Women in the Church

Y'all, I started drafting this post 42 months ago, and I still publish it today with trepidation. But, I think it's time to put it out there. Still, if you think this means I think I've got it all figured out, please read this first: Back in the Saddle.

Four years ago, a whole new can of worms thrust itself on my consciousness. I did not want to open it. It is messy and difficult and raises conflicts that I prefer to avoid. Which is why I think God had to force it upon me.

The issue? Women's roles, particularly in the church. 

Frankly, it didn't seem like a big deal at first. There are lots of different perspectives on it within orthodox Christianity, so it's not considered a core theology. And considering how far women have come in the last century, it seemed less of an issue than in the past. 

Then everything changed, I was boarding my flight to a Christian women's conference with a line-up of amazing co-ed Bible teachers. I pulled up the FAQ out of curiosity, and was shocked to learn that men are not allowed to attend the conference because some member churches do not believe women should be allowed to teach the Bible to men. The corollary is also true: no women teach at their conferences men attend.

If you're not an evangelical Christian, this will probably sound absurd. I am an evangelical Christian and it sounded absurd. But it turns out this is the tip of a very large iceberg. 

Upon arriving at the conference, I found the pre-conference was on the subject of gender roles. At the book tables, I found a new booklet by an author I respect. I read it, thought it sounded about right, and put the issue to rest. 

Ha. Ha.

The following week, I showed up at my first meeting with a segment of our church's leadership, where they announced we would be studying the role of women in the church. Hm. This might require more than a handy-dandy little booklet...

Process

I started by emailing a few trusted friends for advice, and suddenly, I was off to the races. Studying my Bible, reading books, listening to sermons, discussing with friends and pastors, and trying to wade through what has turned out to be a really important and under-appreciated (at least by me) issue. 

As a result, I have found my perspective expanding. It is taking time to process what that means, what its ripple effects are, how it is changing my worldview, and I'm still eager for "devil's advocates" to test ideas. I don't even feel like I've landed in one spot with any certainty, and I began this trek 4 years ago. But I do feel confident my understanding of gender issues in the church is stronger, healthier, and more biblical than when I began.

If you've been with me a while, you may remember my old post, Seeing Blind Spots; this process is not unusual for me. I'd spent the year before this all began awakening to a whole other systematic injustice issue (racism), so maybe God knew I was poised for another mental earthquake - but one where I carried even more responsibility and influence.

Still, the process is not easy. I'm convinced this is why most people don't change their views very much, why we tend to read those we agree with, and why God has to force me to face errors in my thinking.

One of the first books I read presented an unfamiliar perspective on the issue. I read it with a defensive and critical posture. I kept listening and reading and thinking and months later came back to that same book but found it to be a whole different book! How did it make so much more sense this time? Why didn't I get it originally? Because I wasn't ready. Too much mental processing still had to happen, and it's hard to shortcut.

Which is why I'm only going to 1) give a general intro on the subject, 2) touch on some of the surprising things I've learned on this journey, and 3) refer you to some of my favorite sources if you're interested in exploring it yourself.

Respectfully exploring a subject like this requires a lot of head and heart work, and no one else can do it for you. If you're interested, if you feel God tugging you to take another look, or if your church is tackling some of these issues, I urge you to DIG IN. And don't just read one viewpoint. Read about each viewpoint from people who believe that viewpoint. You will be amazed how much you learn.

Overview

First, the two primary perspectives on how gender should affect the church are often called "complementarian" and "egalitarian." I will use these terms because they are popular, but the terminology can be misleading, since within mainstream evangelical scholarship, everyone agrees men and women are equal in value and complementary (i.e. different).

Complementarians

I've generally found "complementarians" believe the genders are of equal value but positions of authority in the church and home are limited to men (they often say the genders have different "roles," though the restrictions in the church all seem to be on women). Complementarians agree that gender-based male authority was part of God's created order and abuses of that authority were a result of the fall.

There is tremendous variation in where complementarians draw the lines restricting women. Many--though not all--believe women should have equal access to positions in the secular marketplace but not in the church or home. Some believe women cannot ever teach men, others believe they can teach Christian living but not theology, others believe they can "teach" but not "preach," others believe they can preach but not lead or rule (i.e. vote on the governing board), some believe they can lead on the mission field or in a parachurch ministry but not in an American church, some believe they can "direct" a ministry but not "pastor" a ministry, others believe they can teach men occasionally but not regularly or in private but not in public, etc.

So really, it might be more accurate to think of this issue (women's roles in the church) as a continuum, with conservative complementarians on one end and egalitarians on the other.

For an exposition of complementarianism, check out the book Women and Ministry: What the Bible Teaches by Dan Doriani, this series of articles by Thabiti Anyabwile via The Gospel Coalition, or The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood's website.

Egalitarians

I've found "egalitarians" believe the genders are of equal value, men and women are different and complementary, and that both should have equal access to any position in the church or society for which they have the character and competency (or "gifting"). Egalitarians believe that authority's tie to gender was a result of the fall/sin, and that Christ brought reconciliation with the priesthood of all believers.

Egalitarians have more uniformity in practice since they believe both genders should have access to any position. Sometimes their views differ on gender roles in marriage. However, I have found the more striking variety is the list of exegetical reasons they are egalitarian. I have heard many different interpretations of each of the key texts in support of an egalitarian viewpoint.  

For an exposition of egalitarianism, check out the books Beyond Sex Roles by Gilbert Bilezikian, this blog series by Rachel Held Evens, or Christians for Biblical Equality's website.

For those with a blended perspective (ex. gender-based roles in marriage but not the church), check out Men and Women in the Church: Building Consensus on Christian Leadership by Sarah Sumner, Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs*, or this essay by Park Street Church pastor Gordon Hugenberger.

Discoveries

Now, rather than reiterate all of the exegesis and biblical arguments found in the above resources, I thought I'd let you explore them for yourself. :)

Instead, I thought I'd list a few of the ideas I have personally found surprising on my journey...

1. There are people on every part of the continuum from "egalitarian" to "complementarian" with a "high view of Scripture" (i.e. they believe it is inerrant), who earnestly seek the most accurate interpretation of the Bible's teaching on the issue, and who believe their view is it. I have found the biggest misconception is that the other side (egalitarians or complementarians) is sacrificing biblical accuracy for the sake of cultural acceptance. There may be some who do, but most of the evangelical scholars I've read are committed to the authority of the Bible first and foremost.

2. We all approach this issue with preconceptions and biases, because of our gender, upbringing, social circle, professional community, etc. No one is immune. Furthermore, everyone feels they are shedding their cultural biases in taking their position. Complementarians show courage by bucking secular culture. Egalitarians show courage by bucking traditional conservative culture. In my life, traditional conservative culture (Southern modern American Protestant 20th-century values, biblical or not) holds sway and is most difficult for me to resist, partially because resistance can have costly consequences for me and my family. 

3. None of the respected scholars in this debate promote the "historical" (3rd-20th century AD) church's position. Everyone is advocating what they believe was the view of Jesus, Paul, and the New Testament church. Until the 20th century, the post-apostolic "historical" church reflected the greater culture's belief that women were inferior to men. Women generally were not educated or allowed to own property, earn an income, become a professional, vote, or hold any position of leadership in co-ed enterprises (including government). Thus, all the respected, modern evangelical scholars I have read--complementarian and egalitarian--are advocating reform on the church's "historical" view of women -- the difference is in the proposed revision. 

4. The church has undergone many reforms over the past centuries which have improved our understanding and application of the Bible's teaching. Examples include the church's views on polygamy, geocentrism, slavery, racism, and of course, grace (i.e. The Reformation). Progressives are generally comfortable with this idea, but conservatives are by definition hesitant to admit that tradition (not the Bible but the church's interpretation of it) was wrong - or could be wrong about something now. Conservatives also tend to see a slippery slope behind every proposed reform. I believe the key block to any slippery slope is the Bible itself. We have nothing to fear so long as the reform makes the church more biblical -- more true to the Bible's intent -- not less. 

5. These reforms are possible because hermeneutics (the study of biblical interpretation) is far less settled than I previously thought. There is disagreement among scholars about what the rules should be, in what order they should be applied, and how to apply the results in a modern context on a variety of issues that lie outside the core creeds.

Hermeneutics is critical because a "plain reading" of the text is usually not possible on these controversial issues - otherwise they would not be controversial. No respected evangelical scholars claim that 1 Corinthians 11 means men may not cover their heads but women must. They don't say 1 Corinthians 14 means women have to be silent in the church today. I have also not read anyone saying men must raise their hands when praying as instructed in 1 Timothy 2, or that a woman today is saved by having a baby. Everyone acknowledges that these passages require study and discernment to be properly understood and applied (i.e. hermeneutics). This complexity would also explain why scholars on both sides of the debate have diverse interpretations of the most-cited scriptures.

6. This issue is really important. When there is so much common ground (i.e. the genders are equal and complementary), gender issues can start to feel insignificant. After all, most complementarians today will let a woman teach, lead prayer, sit in on leadership committees, lead certain ministries, and participate in congregational votes. So why the big fuss?

As I've been discovering, there are huge practical implications based on where limits are placed on women in ministry, from the personal (how we believe God created women and sees them) to the global (how the church is impacted by having all male leadership). Where people--and ultimately churches--land on these issues has very real impact on the lives of church communities.

More Resources

...Which is why I have found the stories of those people and institutions who have gone through a similar process helpful, including:

• Men and Women in the Church by Sarah Sumner (book)
• Grace Community Church of Noblesville, IN: (audio/transcript)
• 2/2/14 Our approach to the bible and spiritual discernment 
• 2/9/14 Our approach to women in leadership 

• Grace Chapel of Lexington, MA senior pastor's testimony (AV)
• How I Changed My Mind About Women in Leadership: Compelling Stories from Prominent Evangelicals by Alan F. Johnson (book)

Finally, why have I even bothered to put this all together?
1. Because it has helped me organize my thoughts and record this part of my journey (see "Back in the Saddle").
2. To test out these ideas/sources and see if you poke holes in them.
3. As feedback for all those who have helped me or questioned me along the way so far.
4. Because I would have found a post like this incredibly helpful 4 years ago!! ;)

I hope you do too!

*While Barrs' position on women's roles in the church is unclear (I searched but could not find one from him), his chapter 20 "Your Daughters Will Prophesy" in this book led me to put him in this category.