Aren't Women Liberated Yet?
Many years ago, during my seminary career at Fuller, I took a class called Women and Men in Ministry. Roberta Hestenes was the teacher. Before seminary my views of women in ministry were really unformed -- I grew up Episcopalian but had moved on to Foursquare in high school. Foursquare as you might now was founded by a woman. I really hadn't thought about it much, but during seminary I began to encounter gifted and called women, some who came from restrictive traditions. I had a close friend who was attending LIFE Bible College. And while Foursquare ordained women, there seemed to be limits on what she could do. It's unlikely Aimee would be allowed to be President now! But Roberta's class helped me clarify ideas and beliefs and I became an advocate for women in ministry. I also studied with Scott Bartchy and affirmed his principle of mutual submission.
Just a few days ago I stumbled into an interesting conversation at the evangelically inclined blog of Scot McKnight, Jesus Creed, that reprinted the story of Stan Gundry, and editor at Zondervan. Gundry talks about how his wife's journey influenced his -- his wife being Pat Gundry, author of Women be Free, one of the books I myself read some 20+ years ago.
In the ongoing debate in the comments section, much was made of complementarianism vs. egalitarianism. Biblical texts were flung this way and that. In many ways the debate going on there was one I engaged in at least internally so many years ago. One of the participants who eagerly affirmed the gifts and callings of women, was a blogger named Julie Clawson. I followed the discussion over to her blog and found her own comments, which seemed a bit pessimistic.
There is good news to be had, though. Biblically, you have to start with Galatians 3:28. We're all one in Christ and the distinctions, whatever they are, no longer define us. We are who we are, but they don't define us. Roles are culturally defined, not divinely ordained, and even if Paul didn't outline all the implications of this statement of liberation, in our day, it should be obvious. Remember Thomas Jefferson didn't seem to completely understand all the implications of the Declaration of Independence.
Without being overly proud, I must celebrate the fact that my denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) had the foresight to call a woman to be its General Minister and President. We are truly blessed to have as our leader, the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins. So, there is good news out there!
Just a few days ago I stumbled into an interesting conversation at the evangelically inclined blog of Scot McKnight, Jesus Creed, that reprinted the story of Stan Gundry, and editor at Zondervan. Gundry talks about how his wife's journey influenced his -- his wife being Pat Gundry, author of Women be Free, one of the books I myself read some 20+ years ago.
In the ongoing debate in the comments section, much was made of complementarianism vs. egalitarianism. Biblical texts were flung this way and that. In many ways the debate going on there was one I engaged in at least internally so many years ago. One of the participants who eagerly affirmed the gifts and callings of women, was a blogger named Julie Clawson. I followed the discussion over to her blog and found her own comments, which seemed a bit pessimistic.
There is good news to be had, though. Biblically, you have to start with Galatians 3:28. We're all one in Christ and the distinctions, whatever they are, no longer define us. We are who we are, but they don't define us. Roles are culturally defined, not divinely ordained, and even if Paul didn't outline all the implications of this statement of liberation, in our day, it should be obvious. Remember Thomas Jefferson didn't seem to completely understand all the implications of the Declaration of Independence.
Without being overly proud, I must celebrate the fact that my denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) had the foresight to call a woman to be its General Minister and President. We are truly blessed to have as our leader, the Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins. So, there is good news out there!
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