Calvary Chapel affirms the priesthood of all believers in the Protestant tradition: every Christian has direct access to God through Christ and is called to ministry. At the same time, Calvary Chapel maintains a complementarian view of church leadership, with senior pastor roles generally reserved for men.

Women are actively involved in ministry at Calvary Chapel churches — teaching, leading worship, serving on staff — but the senior teaching pastor role is understood as a male calling. This position is held as a biblical conviction, not a cultural accommodation, and is practiced consistently across most Calvary Chapel affiliates, though individual churches retain some latitude.