Eve, where are you?
Dr. Nicole Davis raises this question rhetorically, as she suggests that many of her book’s readers already know the answer. Not only is the church’s history of relegating women to the margins, excluding them from positions of power, and refusing to acknowledge God’s original design of co-leadership familiar to many—it is a part of Davis’s own story. For Davis, “Eve is every woman who has lived, loved, and dreamed . . . Eve is succeeding and failing, yet she still needs to discover her full identity.” (xxxi) The discovery (or rediscovery) of this identity is a process in which all humans have a part to play. Her understanding of this process as a collective one is rooted deeply in her perception of the issue as a conflict requiring resolution—something she covers at length in Part I. As the reader engages with the text, they will encounter the stories of people who hold a range of perspectives on the question of women in church leadership. Davis employs these stories to help readers come to understand that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to the problem facing the church in the 21st Century. But, through this book, Davis commits to walking with her readers along the path of discovery.
Davis approaches the challenge of advancing egalitarianism in the church in a novel way, framing the conversation in terms of her own areas of expertise: conflict theory, mediation, and coaching. In her introduction, Davis outlines the theological reasons for her commitment to this topic. She underscores her thesis by pointing to the need for women to contribute at the leadership level for the Church to faithfully reflect the fullness of the Body of Christ (xxxiii). However, she also employs other frameworks to provide additional perspective on the question of how churches can more effectively empower women to step forward, out of the margins, and into their vocations as Christian leaders. As she herself sets out to empower women in this important step, she is honest about the challenges they may face: “You must learn to be comfortable knowing that not everyone in your church or in your family is going to support the calling in your life. Go anyway! Do it anyway! Serve God anyway! Remember, Jesus is with you, and he believes in you.” (99) These messages of encouragement pervade the text, making it a source of conviction for naysayers and a source of motivation for women living into their vocation as Christian leaders.
Davis frames the conflict that exists in the contemporary church context in Part I. She challenges men and women alike to review their own conduct to ensure that their actions are in alignment with how they speak about women in leadership. In particular, she challenges institutions that “talk the talk” about gender equality but do not actually afford equal opportunities to the women in their communities. She suggests that “the patriarchal church institution and cultural norms that have been accepted by both men and women breed an environment that keeps women stuck. Because women are active and busy in church, it may not always be easy to spot misconduct, and what’s worse, some may believe or accept that such behavior is appropriate against women.” (41)
Davis sets the stage for the provision of practical wisdom by issuing a call to unity that is worth quoting at length:
Men and women of the faith should not allow themselves to be instruments of exploitation and division. We have an enemy for that. Let us remove the works of the enemy from within our ranks so we can defeat his works together by functioning in our respective positions on the same team! We should be unified with singleness of heart and mind toward a common mission to build God’s kingdom here on earth. I believe this is God’s design for us, and therefore, it can certainly be our new reality. Again, God is looking for those who will choose to cooperate with his plan and forego their own. (101)
The question, then, remains whether or not today’s Christian leaders who are predominantly male are willing to acknowledge that God does not need their permission to use women in the advancement of the kingdom.1 Instead, an invitation is extended to join God’s kingdom advancement team, working alongside the women that God has equally gifted and called to the work that is necessary in their time and place.
Before concluding, Davis offers a model for churches to consider as they prepare to engage in this work of calling Eve forward, out of the margins. Her R.E.F.R.E.S.H. model is born from years of experience working with congregations as they navigate complex organizational change. The model encourages organization leaders to Refine, Explore, Focus, Redesign, Exercise, Structure, and Help, with the understanding that these steps will contribute to the achievement of two fundamental goals of the model. First, “Transforming [churches’] organizational focus by helping them deeply consider the needs of the members, spiritually and personally,” and second, “Enhancing [churches’] interactions with church staff and members through the development of conflict resolution and conflict management techniques.” (108) Based on her areas of research and expertise, Davis is well-positioned to provide direction to churches as they engage this work.
This book should be read by any contemporary church leader who professes an egalitarian position, as she gently challenges each one to consider if their actions align with their words. If each one her reads this book takes Davis’s words to heart, then her concluding call to women will one day be realized, “The moment is now upon you, and the day has arrived! It’s time to take your position. Come forward and step into the light. Everyone needs to see you. So when the question is asked, ‘Eve, where are you?’ you can confidently say, ‘I’m here!’” (119)