Christians for Biblical Equality’s

E-Quality Newsletter

Affirming the biblical truth of equality as reflected in Galatians 3:28

August 2003

From the Editor

I hope you will enjoy this issue of E-Quality. You may find a fresh perspective on the phrase “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” after reading Christiane Carlson-Thies’ article “Singing Adam’s Song: Marriage at the Dawn of Time.” In response to the many CBE members who have asked to hear about the personal journeys of others trying to live out biblical equality, we are publishing Funmi Para-Mallam’s article, “Why? Oh Why am I a Woman?” Para-Mallam was a speaker at CBE’s conference in Orlando a few weeks ago. If you like reading what she has to say, look for her plenary address from the conference in a forthcoming issue of Priscilla Papers, CBE’s scholarly journal. You can also purchase a tape of Para-Mallam’s conference address in our bookstore; just follow this link: EqualityDepot.com

In the previous issue of E-Quality, many of you responded to our poll by answering the question: what practical tip or idea would you share with someone who is trying to overcome opposition to biblical equality? In this issue, we’ve printed some of your insightful responses. We’ve also created a new poll question for you to respond to. It’s fast and easy, containing only one question.

This issue of E-Quality also offers a summary of the conference, a book review and bookstore sale, and a membership deal. Also notice the appeal from Mimi Haddad, President of CBE, about reaching universities with the message of biblical equality.

I invite your feedback. Please let me know how this publication helps you and how I might improve future issues: vhilleque@cbeinternational.org. Or perhaps you have an article you would like to submit. If so, I encourage you to send it in for review.

Celebrating life in Christ,

Victoria Peterson-Hilleque
Editor

Singing Adam’s Song: Marriage at the Dawn of Time

By Christiane Carlson-Thies

So what does a good marriage look like anyway? How are a husband and wife supposed to relate to each other? Is it a command-and-control relationship with the husband being like the general to the wife’s sergeant? Or does it have a softer look, more like a generous boss to a competent secretary? There’s always the model of the valiant knight to the damsel in perpetual distress, of course. And then there are variations on the idea of marriage as a team. But what kind of a team are we talking about? Is it more like a tug-of-war team with both husband and wife using their muscles to pull on the same end of the rope? Or like a baseball team with one partner polishing pitching skills while the other perfects catching?

Within the body of Christ, ideas about what constitutes healthy and effective marriage relationships usually fall somewhere on a continuum between two general types, “egalitarian” on one hand and “hierarchical” on the other hand, each with their multiple sub-variations. But which type is biblical? Which is the closest approximation of what God intended when he created marriage? Or, maybe both models are off the mark and that’s why we have diminished, and sometimes ruined, our marriages. Like one of Cinderella’s sisters, maybe we’ve been determined to squeeze our much-too-large foot into someone else’s much-too-small shoe, and we’d rather cut off our toes than admit that our models just don’t fit.

My recent reflections on the creation story have led me to think that when we men and women of God have finally figured marriage out, we won’t, in the first place, be debating about who gets to be the boss of what. Nor do I think we will be weighing, measuring and balancing to ensure parity either. No, we’ll be singing—singing Adam’s song, “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” We’ll know we’ve come home when we’ve returned to the beginning—returned to marriage as it was created to be at the dawn of time.

To read the rest of the article, follow this link: http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/free_articles/SingingAdamsSong.html

Why? Oh, Why am I a Woman?

By Funmi Josephine Para-Mallam

I have a confession to make. I used to hate being a woman. And I hated God for making me one. But it wasn’t always that way. My parents brought up my siblings (a brother and two sisters) and me equitably, with absolutely no sense of privilege based on gender. “Aim for the stars, and you’re sure to hit one,” was Dad’s constantly quoted axiom. So throughout my school years I competed favorably with my peers, male and female, and felt inferior to no one. My girlhood fantasies alternated wildly between becoming President of Nigeria and performing adorably before millions of fans—movie star, sports champion, politician, whatever—I just knew that I could and would be great. Nothing was beyond my reach.

But as in all sweet dreams, harsh reality jerked me awake. As my body budded into womanhood, my inner senses caught on to things I’d never really noticed. I became aware of the gender inequalities in society and marriage, particularly in the African context, and even in my parents’ relationship. In the sitting room playing with my dolls, I’d often hear Mom’s visiting friends lament their marital woes.

This bothered me. Were all women to end up as docile caterers to the caprices of men? It certainly sounded like it. Did the dispassionate competition and camaraderie of our early carefree years end at the marriage altar?

To read the rest of the article, follow this link: http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/pdf_files/PPWhyOhWhy.pdf

from the mouths of members

Here are some of your responses to the poll in our previous issue of E-Quality addressing the question: What practical tip or idea would you share with someone who is trying to overcome opposition to biblical equality?

“First, realize that 99 percent of what the Bible teaches is applicable to both genders, especially the “big stuff” — depravity of humanity, deity of Christ, salvation through faith in Christ, etc. If we can begin with a large area of agreement, it might be easier to convince the person that re-examining the question of submission from an egalitarian perspective is not a threat to the faith.”

“The best way to overcome others’ doubts is to be very competent in your areas of giftedness and to be confident in God being the one who wired you up; he makes no mistakes and we don't need the approval of others in order to be who God himself ordained us to be.”

“(1) Pray, and keep praying. (2) Speak to the people involved personally about your concerns. Find out what their position really is. (3) Share some reading material if they are willing to read more. (4) Organize an event to discuss the issues in more depth - invite a speaker to help you if you would feel more confident. (5) If none of the above seems to change things let it be. Just loving people despite disagreements can work amazing changes.”

“It may take some time, but make the effort to learn some of the original biblical languages (Hebrew, and especially Greek). Try to get an unbiased teacher (or have more than one person you consult with [to obtain] more than one viewpoint on gender roles) so that you are aware of the true definitions and connotations of words, and then go see what you find. When you can read the Bible for yourself instead of through the eyes of translators, commentators, and pastors, it's a lot easier to figure out what's actually written in the Bible.”

“Any time we see someone using their gifts well, applaud their use and give credit to God. Most people (Christian or not) never think about the fact [that] they received their gifts; they didn't create them. Thank that person for embracing what they do well, and are empowered to do, whether it is a man or woman. Modeling acceptance is what we need to do to overcome the feelings we have of marginalization.”

Now it’s your turn. Please take a moment to respond to our new poll asking the question: What resource has helped you the most in understanding biblical equality and how have you applied the information to your life? Just follow this link: http://www.opinionpower.com/Surveys/56407488.html

Joy Abounds in Orlando: CBE’s Eighth International Conference is a Success

By Jaime Hunt

The smiles on the faces of the many people who attended CBE’s eighth international conference attested to the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those present. Inspiring speakers such as J. Lee Grady, Linda Belleville, John E. Phelan Jr., and Funmi Para-Mallam highlighted the weekend-long event.

Held Aug. 8-10 in Orlando, Fla., CBE’s eighth international conference was titled “Celebrating the Priesthood of All Believers: Serving Christ as a Global Community.” Individuals from nearly every continent were present to share in the exploration and celebration of life in the Spirit.

Twenty-nine speakers presented a total of 26 workshops on themes ranging from marriage to the state of women in the 2/3 world. Additionally, a panel discussion featuring international speakers offered a global perspective on serving God.

General session speaker J. Lee Grady, the editor of Charisma magazine and the author of 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, offered a presentation titled “Why the Devil Hates Women in Ministry.” Grady hypothesized that Satan is terrified that women in Christian leadership will create a powerful revival of the church. He urged participants to use their gifts to cause such a revival to occur. 

Funmi Para-Mallam, a Nigerian doctoral student, inspired her audience during her general session titled “Commissioned to the Harvest by the Lord Our Spokesman: An Exposition on the Book of Ruth.” She urged believers to prepare themselves to serve God in any way he asks. Her stirring speech followed the presentation of CBE’s Priscilla and Aquila awards.

Four couples, including Carolyn and Patrick Anderson, Carolyn and Joe Crumpler, Ron Hankins and Lydia Barrow-Hankins, and Diana and David Garland, were honored for opposing the Southern Baptist Convention’s position on gender roles. Additionally, long-time CBE member and former staff member Susan McCoubrie was honored for her work.

Tapes of many of the workshops and the general sessions are available. To order tapes, visit CBE’s Web site at Recordings, or call toll-free 1-877-285-2256 for more information.

CBE is currently planning a conference in the United Kingdom for fall 2004. Watch the CBE Web site for more information about registration.

CBE Hits The Headlines

CBE’s ministry has received some fascinating press coverage recently. The Christian Science Monitor has an article about the ministry online at http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0828/p12s01-lire.html . This article is also posted on CBE’s Web site along with other articles from publications such as the Associated Baptist Press and the Star Tribune. You can read them by following this link: http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/press_room/press_room.html.

Priscilla Papers Honored at EPA

By Mimi Haddad, President of CBE

We were speechless! Again! For the second consecutive year, Christians for Biblical Equality’s academic journal, Priscilla Papers, received two awards at the annual Evangelical Press Association (EPA) conference. This year, Gordon Fee’s article, “The Cultural Context of Ephesians 5:18-6:9” received second place in Biblical Exposition, and John R. Kohlenberger’s article “What About the ‘Gender Accurate’ TNIV?” won fifth place in Critical Review. According to EPA’s judges, these articles achieved excellence through thoughtful, thorough and clear exposition. http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/membership/award_winning.html

While some of you may have benefited from the excellent articles featured each quarter in Priscilla Papers, there are countless individuals who have never read a thoroughly reasoned article by biblical egalitarian scholars such as John Kohlenberger and Gordon Fee. We would like to reach at least one such person each week!

A CBE donor has paid the costs of promoting Priscilla Papers to Christian colleges and seminaries in four states in the United States. She has given CBE $1,000 to provide gift subscriptions to Priscilla Papers for interested colleges and seminaries. With her funds, CBE staff has promoted our journal through mail, e-mail and personal phone calls.

We plan to reach all 50 states!

Would you be willing to help CBE reach Christian colleges and seminaries in all 50 states with the good news of biblical equality? Please join us in prayer that this will happen.

It costs an average of $250 to reach Christians schools in one state. We will offer the colleges and universities in the state you select free one-year subscriptions to our award-winning journal.

At present, more than 100 libraries around the world subscribe to Priscilla Papers. Through your generous contributions, we would like to double that number! There are many Christians who have never read thoughtful and thorough material by egalitarians. You can be the reason CBE places our journal into the hands of many new readers. Together we can make this a reality!

Follow the link to participate in this endeavor: http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/help_cbe/PlacePPinLibraries.html

Bookstore Overstock - 25% off some titles

Although our 2003 international conference was a success, we did not sell all the books we ordered for the event. Now through Sept., 11 titles are on sale for 25 percent off the regular price! Plus, if you spend more than $65 in our bookstore, you will receive a free CBE tote bag!

Additionally, the CBE bookstore has added seven new resources to its inventory. Among them are biblical studies, relationship books and a new readers’ edition of the TNIV New Testament. The books will be on sale for 25 percent off the cover price through the end of September. To view a more detailed description of our new titles click on this link: New Resources

To order, visit EqualityDepot.com or e-mail books@cbeinternational.org. We also welcome orders by phone. Just call us toll free at 1-877-285-2256.

Book Review: 25 Tough Questions About Women and the Church

Reviewed by Kriss Erickson
160 pages, Charisma House, 2003.

J. Lee Grady’s introduction to 25 Tough Questions About Women and the Church: Answers from God’s Word that will Set Women Free contains a quote from Phoebe Palmer, an American preacher and social reformer who lived in the 1800s: “… O, the endless weight of responsibility with which the church is pressing herself earthward through the depressing influences of error. How can she rise while the gifts of three-fourths of her membership are sepulchered in her midst?” This quote sets the tone for Grady’s book, and opens a discussion of how conservative, evangelical Christians, with whom Grady identifies, often interpret the Bible using their own ignorance and prejudice instead of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Grady’s willingness to name the treatment of women as the dark, oppressive force that it has been comes partly as a result of his willingness to see what the Bible really says about women, and partly as a result of the many letters he has received since writing 10 Lies the Church Tells Women about three years ago. The women confessed to having been physically and emotionally beaten by their Christian husbands. They also shared how hurt and alone they felt when their churches told them that they had to accept such treatment.

Rather than taking a detached, hierarchical view of what these women shared, Grady expresses outrage: “I have been appalled at the level of cruelty that is occurring in Christian homes.”

Thankfully, writers like J. Lee Grady are calling church leadership into accountability for the actions they have not only permitted by assuming men had God’s sanction to dominate women but have perpetuated by refusing to listen or to show compassion to women who are abused by their husbands. He has called male domination what it is: “[A] diabolical lie that was hatched in hell and then coated with a religious veneer to make it sound acceptable.”

Grady explains that abused women need to step out of the security of their domestic world to see God’s plan. Will the church do the same? Grady says that church leaders “are notorious for giving women simplistic, pat answers laced with mean-spirited judgments” when they ask about God’s role for them. As a church leader, Grady goes against the Good Ol’ Boy rule that you don’t expose your weaknesses. His courage allows the lack of compassion behind female subjugation to be brought to light.

25 Tough Questions is broken into 25 chapters, each asking a question women have posed regarding their roles as wives and/or church members. Grady uses the biblical example of Abigail, who was married to a self-absorbed man named Nabal to disprove the role of the “submissive wife.” He discusses the importance for women to forgive the men in their lives, not out of any empty, Christian-sounding ideal, but out of concern for the spiritual and emotional well-being of the women in question.

JOIN CBE AND IMPROVE YOUR WARDROBE

If you’ve been waiting for ‘the perfect time’ to join CBE, this may be it! Now through Sept. 30, first-time members receive a free T-shirt with their new member application. You can join a good cause and provide extra advertising for CBE all at the same time! Follow this link for more details:

http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/membership/ind_family.shtml

Quotable Quotes

Two hundred years ago, Arthur Schopenhauer wrote, “All truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon felt deeply indebted to Mary King.  She was a cook by trade; but the great pulpiteer considered her a gifted theologian. “I do believe,” he testified, “that I have learnt more from her than I should have learned from any six doctors of divinity.”  (Lewis Drummond, Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers, Grand Rapids, Mich. Kregel Publications 1992, 101)

Send your favorite quote to vhilleque@cbeinternational.org, and it may be published in a future issue of E-Quality. Please be sure to cite the source of the quote including the book, author, publication information, and page number where the quote is found.

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