Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Pangea Blog

Home

Home
Progressive Christian
Liberating Women for Ministry! part 5 (Closing Thoughts)

Liberating Women for Ministry! part 5 (Closing Thoughts)

Last updated on: September 16, 2011 at 6:58 pm by Kurt Willems

Liberating Women for Ministry! part 5 (Closing Thoughts) 2011-09-16T18:58:33-07:00 Kurt Willems

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

UPDATE: I ACCIDENTALLY POSTED PART 5 BEFORE PART 4! PLEASE READ PART 4 FIRST IF YOU CAN OR GO BACK AND READ IT!

This is a series about women in ministry. I have found that in most evangelical circles, women who are in ministry do not have the same opportunities as men. Why is this? It comes from a deep seeded belief that core leadership of a biblical church is found in men alone. Women are equal in worth to God, but are limited in their function within the body of Christ. Here is the kicker, I think that Scripture might tell a different story. This series will be and exploration on this important topic. Here is part one two three & four.

Central Question: Can women serve in any role within the church? If so, how does this compare to most modern evangelical churches? If not, what are the boundaries for women in ministry? How does the New Testament serve as a guide on this issue?

———————————————————————————————–

LIVING THE TEXT: THE CHURCH AS A COMMUNITY THAT CULTIVATES THE GIFTS OF BOTH FEMALE AND MALE LEADERS

The need to reframe the way people in the church understand these texts is not simply for the sake of the issue of women in ministry, but also in order to enable the larger Christian community to embrace a better exegetical approach that leads to a more biblically robust ethic. Surface readings of the Bible are not only evident on this issue, but have created many distorted theologies that must be revisited. On the particular question of female leadership, we have demonstrated that both women and men can be encouraged to discover their unique gifts including those of the leader and teacher within the body of Christ. We also have the opportunity to be missional in a whole new way. For the woman who is highly educated, in vocational leadership, and has gifts of public speaking and teaching, this is an opportunity to let her know that the church is relevant for using the natural abilities that God has given to her. Not only on an individual level, but also in regards to the social structures of society, the church has the chance to continue the process of raising up women to equal status within our culture. Our society at large may be becoming egalitarian, but there may be some biases that still favor men in various arenas that are still ingrained from historical ways of defining gender roles. Also, it will be imperative that we create a culture within our youth ministries that cultivate gifted young ladies to become fully empowered for whatever God may call them to within the body. Leading/teaching/preaching must become an option that girls who follow the way of Jesus are sincerely exploring with the support of the Christian community. If this becomes commonplace, the church will be equipped with many new gifted leaders and teachers that will serve to move the kingdom of God forward into her mission. Both male and female were made in the “image of God,” and both are summoned to lead the church through the twenty-first century and beyond. May we become a church where there is: “neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for…all are one in Christ Jesus.”

I realize that I have not dealt with every text with the amount of detail that is required for a more detailed exegesis. With that said, I hope that you have come to see that the bible is much more than an inspired book that we take at face value. It is an inspired book that was incarnated within a specific culture that must also be excavated as we attempt to faithfully interpret within twenty-first century culture. May women rise up with men and manifest the reign of God!

ANY LAST THOUGHTS?

(Series) Liberating Women for Ministry?

Theology

Women in Ministry

1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Previous Post

July 21, 2010

Dear Critics of my Sojo July 4th Article: An Open Letter to Mark Tooley and Others

Next Post

July 23, 2010 Scrapping the Offering from our Worship Gatherings (Guest Post: Al Molineaux)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category (Series) All Out War-Spiritual Warfare (Series) Church Plant Journal (Series) Dear Reader... (Series) Earthquakes...Signs of the Times? (Series) Entering the... Conversation (Series) Evangelical Culture Myths (Series) Everything is Meaningless [Pete Enns] (Series) Evolving Evangelicalism (Series) Hell Yes. Hell No! Who Cares? (Series) Hidden Worldviews (Series) If Evolution is Right, what about Adam? (Series) in less than 300 words (Series) Jesus and Nationalism (Series) Liberating Women for Ministry? (Series) Life-Changing Books (Series) Markers of Church Plant Movement (Series) Nonviolence 101 (Series) Philemon - Reconciliation (Series) Quote to Ponder (Series) Red Letter Dialogues (Series) Resource of the Week (SERIES) Revelation Sermons (Series) Share Something Sundays (Series) Simplicity in the Burbs: $2 a day (Series) The Binding of God [Open Theism] (Series) The Creed: Anabaptist Reflections (Series) Values for Church Leadership (Series) Video to Ponder Anabaptism Animal Advocacy Books Church Ministry Church Planting Community Culture Eschatology Eucharist Evangelical Reject Evolution Fundamentalism Greek Greg Boyd Guest Contributors Hell Holy Spirit Israel/Palestine Kingdom of God Lent Missional N. T. Wright Nationalism New Creation Nonviolence Open Mic Open Theism Parenting Passover Paul Philemon Podcast Politics Restorative Justice Revelation (the book of) Rob Bell Ron Martoia Sermon Shane Claiborne Social Justice Speaking Engagement Spiritual Warfare Spirituality Temple Theology Tim Geddert Tribulation Uncategorized universalism Video Blog Women in Ministry Worship Music Youth Ministry

Select a Month August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 December 2016 October 2016 August 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Paul told the Thessalonians that those who are unwilling to work should not eat.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE

Support this
Column