{"id":1971,"date":"2024-07-08T09:39:59","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T13:39:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/snarkyfaith\/?p=1971"},"modified":"2024-07-03T16:43:19","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T20:43:19","slug":"book-review-nice-churchy-patriarchy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/snarkyfaith\/2024\/07\/book-review-nice-churchy-patriarchy\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: “Nice Churchy Patriarchy”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Nice Churchy Patriarchy<\/em> book cover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014Liz Cooledge Jenkins\u2019s <\/span>Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women\u2019s Humanity from Evangelicalism<\/span><\/em> is a wrecking ball swinging at the fragility of the Evangelical patriarchy. It\u2019s a book I wish my wife and I had 20 years ago in ministry. It\u2019s easy to rage against the patriarchy, but this book is wrapped in scholarly research and personal experiences. This isn\u2019t just a read; it\u2019s a call to arms for anyone tangled up at the messy crossroads of faith and feminism.<\/span><\/p>\n

Deep Dive into the Patriarchal Rabbit Hole<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

What Jenkins serves up isn\u2019t your garden-variety critique of overt sexism. No, she\u2019s after the sneaky kind\u2014the type that\u2019s baked into \u201cpolite\u201d evangelical traditions, theology, and those dangerously deceptive acts of \u2018kindness.\u2019 It\u2019s the kind of patriarchy that whispers rather than shouts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jenkins isn\u2019t just throwing stones from the outside. As an ordained minister and a seminary graduate, she\u2019s got the cred to dissect these issues with the precision of someone who\u2019s been there. Her personal journey injects a raw, authentic urgency into the continued state of Christian misogyny. <\/span><\/p>\n

Spotlight on the Sins of Misogyny<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

This book doesn\u2019t just talk at you. It grabs you by the collar and drags you through the muck of subordination where women\u2019s leadership is stifled, and those moments when women\u2019s roles are reduced to mere tokens. Jenkins exposes how women in the church are often boxed into demeaning roles, underappreciated, and overexploited.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jenkins shines a light on the systemic hurdles and silencing tactics that women face\u2014not because they lack anything to offer, but because the patriarchal playbook says so. It\u2019s a powerful, uncomfortable mirror held up to the evangelical community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blueprint for a Better Church<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

But Jenkins doesn\u2019t just diagnose the disease; she offers a cure. In the latter parts of her book, she moves from critiquing to rebuilding. She calls for scrubbing the scriptures clean of male bias and blowing the dust off theological frameworks to make room for gender equality.<\/span><\/p>\n

I absolutely loved her rallying cry to celebrate the often-ignored contributions of women in Christian history because it not only spotlights overlooked figures but also inspires a richer, more diverse understanding of our faith\u2019s narrative.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why This Book Matters<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Nice Churchy Patriarchy<\/span><\/em> is a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of faith, fused with the relentless pursuit of justice. Jenkins acknowledges the resistance such transformative ideas might face but meets them head-on with actionable steps and a vision of hope.<\/span><\/p>\n

For those weary of the same old narratives about women\u2019s roles in the church, Jenkins offers fresh perspectives and enlightened insights. This book is a crucial conversation starter for anyone committed to unraveling the knotty issues of faith, gender, and justice.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a world quick to argue but slow to listen, <\/span>Nice<\/span> Churchy Patriarchy<\/span><\/em> stands out as a reasoned, passionate call for a future where evangelicalism doesn\u2019t just change but transforms. Read it, reflect on it, and join the movement towards a more equitable church and society.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more on Liz Cooledge Jenkins: lizcooledgejenkins.com<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\nGet the book now on Amazon!\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n**<\/h2>\n*****************
For more Snarky Faith, check out the podcast interview with
** ***************Liz Cooledge Jenkins<\/span>:<\/h2>\n