Women and Men in Leadership

Today I wrote a piece that will be published in the weekly "Pastors' Column" of our local newspaper.

My contribution this time is entitled "Biblical Equality" and mostly consists of a paragraph or two from the introduction to a book I've referenced before Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy.  I'll share what I wrote at the end of this post.

So why write about "Biblical Equality" today?  

God has made Crossroads to be the kind of church that has many men and women who are serving as spiritual leaders.  A glance back at what the Lord has done in our midst over the past week shows this leadership in action.  During the week from August 18-25, God has blessed us with:

• Two "My Hope America" introductory meetings.
• A "network huddle" that I participated in with leaders from North Heights and Community of Hope churches in the Twin Cities area.
• Planning and leading a Youth focused worship service.
• A High School student led "JAM" time of Bible study and prayer.
• Tuesday night prayer and lots of Spirit-led planning for a Saturday morning "pampering" outreach to the women of Cokato's  Golfview Apartments.
• Prayer and planning for student/youth ministries for the fall.

I didn't initiate any of those things.   The only thing you might say I "led alone" last week was a worship service at the Cokato Manor on Wednesday... and I really didn't do that alone either... the wonderful activity staff at the Manor makes it all possible.  Other than that, everything happened as God has been working through men and women who pray and then act on what God has said.  Praise God!

So what does that have to do with "Biblical Equality"?  Simply this: some would say that women should not be equal partners in church leadership.  They would point to certain Bible passages in the Holy Spirit inspired letters that were written to churches in Ephesus, Corinth, Colossae and to church leaders such as Timothy--letters that tell women to be silent, to be submissive, and to avoid any leadership role.

Because the Bible is God's Word we need to take these challenges to women in leadership seriously.  We will not just brush these things off as if God's Word doesn't apply to us now in 2013.  And that's why I wrote what I wrote today.  Here it is:

Biblical Equality

Today I'd like to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to consider the issue of men and women in the church and in the home.

A helpful (and scholarly) book about this is entitled Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy.

The book begins as follows:

"'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free' (John 8:31-32).

"So promised Jesus Christ, the Lord of the church and of the cosmos. The cause of Christ is advanced only as truth is recognized, affirmed and lived out with wisdom and integrity... Doctrine that falls short of the truth not only impedes believers from walking in the full freedom of the gospel of grace and truth but also hinders unbelievers from coming to salvation through the work of Jesus Christ."

Biblical equality "recognizes patterns of authority in the family, church and society--it is not anarchistic--but rejects the notion that any office, ministry or opportunity should be denied anyone on the grounds of gender alone.

"This is because women and men are made equally in God's image and likeness (Gen 1:27), are equally fallen (Rom 3:23), equally redeemable through Christ's life , death and resurrection (Jn 3:16), equally participants in the new-covenant community (Gal 3:28), equally heirs of God in Christ (1 Pet 3:7), and equally able to be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit for life and ministry (Acts 2:17).

"Consequently, any limits placed on the gifts and abilities of women should be challenged through a rigorous examination of the biblical texts--rightly interpreted and harmonized with the whole of God's Word..." (end quote)

If you'd like to discuss this, please contact me. Careful Bible study (Acts 17:11) and deep prayer (Acts 16:17) around these these issues will advance the gospel of Jesus in our communities. Let's study carefully so no human prejudice will get in the way of God's soul saving work (Rom 14:13).

So that's what I wrote for the newspaper.

I encourage you to pray about this.  As we move forward as a church, Crossroads will need to gather our spiritual leaders together sometimes, and I am believing it's important to face the issue of women's leadership head on before we do.  Let's talk together about these things and seek the will of God.

www.equalsharing.com

Quiet Study

I'm enjoying some quiet time at the moment.  The rest of the crowd went to fireworks; and I've gone every other year I think but this year, in keeping with what I wrote yesterday, I've just decided to take this time to be alone.

I'm reading a book that I borrowed from my son in law: Discovering Biblical Equality.  There's a section there that talks about how an active, practical equality of men and women among evangelical and charismatic Christians in the USA was overshadowed in the mid 20th century.  Janette Hassey writes:

What can account for the gradual decline of public ministry opportunities for evangelical women between the world wars?  First, fundamentalist separatist subcultures emerged which tended to harden on the women's issue.  Second, as fundamentalism institutionalized, women were squeezed out of leadership roles.  Third, the conservative Protestant backlash against changing social values resulted in restrictions on women in ministry.  Finally, a more literalist view of Scripture among fundamentalists meant less flexibility in interpreting the subject of women in ministry.

The subtitle of the book is Complementarity without Hierarchy.  I do believe God created men and women to be different but I have never been able to buy into the idea that men are somehow automatically to rule over women.  I've been blessed so many times by the teaching of women who know and respect the Word of God as it is recorded in the Holy Scriptures.  So I am on a search for what the Bible really has to say about men and women in the church.  Please pray that I would not be swayed by anything other than the Word of God.

My position, up to now, is that it is possible to be Biblically conservative and hold to a more egalitarian perspective on men and women's roles than is common among many evangelicals.  The Bible is not 100% clear on this subject, just like it isn't 100% clear on other things (like, for example, questions about baptism).  When there is a diversity of perspectives shown in scripture, it's just something that needs a careful look.  I'll do some of that while I'm up north.

www.equalsharing.com

Questions 2 & 3

My letter to the editor of the Enterprise-Dispatch comes out this morning.  It's another version of what I wrote here at my post "Replies to Bishop Chilstrom."  (The former presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's letter "Questions for those Leaving the ELCA" was published locally on Oct. 4.)

In my response published today, Oct. 18, I answer Bishop Chilstrom's first question "What is it about sex that pushed you over the edge?" by saying "It's not all about sex."

Bishop Chilstrom's second question is "Why are you organizing new churches?"  He then says there are several other Lutheran denominations and "Surely there must be one among them that would welcome you."  He goes on to say "I suspect the only reason is because none of them ordain women... Why not drop your insistence on the ordination of women for the sake of unity with some existing church body?"

Go to my post of Sep. 2, 2009 entitled "Biblical Equality" for a bit on that subject.  Women's equality is supported in the Bible.  No such Biblical authority supports homosexual sexual activity.  Many excellent articles are the Christians for Biblical Equality website including one entitled "Does Belief in Women's Equality Lead to an Acceptance of Homosexual Practice?" by Catherine Clark Kroeger.  If we "give up" women's equality for the sake of church unity we are not being true to the Bible.

Another reason other churches are being formed is because many of the more conservative Lutheran groups listed in Chilstrom's letter do not look kindly on the full exercise of spiritual gifts.  The Alpha course, for example, and some forms of prayer ministry much needed for the healing and care of the spiritually, emotionally and physically wounded, are not welcomed in many Lutheran churches.  Do a search for "Alpha" or go to "Sozo" on this blog for more on that.  Besides that, some Lutheran church bodies are much too restrictive and formal for those of us who believe God often works in ways that are not scripted or pastor-led.  Check out Testify to the Lord and Tracing New History for examples of how the new wave of spiritual growth has a hard time being contained in the "wineskins" of traditional Lutheran church bodies.  Jesus said new wine needs fresh "wineskins" (See Matthew 9:17).

Bishop Chilstrom's third question: "What will you say to your sons and daughters, sisters and brothers and others in your churches when they tell you they are homosexual?"   That is a very important question and one that we are just beginning to answer.  The book unChristian has a chapter that explores how harmful Christian attitudes can be.  That chapter begins and ends with more questions than answers.  We must treat all people with love and respect--but, if they are pushing an agenda which stands against God's Word, then we must stand against that.  We must understand how complex and difficult this is.  We must teach the truth about God's plan--that God blesses only the male-female union with the potential for new life... but, we must welcome homosexuals into our churches with open arms.

I know of no other issue that is more painful and more difficult than this.  If a son or daughter of mine, a sister or brother or any relative or dear friend is homosexual, I cannot reject them.  I must follow Jesus heart and reach out in love and accept them as I have been accepted.   I must welcome and love and care.  And I must speak the truth in love--homosexual sexual behavior is not a part of God's perfect plan.  It falls short.  It is in the category with all the fallen and broken thoughts, words and deeds that are not pleasing to God.  But God loves every homosexual and somehow they must know that if they are going to come to the Lord and receive his forgiving and convicting love.

It's not easy and I don't have it all figured out, that's for sure.  Perhaps over time we will learn how to integrate Biblical compassion and Biblical sexual standards in a way that works for the salvation of all who the Lord loves so much.  Maybe we just need to spend way more time in prayer than in talk.

I call this blog "Sharing Ministry and Faith" because I believe that's what we do, we share.  There is one who is above all of us, and that One--God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit--that One has given us his Word--in Jesus, in the sharing of the Gospel, and in the Scriptures--as a lamp and a light to our path through this difficult and painful world. 

Whatever we do, the Word of God and the Message of Jesus' sacrificial love for sinners must shine above all. 

Let's share what the Lord is speaking to us and stumble together, often just barely seeing one step ahead... let us stumble together with much prayer toward the future God has promised and prepared.  In spite of all our failings, we can trust him to get us there as we rely on his Word.

www.equalsharing.com

Biblical Equality

My daughter Naomi begins an internship today at the Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE). Should be interesting.

CBE Mission and History

CBE is a nonprofit organization of Christian men and women who believe that the Bible, properly interpreted, teaches the fundamental equality of men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, all economic classes, and all age groups, based on the teachings of Scriptures such as Galatians 3:28:

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (TNIV).

CBE Mission Statement

CBE equips believers by affirming the biblical truth about equality and justice. Thus all believers, without regard to gender, ethnicity, and class, are free and encouraged to use their God-given gifts in families, ministries, and communities.

CBE Core Values

1. We believe the Bible teaches the equality of women and men.
2. We believe God has given each person gifts to be used for the good of Christ's kingdom.
3. We believe Christians are to develop and exercise their God-given gifts in home, church, and society.
4. We believe the Bible teaches that Christians are to oppose injustice.

CBE Core Purpose

To communicate broadly the biblical truth that men and women are equally responsible to act justly and use their God-given gifts to further Christ's kingdom.

CBE Envisioned Future

CBE envisions a future where all believers will be encouraged to exercise their gifts for God's glory and missional purposes, with the full support of the Christian community.

History of CBE

Disturbed by the shallow biblical premise used by organizations and mission groups to exclude the gifts of women, evangelical leaders assembled in 1987 to publish their biblical perspective in a new scholarly journal, Priscilla Papers. Included in the group were Gilbert Bilezikian, W. Ward Gasque, Stanley Gundry, Gretchen Gaebelein Hull, Catherine Clark Kroeger, Jo Anne Lyon, and Roger Nicole. The group determined that a national organization was needed to provide education, support, and leadership about biblical equality.

With the help and vision of these individuals, Christians for Biblical Equality was established on January 2, 1988. Catherine Clark Kroeger served as the first president of the organization, and Alvera Mickelsen served as the first chair of the board of directors. Since 2001, Mimi Haddad has served as CBE’s second president.

CBE’s first major project was the creation of a statement, "Men, Women, and Biblical Equality," which laid out the biblical rationale for equality as well as its application in the community of believers and the family. CBE hosted its first international conference in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in July of 1989.

CBE has grown to include members from over 100 denominations and 65 countries. It conducts annual, international conferences; publishes three award-winning publications, a blog, and a weekly e-newsletter; and hosts an online bookstore devoted to reviewing and promoting resources on gender and the Bible from an egalitarian perspective.

Added Monday, Sep. 14: Sign up for the e-newsletter at http://www.cbeinternational.org/?q=content/arise-e-newsletter

What do you think? Please comment! Let's keep the conversation going.

www.equalsharing.com