Miriam Adeney (Ph.D.) is a professor at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, WA. She is adjunct faculty at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, and at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Adeney is the author of several books including Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women and A Time for Risking: Priorities for Women. She is married with three sons, and is a member of University Presbyterian Church.

When Does Culture Empower?
Does Christianity raise the status of women? Or do women sometimes experience greater freedom and influence before the gospel arrives? What makes the difference: kinship structures, social class, land ownership patterns, religious mediation roles, political revolutions, biblical teaching, Pentecostalism, microloans, indigenous churches, beliefs about blood? Cases from Africa, Asia, and Latin America will help us explore this perplexing issue.
 

Brian Howell (Ph.D.) is associate professor of anthropology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, where he has also served as coordinator of the Gender Studies Certificate. Howell has taught and conducted research in the Philippines and the Dominican Republic, where his focus has largely been on global Christianity and short-term missions. He lives in Wheaton, IL with his wife, Marissa Sabio, an educator and social worker, and their three children, Hannah Marie (12), Samuel Philip (8), and Benjamin Isaac (5).

Culture Matters: Why Culture Affects Our Understanding of Gender in Life and Scripture
This session will present a theology of culture in order to explore theology in culture. Specifically, it will explore why gender (an expression of culture) must be understood as both a context in which we read Scripture and a topic we understand through Scripture. We will explore biblical themes as parts of both the culture in which they were spoken, and those in which they are read. We can move beyond thinking of anything in Scripture as “just cultural” to understanding everything in Scripture and daily life (including gender) as properly and profoundly cultural.
 

Cheryl J. Sanders (Th.D.) is senior pastor of Third Street Church of God and a professor at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C. She has published over 100 works including Ministry at the Margins, Saints in Exile, Empowerment Ethics for a Liberated People, and Living the Intersection. Sanders is a contributing guest editor for Leadership, a journal for pastors. She and her husband, Dr. Alan Carswell, are parents of two adult children, Allison and Garrett.

The Bible as a Guide and Roadmap for the Liberation of African American Women
The Bible has been used to justify slavery and the subjugation of women in the United States. We will address the impact of the Bible upon slavery, emancipation, and the pursuit of justice for African Americans and women, especially African American Christian women who have been leaders and advocates for the rights and well-being of their people.
 

Jenell Williams Paris (Ph.D.) is professor of sociology and anthropology at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. She teaches, writes, and speaks on issues of sexuality and gender in Christian perspective. Williams Paris has published many articles and books, including Urban Disciples: A Beginner’s Guide to Serving God in the City and Birth Control for Christians: Making Wise Choices.

Gender in Christian Media and Advertising
The ‘Christians and culture’ question commonly examines how Christians ought to relate to the culture in which they live. Christians also create subcultures of ‘Christian’ images, norms, and roles that shape how males and females think of themselves, their social roles, and their relationships. This presentation will examine images of men, women, and gender roles in Christian advertising and media.

Miriam Adeney (Ph.D.) is a professor at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, WashingtonA. She is adjunct faculty at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, and at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. Adeney is the author of several books including Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women and A Time for Risking Priorities for Women. She is married with three sons, and is a member of University Presbyterian Church.

Why Muslim Women Come to Jesus *
From Iran to Egypt to Indonesia to Kenya, Muslim women are coming to Jesus. What aspects of Christian witness draw them? What elements in Islam prepare them for the gospel? What dangers do they face, and how do they cope with these challenges? Cases will be drawn from Adeney’s research as recounted in her book Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women.
 

Aída Besançon Spencer (Ph.D.) is professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, MA. Besançon Spencer is a founding pastor of Pilgrim Church in Beverly, MA. She has written a number of books including Beyond the Curse: Women Called to Ministry and is editorial consultant for CBE’s scholarly journal, Priscilla Papers.

Does God Have Gender? ***
God is Spirit who transcends gender but is the source of all gender and all creation. This workshop will be an exploration of the biblical data that explains God’s nature as it relates to gender.

What Makes a Marriage Work? *
This practical workshop will explore 25 biblical principles for a successful marriage gathered over the speakers’ 37 years of egalitarian marriage. Bring your Bible!
Workshop led with William David Spencer.
 

Catherine Clark Kroeger (Ph.D.) is president of Peace and Safety in the Christian Home (PASCH) and a founder of Christians for Biblical Equality. Clark Kroeger's areas of specializations include women in ancient religion, and the biblical mandate on human sexuality.

Abuse Knows No Boundaries *
Domestic abuse extends to all races, societies, cultures, genders, socioeconomic levels and faith communities. Effective use of Scripture can raise a powerful voice in discussions of domestic abuse. Issues of spirituality play dominant roles in both prevention and healing.
 

David Csinos (M.T.S.) is a doctoral student at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA, where he specializes in children’s spirituality. He has served in children’s ministry at a number of congregations in southern Ontario. Csinos lives in Richmond, VA with his wife, Jenny.

Will Boys be Boys and Girls be Girls? Subverting Gender Stereotypes through Ministry with Children *
Today’s children are being taught, whether explicitly or implicitly, that females and males are to act in specific, predetermined ways. To effectively work against traditional gender roles and hierarchy, we must break this cycle by instilling values of biblical equality in the lives of children and young people. This theoretical and practical workshop will examine how parents, children’s pastors, and ministry leaders can subvert societal gender stereotypes and promote biblical equality through their ministries with children.
 

Megan DeFranza (M.A.T.H., M.A.B.L) is currently a doctoral candidate at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. She is writing her dissertation on theological anthropology and intersex. She and her husband, Andrew, have two daughters, Lórien and Eden.

Gender Construction in Society and Church: What We Can Learn from the Intersexed **
Because of the creation of Adam and Eve, most Christians assume there are only two sexes (male and female), and that these sexes work themselves out in two genders (masculine and feminine). Intersexed persons are those born neither clearly male nor female. Some intersexed persons and their advocates are calling for recognition of a third sex category and rejection of traditional understandings of male and female, an idea not yet adequately explored by theologians. Jesus’ teaching on the eunuch may provide a resource for the intersexed and open up new ways to think about sex and gender in society and church.
 

Pamela Erwin (D.Min.) is a professor at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. She has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of youth ministry as an educator, author, and practitioner. Erwin’s passion is to encourage her students to think critically and creatively about adolescent culture and youth ministry.

New Eden Identity: Helping Teens Find a Biblical Response to Gender Expectations *
This workshop will look at the latest research on adolescents and the social dynamics that help shape one's gender identity. In addition, this workshop will offer a theological perspective on what it means to be a new creation, integrated with practical ways to help teens develop a healthy understanding of their own identity.
 

Mimi Haddad (Ph.D.) is president of Christians for Biblical Equality. She is a founding member of the Evangelicals and Gender Study Group at the Evangelical Theological Society. Haddad served as the Convener of the Issue Group 24 for the 2002 Lausanne III Committee for World Evangelization.

What is the Ministry of CBE? *
Throughout the history of the church, God continues to bring renewal and reform in each generation as Christians debate important theological and moral issues. Christians for Biblical Equality and its mission (to advance a consistent interpretation of Scripture on gender) is at the hub of an important reform movement. This workshop will consider CBE’s ministry, what we do, how we interpret biblical passages on gender, and how we stand in a reforming tradition noted throughout history.
 

Richard S. Hess (Ph.D.) is a professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Denver Seminary in Denver, CO. He is author or editor of 17 books and has published over 100 scholarly articles. Rick and his wife Jean have three children and two grandchildren.

Women in the Old Testament and Ancient Israelite Society: From Eve to Huldah **
Beginning with Eve and how her story reflects the world of ancient Israel, this study will examine the roles played by women in the Old Testament and the manner in which they evolved and changed.
 

Brian Howell (Ph.D.) is associate professor of anthropology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, where he has also served as coordinator of the Gender Studies Certificate. Howell has taught and conducted research in the Philippines and the Dominican Republic, where his focus has largely been on global Christianity and short-term missions. He lives in Wheaton, IL with his wife, Marissa Sabio, an educator and social worker, and their three children, Hannah Marie (12), Samuel Philip (8), and Benjamin Isaac (5).

Gender and Multiculturalism in the Church **
How might the different meanings that gender takes in various settings pose both challenges and opportunities for conversations about equality in the global Body of Christ? We will explore how different cultural approaches to gender might be moved towards an egalitarian position without pushing everyone towards one culturally-particular model of gendered life.
 

Mark Husbands (Ph.D.) is a professor of Reformed Theology at Hope College in Holland, MI. His essay, “Reconciliation as the Dogmatic Location of Humanity” in Women, Ministry and the Gospel: Exploring New Paradigms, is an example of Husbands’ enduring attention to the relationship between God’s redemptive action and moral life.

Resurrection, Ontology and Gender: Why Reconciliation is Disruptive ***
While it might be tempting to resolve contemporary difficulties by re-asserting well-worn arguments in favor of established patterns of thought and practice, Christ’s resurrection reveals the power and disturbing ontological reality of the gospel. If the life of the people of God is to bear genuine witness, we argue that it must come to terms with the disruptive call of God. In seeking to secure the full equality of women and men, we derive courage from the fact that the grace of God equips us for ministry and building up of the church as we grow into the fullness of Christ, the one in whom all things are made new.
 

Alan Johnson (Th.D.) is emeritus professor of New Testament and Christian ethics and former director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College and Graduate School in Wheaton, IL. He is author and co-author of a number of books.

Reading the Bible for its Original and Contemporary Meaning **
In this workshop, we will explore basic principles of biblical interpretation that lead to the best interpretation of texts. We will also sketch how a biblical theology of gender may be constructed and how tensions between ancient cultural constructs and modern patterns may be resolved while remaining faithful to Scripture as the revealed word of God.
 

Carrie Miles (Ph.D.) is a senior research fellow at George Mason University and the director of Empower International Ministries. She is the author of The Redemption of Love and New Man, New Woman, New Life. Carrie travels regularly to Africa to conduct research and teach biblical equality in marriage and family.

The Persistence of Patriarchy *
In the past half-century, American government has made huge strides in passing laws that promote the rights of women. Nonetheless, patriarchy persists in places where laws and activism cannot reach. This workshop will examine the roots of patriarchy and gender difference, exploring the psychological, economic, and religious reasons why some things have changed and some have not.
 

Jeff Miller (Ph.D.) teaches biblical studies at Milligan College in Milligan College, TN. Miller lives with his wife Dana and his two daughters in Johnson City, TN. His hobbies include racquetball, hiking the Appalachian Mountains, and playing the piano.

Asking the Wrong Questions **
Biblical interpreters tend to ask unhelpful questions concerning Paul's words about women. This workshop will examine the specific problems of two such questions: “What roles do women fill in the New Testament which can therefore also be filled by women today?” and “When does Paul speak to a specific occasion and when does he speak to all people at all times?”
 

Darin Poullard (M.Div.) is senior pastor of Fort Washington Baptist Church in Fort Washington, MD. He has been married since 1990, and is the father of two children. With others from each major continent, he participated in the recent publication of Global Voices on Biblical Equality: Women and Men Serving Together in the Church.

Gifted for Leadership: Men and Women Sharing Equally in Leadership *
This workshop will provide attendees with a biblical foundation for gender equality in leadership, steps on making one’s church egalitarian, and address areas of challenge to egalitarianism.
 

Cheryl J. Sanders (Th.D.) is senior pastor of Third Street Church of God and a professor at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C. She has published over 100 works including Ministry at the Margins, Saints in Exile, Empowerment Ethics for a Liberated People, and Living the Intersection. Sanders is a contributing guest editor for Leadership, a journal for pastors. She and her husband, Dr. Alan Carswell, are parents of two adult children, Allison and Garrett.

Two Biblical Slave Narratives: Hagar and Joseph **
There are two contrasting slave narratives in the book of Genesis: (1) Hagar, the Egyptian mother of Abraham’s son Ishmael, and (2) Joseph, the Hebrew who rose from slavery to become the governor of Egypt. We will explore the relevance of both stories to the African American experience of slavery and the ongoing pursuit of freedom and equality for African Americans.
 

William David Spencer (Th.D.) is professor of theology and the arts at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston, MA. He has done urban ministry since 1966. Spencer has published many articles, stories, poems, and books, and is the editor of Christians for Biblical Equality’s scholarly journal, Priscilla Papers.

The Egalitarian Man: The Fully Realized Male *
This hands-on workshop for men will explore the blessings of being egalitarian and the challenges posed by and facing men in our Christian culture.

What Makes a Marriage Work? *
This practical workshop will explore 25 biblical principles for a successful marriage gathered over the speakers’ 37 years of egalitarian marriage. Bring your Bible!
Workshop led with Aída Besançon Spencer.
 

Jenell Williams Paris (Ph.D.) is professor of sociology and anthropology at Messiah College in Grantham, PA. She teaches, writes, and speaks on issues of sexuality and gender in Christian perspective. Williams Paris has published many articles and books, including Urban Disciples: A Beginner’s Guide to Serving God in the City and Birth Control for Christians: Making Wise Choices.

How Christian Media and Advertising Shape Our Relationships *
This hands-on, discussion-oriented workshop will further explore the themes presented in the plenary session, “Gender in Christian Media and Advertising.” We will examine ways in which Christian media and advertising shape self-image, marriage, and relationships, and strategies for moving forward together.
 

Jennifer Wiseman (Ph.D.) currently serves as chief of the Laboratory for Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. In 1987, she discovered comet Wiseman-Skiff. Wiseman has served as a Congressional Science Fellow on Capitol Hill and the Program Scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope at NASA Headquarters. She is a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation.

Women in Science: Study, Exploration, and Leadership *
Women in scientific and technical careers encounter marvelous opportunities and unique challenges. Dr. Wiseman is privileged to explore God's glorious creation through the lens of astrophysics. As a Christian woman in a traditionally male career field, she also often encounters the tension bearing on gender, leadership styles, church support, and the relationship of faith and science. This workshop will explore such issues as well as opportunities for women in scientific and technical careers.
 

Samuel Zalanga (Ph.D.) teaches sociology at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. Zalanga's broad area of scholarly interest and specialization is development studies and social change. His hobbies include reading, intellectual conversation, and analysis of human existential reality and struggles.

The State, Public Policy, and Economics: The Reproduction of Gender and Social Inequality **
This workshop will examine the history of how citizenship was historically defined, as it either excluded women and other minorities or only partially recognized the citizenship of such persons. The workshop will also suggest practical measures to correct the problem of social inequality.