I am really excited about the articles we’re featuring this week! Grab a cup of tea and cozy up with your computer this weekend to read these wonderful pieces promoting biblical equality for women and men.
That Elect Lady, by Scot McKnight
“Yes, in church history some have argued that the “elect lady” of 2 John is the church itself and not a female leader. But William David Spencer, in his final piece as editor of Priscilla Papers (28.3, 2014, pp. 1-4), has devoted some space to showing that in fact it is far more likely that the “elect lady” is the church leader of a house church.”
What it Looks Like to Join an Egalitarian Church Staff, by Meredith Miller (The Junia Project)
“If the church is fully supportive of gender equality, new staff should be as well. While there are certainly topics that church staff can disagree on, this is one where unity in advocacy is particularly important.”
The Heart of the Gendercide Problem, by Elizabeth Gerhardt (Christianity Today)
“For a global impact, we can help women by continuing our efforts to fight poverty. Micro financing, building clean wells, supporting women’s small businesses, and helping to build schools for girls, are a few ways to support vulnerable women in underdeveloped countries. When you make an impact economically in a woman’s life you are empowering her to be able to resist unhealthy community practices and provides an opportunity to exit violent relationships.”
The Church Needs Men and Women to be Friends, by Jen Wilkin (the beginning of wisdom)
“Sexual attraction is a valid red flag to raise when we consider male-female friendships, and it should never be dismissed lightly. But it does not justify declaring all such friendships impossible. All relationships involve risk of hurt, loss or sin, but we still enter into them because we believe what will be gained is greater than what we might risk.”
Where Are the Women? by Steve Norman (Leadership Journal)
“There are some male leaders who refuse to develop the gifts of women and intentionally shut them out of leadership. But I’m convinced there are many more like me—they are simply blinded by their background to the lack of female leadership around them. Usually there’s no malice on the part of us men who are senior leaders in our congregations. But I’m convinced our oversight is costing us. We are missing an incredible opportunity.”
This Week on The Scroll
From Mourning to Dancing: Experiencing God’s Delight in South Africa, by Mimi Haddad
“Consider Bongiwe—a Sunday school teacher whose long walk to freedom ended with “thanks” to God, which is also the meaning of her name in Xhosa. Hers was a story of deliverance, transformation, and a rebirth from male dominance to a realization that God also gives her authority. She broke free from the messages she received from her community, that girls should be submissive to boys, a practice that instilled a sense of inferiority and intimidation among females.”
New Testament Insights on Marriage, Singleness, and the Family (of God) – Part 1, by David Cramer
“In other words, Paul’s instructions about marriage and singleness do not stem from a restrictive, prudish, anti-sex attitude. Rather, his view of marriage and singleness is fundamentally Christ-focused: He instructs us to adopt whatever life vocation that will offer us the best opportunities to serve Christ.”
New Testament Insights on Marriage, Singleness, and the Family (of God) – Part 2, by David Cramer
“For in this passage Paul not only greets married couples and entire households who serve the Lord together, but he more often greets individual men and women who are serving the Lord alongside him. He commends the woman Phoebe, as a deacon and benefactor. He greets the man Adronicus and the woman Junia, both of whom he calls ‘outstanding among the apostles.’ He greets Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis, all presumably single women who Paul states have ‘worked hard in the Lord.’”
Getting Ready for LA, by Florkime Paye
“This conference is going to be a personification of 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old is gone, the new is here!” (TNIV). This verse is perfect for the message we hope to explore on how becoming a new creation in Christ transforms our worldviews, relationships, ministries, and our service in the world as men and women united in Christ.”
Injustice: Does Size Matter? by Wendy Hermann Smith
“Are there bigger problems than my church’s refusal to ordain me? Yes. But the psalmist says, blessed are those “who execute justice for the oppressed,” and that means fighting oppression wherever it festers and stopping it before it morphs into something worse. We should not ignore the injustice we see over here simply because it is not as bad as the injustice we see over there.”
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.
