Half the Church Might Need Another Quarter… (Plus, Book Giveaway…)

Last updated on: April 6, 2011 at 9:03 am by Amy Julia Becker

Half the Church Might Need Another Quarter… (Plus, Book Giveaway…) 2011-04-06T09:03:31-04:00 Amy Julia Becker

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 (posted April 6): Caryn and Casey have won copies of Half the Church. Thanks to all who participated!

Let’s begin with a question: what has been your experience of women in the church? Comment below and enter to receive a free copy of Half the Church.

Carolyn Custis James’ Half the Church combines personal anecdotes and stories with Biblical exegesis and exhortation to promote an ancient but renewed vision of Biblical womanhood. I was surprised at how much I needed her reminder that women do not matter due to marriage or childbirth, but rather, women matter because we have been created in the image of God.

James is at her best in engaging the reader with Biblical teaching. Through a lengthy exposition of Genesis 1 and 2, she demonstrates that the command– “Be fruitful and multiply”–cannot mean “have lots of biological children.” Jesus, for instance, the ultimate image-bearer, was single and childless. In contrast to traditional readings of the word “ezer,” which is used to describe Eve and is generally translated “helper,” James demonstrates that the word “ezer” bears greater resemblance to strong leader. Elsewhere the same word is used to describe God himself as a warrior. James uses the Biblical text to challenge the idea that “God gave primary roles and responsibilities to men, and secondary, supporting roles to women.” Instead of thinking about the opening chapters of Genesis as a call to procreation, James sees them as a call to leadership as women preach the gospel throughout the world while also speaking out on behalf of women around the globe.

Due to the evangelical nature of her audience, James must begin with a lengthy argument for the equality of women as leaders. In addition to her examination of Genesis, she identifies a host of other Biblical women leaders (though not as many contemporary women leaders as I would have liked) in order to make the claim that all women are designed by God to lead.

But James wants this thread of leadership to be woven into a wider garment. The inspiration for this book came from her own experience reading Half the Sky, a book which details the desperate plight of women around the globe. In Half the Sky, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wu Dun (a husband and wife team) detail horrific stories of degradation and abuse of women around the globe. They also offer hope for eradicating poverty and abuse if women were given power and influence within their respective global cultures. James wants her message of Biblical leadership to extend to these women, and she wants these women to understand that the gospel is good news for them. In James’ words, “The Bible’s message for women doesn’t depend on ideal circumstances, but applies fully to those who live in the brutal outskirts of society where poverty engulfs, education is nonexistent, women’s bodies are ravaged, and lives are in constant peril simply because they are female.”

Unfortunately, this wider vision for women worldwide gets sidelined amidst the arguments for women’s equality and leadership capabilities. It gets further marginalized when James brings up the question of women’s ordination. She writes, “I made a conscious decision not to take a public position on the ordination of women. My focus has been on calling women to go deeper in their relationship with God.” And yet she also writes, “”God isn’t calling men and asking women to hang back. He gives both male and female the exact same identity–to be his image bearers. He gives both the exact same responsibilities when he entrusts all of creation to his image bearers…” Her lack of position on women’s ordination seems disingenuous.

In many ways, Half the Church builds a strong foundation. But construction of the building stalls. I’m grateful for the vision of women James offers. She writes with intelligence, force, and in a tone that invites thought and conversation. I only wish she’d given us more.

Again, I invite you to join the conversation by reflecting upon your experience of women within the church. I’ll select at random from among those who comment and you’ll receive a free copy of Half the Church.

P.S. I will announce the winner on Monday of next week and here’s the promotional video for the book for anyone interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Books

Faith

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 5, 2011

Bikes and Brownies

Next Post

April 6, 2011 Perfectly Human: Becoming Aware of Beauty by Mica May

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 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 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 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 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz