Here are a few blog posts that caught my attention in the past fortnight.
“Perhaps Feminism is not the Enemy” by Michael Jensen (Bible Society – Australia)
This important article was written by an influential Sydney Anglican minister and college lecturer who states,
“…a Christian point of view has more in common with feminism than not. The profundity of the affirmation that male and female are created in the image of God is extended by the deep equality that male and female can share together in Christ Jesus.”
As an Australian, I am personally and deeply grateful for Michael’s article.
“Count Z and the Egalitarian Revival” by Rob Dixon (Challenging Tertullian)
Don’t let anyone tell you women preachers are a modern phenomenon. Count Zinzendorf, and the Moravian community he patronised and led in the 18th century, encouraged women to use their ministry gifts, as Rob explains in this short and entertaining post.
“Why We Need More Women Pastors” by Karen Strand Winslow (The Junia Project)
“We are shaped by what we see and do not see, what we experience and do not experience… Expositions and arguments are persuasive for some, but personal experience is far more effective for most people. We can have the greatest impact if we educate our congregations and if we give them women pastors.”
“Headship and Abuse” by Kristen du Mez (The Anxious Bench)
In this post Kristen notes that Katherine Bushnell (1855-1946) concluded that the theology of male headship was to blame for abuse. Kristen’s new book A New Gospel for Women: Katharine Bushnell and the Challenge of Christian Feminism has been published by Oxford University Press.
“Demolishing Scripture (while claiming to be ‘biblical’)” by Tim Bulkeley (Sansblogue)
Aimed at Christians involved gender debates, this thoughtful piece makes some good points.
“Rather than either the “liberal” or the “literal” dismantling of Scripture we must (because every part of the Bible is socially and culturally contextual (that is incarnate in ancient places and times) look for the understanding of God and the world (theology) that the passage is teaching or applying.”
“Lydia and the ‘Place of Prayer’ in Philippi” by Marg Mowczko (New Life)
This article sheds a bit of light on Lydia and shows that her ‘place of prayer’ was most probably a synagogue building. Was Lydia the patron of this synagogue?
Congratulations to Jenny Rae Armstrong who was awarded an Evangelical Press Association Award this week for her article published last year in CBE’s Mutuality magazine. Jenny’s excellent article is one of my all-time favourites.
What articles about biblical gender equality encouraged 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.
