angel to go to Mary’s father or to Joseph first—not her. Also, God trusted women first to share the gospel news of Jesus’ resurrection.

The Strength of Co-Leadership

Co-leadership is not about fighting for control; it’s about relying on one another’s strengths. Where one is weak, the other is strong. God created us uniquely, with different gifts and Holy Spirit discernment, so that together we display His power and fullness.

This is a spiritual Kingdom, not a physical one. Leadership is not based on gender, status, or human rank, but on the gifts of the Spirit at work in each believer. One may carry wisdom, another discernment, another prophetic insight, another words of knowledge, or the gift of healing. When these gifts work together in unity, the Body of Christ is strengthened and the Kingdom advances.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10)

Many pastors and husbands are pushing their wives down without any help to lift them up. Leadership is situational and flexible, allowing God’s design to move as needed. God never intended for the weight of leadership to rest on one person alone – that’s why He is the head of the body.

Refuting the Belief that "Only Men Can Lead"

Some believe that men must lead and women must follow, but this idea contradicts the life of Jesus and the witness of the early church. The principle of God’s Kingdom is to raise up more leaders, not more followers. As Deuteronomy 28:13 states, those who obey the Lord are to be “above only and never beneath.”

Women in Scripture were prophets, apostles, deacons, evangelists, and business  leaders. Even Chloe and Nympha appear to have overseen a house church in the New Testament. Jesus Himself elevated women’s voices in a culture that silenced them, affirming their value and authority in His Kingdom.

To say “only men can lead” is to reduce half of the Body of Christ to silence and servitude. It only advances the enemy’s agenda. This belief is oppression dressed in spiritual language, rooted in religious legalism and spiritual abuse.

A Better Way: Co-Leadership in Christ

Co-leadership is possible—and it reflects the heart of God. It requires:

• Mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21)

• Outdoing one another in showing honor (Romans 12:10)

• Empathetic, respectful, communication skills

• Crucifying self-centeredness

• Walking by the Spirit, not by pride or ego

• Acknowledging that Jesus is the only Head of the Church (and marriage)

  
  

When both husband and wife, or both leaders in a church, submit to Christ as Head and to each other in love, no one is "on top" except Jesus – only one head can be on the body. Leadership can rotate or shift depending on giftings, situation, and God’s direction.

🙏 Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for restoring Your Kingdom order, where men and women govern together in Your image. Give us courage to rise up as bold as lions, to confront evil with truth, and to live as overcomers in Your Spirit. Break the chains of domination and silence, and raise up sons and daughters who govern together in Jesus’ authority and in humility, honor, and power. May our marriages, churches, and communities reflect Your design of co-leadership and collaboration, where You alone are Head, and we walk in unity and freedom as one body. Amen.

To find out more about Co-Leadership in God’s Kingdom and how to thrive emotionally, spiritually, and financially get the book Life in God’s Kingdom, How to Manifest Heaven on Earth – found at Mighty4Jesus.com

Please share with those you know need to hear the truth that sets free.

Be free to be mighty for Jesus.

In freedom and might,

Jeannette