Here’s another roundup of great egalitarian posts from CBE and other bloggers around the web! We hope you’ll be encouraged and informed by them.
A Woman Fully Alive, by Suzanne Burden (SheLoves Magazine)
“Today, I find myself in a unique place. On the one hand, the Church seems to be recognizing that female voices are needed, that they are needed on church staffs, and that they need to be sought out. On the other hand, I am often wanted only if I conform to a certain constrained ideal.”
How I Became an Egalitarian: Called to be a Pastor, by MaryAnn (Scratchpaper Thoughts)
“Because I had mistakenly thought that women could not be pastors, it had not occurred to me that it was an option for me. Missions had been the logical option. No doubt, God had wanted to cultivate in me a heart for the nations, but, as I looked back, I could see that his calling on my life has always been evident. God has called me, first of all, to be a pastor.”
Pray Like Hannah! By Monica Beckner Robison (The Junia Project)
“Like other women born in Israel during her time, Hannah was in a polygamous marriage arrangement and was ostracized for being childless. Hannah experienced great mental anguish over a number of years, despite having a loving husband. One year during their annual pilgrimage to the temple at Shiloh, Hannah’s grief culminated in an emotional appeal for help from God. She did not ask the priest to pray on her behalf, but went to straight to God, pouring out her heart. Hannah’s silent prayer was so impassioned that the high priest, Eli, believed her to be drunk. Perhaps she felt offended by Eli’s assumption, for she replied ‘I am no worthless woman’”
Paul and Women, in a Nutshell, by Marg Mowczko
“Paul was not a misogynist: he did not hate or mistrust women.
Paul valued Priscilla, Euodia and Syntyche as his co-workers in gospel ministry.
He refers to Junia as his relative (or compatriot), his fellow prisoner, and as outstanding among the apostles.
He commends Phoebe to the church at Rome as “our sister”, a patroness of many, a minister of the church at Cenchrea, and he probably sent his letter to the Romans with her.”
This Week on The Scroll
Appreciating Pastors who Tackle Hard Issues, by Mimi Haddad
“For me, the lesson learned that evening was basic. Take the risk, ask the questions. Dare to bring problems to the light. Is there really a topic we cannot discuss together as God’s children? Problems unaddressed only fester and become more entrenched, and more virulent, enslaving one generation after another. The church can and should lead the way, but we need many more resources and courage most of all. We need pastors who are not afraid to do what they have never done before—to break the silence on abuse.”
A Warrior Priesthood Is Essential: Really? – Part 1, by Francis H. Geis
“For all the assertions he has made, Roberts has failed to truly and honestly answer these two questions: Is male dominance in power and authority truly taught in Genesis 1 and 2? And is it really true that male dominance is constantly reaffirmed throughout the Scriptures? In this section, we have answered the second question by showing both that Scripture does not, as a whole, support this model of warrior priesthood: and that a number of key arguments for this model, in addition to being without biblical support, are logically fallacious as well.”
What articles about biblical gender equality spoke to you this week? Share them with us in the comments!
*Note: Linking to these posts is not a CBE endorsement of previous or future written work or statements made by the authors.
