We see in Scripture the very prominent role that women played. Looking at the New Testament, we see women providing for Jesus out of their means, going out to deal with Jesus’ body after his crucifixion, labouring in the work of the gospel, helping with the teaching of the gospel, serving in the church and risking their lives for Paul: Mark 15:40-41; Luke 8:1-3; Luke 23:55-24:3; Acts 18:26; Romans 16:1-2; Romans 16:3-4; Philippians 4:3; Titus 2:3-5.
However, Paul makes it clear that women are not to have authority over the men in a church situation. 1 Timothy 2:12:
I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
The way most churches ordain pastors today, is not the way we see it done in the Bible. See the answer to ‘What’s the difference between a pastor, elder, bishop, minister and so on?‘.
Looking at this subject from a Bible point of view, it seems apparent that women cannot be overseers/bishops/elders, which is a leading/shepherding role. But woman can be deaconesses in the church. Phoebe is an example of this. Romans 16:1-2:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant [Gk diakonos – can also be translated deaconess] of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron [Gk prostatis – means an assistant] of many and of myself as well.
Woman should be very thankful for this direction of Paul, I feel. The way society is these days, if these directives were not included in Scripture, men might leave too much to women.