Bible Teaches Gender Equality, Says Christian Organization

MINNEAPOLIS – May 2003 – Men usually function as pastors and leaders in evangelical Christian communities, but Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE) will provide a biblical basis for the ministry and leadership of women at its conference held August 8-10 in Orlando, Fla. The conference, called “Celebrating the Priesthood of All Believers: Serving Christ as a Global Community,” will include the perspectives of Christian leaders from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

CBE President Mimi Haddad notes that often discussions on the role of women revolve around a few difficult Bible passages, and ignore the larger thrust of Scripture. “The predominant point in Scripture is one that teaches the fundamental equality of women, both in being and in function,” Haddad says.

“The Bible teaches [that] all God’s people are holy, all have the Spirit, and all are priests,” says speaker John E. Phelan Jr., president and dean of North Park Theological Seminary. “This means all, regardless of gender, are called to ministry in every capacity. There is a powerful, pervasive, positive message regarding women in the Bible.”

Phelan believes much is at stake over this issue. “In an alienated, fractured culture, we need a message of healthy inclusion,” says Phelan. “If we offer an exclusionary message to women, we fail not only to be faithful to God’s Word, but to keep faith with women who desperately need that word of grace and inclusion.”

Additional speakers include J. Lee Grady, author of “10 Lies the Church Tells Women” and editor of Charisma magazine; Linda Belleville, theologian, professor and author of “Women Leaders and the Church”; and Funmi Josephine Para-Mallam, a Ford Foundation Fellow from Nigeria.

The conference will address theological questions, but will also focus on practical application in marriages and local churches. Other sessions look at the issue’s worldwide implications, such as the status of women in the Third World and serving as a woman pastor in Japan and Venezuela.

Debate over women’s roles has divided denominations and cost some people teaching positions and missionary service posts. Eleven individuals will receive CBE’s Priscilla and Aquila Award, which honors those who have been subject to attack, taken great risk, or made major contributions to promote biblical equality.

Christians for Biblical Equality is a non-profit organization of Christian men and women from nearly 100 denominations 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. For more information on the organization and its conference, visit its Web site at http://www.cbeinternational.org or call 612-872-6898.

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