CBE INTERN LECTURES ON BIBLICAL EQUALITY

Alex Bearden

What would you do if you had a summer to work at CBE? I, Alex Bearden, an M.Div. candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary have such an opportunity. Over the course of the summer, I will be involved in a few speaking engagements that I hope will pique your interest.

CBE is expanding its ministry in new ways this summer. As a part of my work here, I will be presenting more public dialogues and discussions with local members, pastors, and professors than any summer in CBE history. I have already presented a dialogue at the Minnesota Church Center in May on the Trinity and the Image of God from a biblical and theological basis, in which local CBE members, as well as members of the Bethel University Feminist Forum, were invited to participate. The idea was to begin the conversation and invite others into a discussion rather than argue the authoritative position. I hope to present this dialogue to more people in other venues later this summer.

            The next event will be Cornerstone Music Festival in Bushnell, Illinois on July 5-8. CBE will host the Gender Revolution Tent, of which I will be a part. CBE is partnering with Jesus People USA for the fifth year in a row to discuss issues of gender within the church while listening to great music with the nearly 27,000 festival attendees. The question I will be asking with my presentation is: “Are women God’s second choice?” This lecture will be presented in a two part series starting Thursday, July 6^th from 2-3 pm and concluding Friday at the same time.

Here is a preview: Have you ever wondered why women were the first to preach the resurrection if God has forbidden them from preaching on the basis of gender? Sometimes the Bible clashes with our culture in an ironic way; while we argue that Scripture does not permit women to preach, we do not see that women were the first to preach the most important fact of Christian faith—the resurrection! My presentation will focus on issues such as these, which we might not normally consider in the gender debate. Many other important topics will be presented in the Gender Revolution tent such as discussions of popular Christian books, contemporary justice issues, and the biblical basis for women in ministry. Perhaps the most fun will be the prayer times and fellowship with other believers, besides the music, of course.

            I will also be partnering with North Heights Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, MN to help as they articulate their official position on gender. Along with church leaders, we will present an adult education class on gender and the Bible entitled, "What? No male or female!" The four-week series will begin August 6th. I am also arranging and seeking further engagements with churches in the Twin Cities area. If you are interested in hosting me to begin a dialogue with your pastor or church, contact CBE at cbe@cbeinternational.org. CBE is sending me out to bring the message of biblical equality. Please let me know if I can partner with you and your church to bring the good news!

 

An Opportunity to Dialogue with Alex...

Does Paul encourage gender-based or gift-based ministry? Throughout history, women have been denied leadership positions because of a selective reading of the Bible, especially Paul's letters. If you are curious to learn more, you are welcome to attend a free lecture by Alex and Mimi Haddad on June 23rd at 12:00 noon in the Minnesota Church Center in Minneapolis. The lecture, which is open to all, is entitled, "The Apostle Paul: Male Supremacist or Pioneering Feminist?" Please join us! Click here for directions.