Jeremy

Cheryl,
It seems your whole argument is based on a faulty application of 1 Peter 4:10,11. This does not say that the gifts must be used in the public arena of the church service or in a pastoral role. Even the Word Biblical Commentary you cite states this:
“While Kelly (180) limits the speaking Peter has in mind to “routine
functions like teaching and preaching” (in distinction from “ecstatic
utterances”), there is no proof of this in the text. The term could
embrace all that Paul includes under “prophecy” (Rom
12:6), “teaching” (Rom 12:7), and “exhortation” (Rom 12:8), as well
as “wisdom” and “knowledge” (1 Cor 12:8)”
1 Peter is not limited to the public service or to preaching.
On a side note, I’m not sure why women desire the pulpit so much. I asked my Bible class today who were the top 3 most influential people in their lives. The pastor was never one of them. Most people forget the sermon the next day. People who have the most impact are those who are living out the Word daily and discipling others. Women are allowed to use their gifts for that high calling. There are many places other than the pulpit to use our gifts.
Also, you cite 1 Corinthians 14 a lot to say that both genders are given these gifts that are meant to be used in the public setting. However, in the same chapter Paul tells women to be silent in the churches (v. 34). I know you are familiar with this, so how do you expalin that this does not limit women who God gifts? Even if it is temporally based on the state of the church or the status of women at that time, Paul is still limiting women at that time from using the gifts of speaking that God gives them. And how do you explain 1 Timothy 2:12 that limits women from teaching and exercising authority over a man?
I’d love to hear your view on this. I am a complemenatarian because I don’t see any other way to understand God’s Word on this issue. It would be easier to be an egalitarian, but I would not feel that I was accurately handling Scripture. If I could see a true way of interpreting these passages that favored the egalitarian position, I would gladly shift sides.