I agree that the no-female elder position is easier to demostrate, and until a few years ago, it's the position I took. I also have problems with the idea of a female pastor......but that's another discussion.
If you want to know the truth of my 'change of heart' I'll tell you......and I expect I will get flamed by some who think they know all (not you, HatSteel.....you have been very polite as well).
We joined this church 5 years ago, not because we 'liked it,' but because we had been forced out of the Baptist church we had helped begin 18 years before, by the sins of the pastors (including blatant lies about us).....but that's another story as well. We felt the healing of God through the Holy Spirit every week as we sat and were ministered to, after years of being in ministry ourselves.
We came to this church as Baptists, and studied the Presbyterian doctrine carefully before joining, knowing the church had women elders, and having serious disagreements with infant baptism. In studying we came to understand the rationale behind both, based on Scripture, and still disagreed, but felt God's leading, through much prayer, to join.
My husband was asked to be a deacon two years ago, and a year ago, I was asked to be an elder.......still not being sure that Scripture backed that position up (because there is nothing specific in the Bible.....though there is MUCH about women being co-workers in Christ in the early church). I did not think I was qualified (I'm a music teacher/choir director), so I hesitated, and was asked to pray about it. The Elder board prayed about it. My husband and I spent a great deal of time in prayer about it (remember the we were coming from the position that we were not clear if it was Biblical, and I didn't really WANT to do it).
We both had clear direction that I should accept the nomination. CLEAR direction.
Since I have been on Session, it has been clear that it is where God wanted me to be (and interestingly we were sending a letter to Cincinnati expressing our strong position against this defiant pastor, and against homosexuality).
There will be those here who say I didn't hear God's voice, didn't pray the right way, am not a real Christian, or any number of other things because they are so sure they have the only correct interpretation of the entire body of Scripture. But I have been a believer for 45 years, and a member of churches all along that agreed with your position. And I know, without a doubt that it was the Holy Spirit's leading that I do this.
You may take my testimony for what it's worth.......but it's the truth. I understand why others draw the conclusions you've drawn, but my testimony, if believed, says there is another side to the issue that is also of the Lord.
In the New Testament Book of Acts, in chapter 18, mention is made of Aquila's wife Priscilla, and how both of them instructed Apollos in order to correct his doctrinal mistakes. She obviously appears to have instructed a man. Also, Paul makes mention of her in his letters. They may have been merely friends, but I think she had a leadership role in the early church. Priscilla has even been mentioned as one of the possible authors of the Book of Hebrews.
My feeling on women serving in the church as elders, minister, etc is this: while Paul did not seem to care for the idea, I don't think his comments on this matter were meant to carry the weight of scripture. I think they were his opinions and advice to the leaders of specific churches and dealt with potential problems the pastors may have had there with women as leaders. But, I could be wrong.
I'm a Presbyterian Church U.S.A. member myself, and my wife has served twice as an Elder, and has also voted against pro-homosexual agendas whenever they come up. That's more than can be said for some of the PC men from our church who voted the other way on the subjrct.