That depends on what you believe “clergy” to be. Was there “clergy” back in the first century?
Was there ever a single person responsible for the welfare of an entire congregation? Did that person wear distinctive garments to identify them as “clergy”? Did they have titles to distinguish them from the rest of the flock, or were they just men who had spiritual qualifications who were assigned roles in the congregation as part of the brotherhood?
Jesus said of the Pharisees.....
“They bind up heavy loads and put them on the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger. 5 All the works they do, they do to be seen by men, for they broaden the scripture-containing cases that they wear as safeguards and lengthen the fringes of their garments. 6 They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues 7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men. 8 But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. 11 But the greatest one among you must be your minister. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut up the Kingdom of the heavens before men; for you yourselves do not go in, neither do you permit those on their way in to go in. 14 ——
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you travel over sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one, you make him a subject for Ge·henʹna twice as much so as yourselves.”
What a damning indictment on those men who assumed that their position entitled them to receive more than the members of their flocks, whom Jesus said were all precious to God and should be cared for by loving shepherds. Any wonder the “lost sheep” were straying.
There was great responsibility in taking up a position of service in the Christian congregation because God would hold them accountable for what they did and said. It was not a position of power, but a position of trust.
No women were allowed to be teachers in the congregation because gender roles were clearly set out from the beginning of man’s existence. It doesn’t matter what the world does, those roles are set by the Creator and females were to have a supportive and complementary role......not a competitive and equal role as teachers to the congregation.
Does that mean they have no teaching role at all? NO! The women in the congregation were to be preachers along with their men folk. They were prominent in the first century congregations as supportive to the elders who took the lead. There were no “clergy” and there were no female teachers in Judaism either because God had already assigned the roles of both sexes in the congregation and in the family.
1 Corinthians 11:3...
“But I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn, the head of a woman is the man; in turn, the head of the Christ is God.”
Even Jesus has a “head” over him. If we all know our place in God’s arrangement, there will be no need for any to assert themselves in roles that they have no business assuming. At the end of the day, all will answer to God for their attitude and conduct.