Gifted for Leadership: Does 'Complementarian' Equal Anemic Women's Ministry?

back to LeadershipJournal.net

RSS Feed | Help

e-mail to a friend

who we are

Amy Simpson

editorial advisors

Free Newsletters

top sellers

on LeadershipJournal.net

« Time Well Spent | Main | Food For Thought »

February 20, 2009

Does 'Complementarian' Equal Anemic Women's Ministry?

by by Sarah Flashing

In 2007, Amy Simpson wrote "Why I Don't Do Women's Ministry," citing the reasons for her struggle to fit in an essentially shallow church culture. She may have surprised a few readers, but clearly she spoke the heart of a silent, yet critical mass of women in the church.

These are women who want to fulfill the Titus 2 mandate, to mentor and minister to other women, who want to play a significant role in Christian education, but also want to escape the culture of women's ministry that they inherited from their grandmothers. They want a more substantive interaction with the women they lead, because they know that time is a priceless commodity and they want to make the most out of every opportunity. They are tired of women's ministry being the equivalent of event planning, and they want their "relationship with Jesus" to be more than an inner-circle catchphrase that accompanies the obligatory secret hug (because secret handshakes don't exist in women's ministry).

For these women, community encompasses more than fellowship around a meal or taking care of each other in a time of crisis. They want to know Jesus through the Scriptures in the deepest possible way, and they want the tools to do it. They want to think "Christianly" about every area of life, proactively thinking about how to contend with the issues women face instead of reacting to them when they surface.

Through the providence of God, I recently met a young woman on the train-ride home from work. It's amazing who you can meet on the train because of the book they are reading. How many people would you expect to see commuting with Sarah Sumner's Men and Women in the Church? As soon as I saw that, needless to say, a conversation ensued between me and Amanda. It was so thrilling to know I could talk about theology with a woman on my hour-and-a-half ride home.

Amanda is around 22 years old and a student of theology at a local Bible college. She talked to me about how her love for God drives her to want to know more about him and that she believes the church should provide college-level education for people to learn proper methods of biblical interpretation, citing examples of how people fail to rightly divide the word. She pointed out that in the church, there is little education in this area and she would like to contribute to that kind of positive change. Sadly, women's ministry isn't even on her radar. She expressed dread of becoming that woman in church who only talks about cookie recipes and gathers only to do crafts or talk about her kids. She shared with me how she has observed the idealization of the 1950s housewife by the women's ministry culture and how this appeal fails to acknowledge the failures of that culture to the life of the mind of women and the associated abuses during this period of history.

Amanda has yet to figure out what she believes about gender roles in the church, but currently she worships in a complementarian setting without any discomfort (as I do - though I have great respect for those who disagree with this position). But the idea of becoming a leader in women's ministry is beyond the scope of her interest because of the reality of what it means.

Women's ministry has come to be known to younger women as a place where the older women to gather for "a breath of fresh air." The activities have become a retreat from everyday realities instead of source for spiritual maturation that might contribute to actually dealing with those realities. This isn't just my view of things, this is what Amanda sees. And the Amandas of the church today have the unfortunate experience of associating the complementarian perspective with the spiritual anemia among women in the church, and egalitarian as a bolder option.

Holding to a complementarian view of the church and family does not necessitate that women's ministries focus primarily on social activities, discussions how to feed their families, or fill in the blank bible studies. There is room for young women like Amanda who want to bring solid methods of biblical interpretation and theological reflection to women's lives, and we can talk about more theological topics than just biblical womanhood, though we should certainly talk about that as well. We say that our faith is deeply personal, but it cannot be lived vicariously through the faith of our husbands. This is especially important to realize since it is the case that a large segment of women who attend church are without their husband. They cannot wait for them to find Jesus before they sit at his feet to learn.

So for the Amandas in the church today, I encourage you to make yourself known and communicate your desires to minister to women if that is your calling. For those of you who are women's ministry leaders or a team member, take a closer look at the women who are not participating and ask yourself why. Obviously women are incredibly diverse and no women's ministry can meet the needs and interests of every woman, but right now, it serves primarily one woman. There must be a shift in the culture of women's ministry if it is to be a viable resource for women on their spiritual journey.

Comments

I've felt the same way about this topic for years. It's the main reason I don't do "women's ministries" anymore - besides being bored to death with most programs and paradigms typical of W.M. Thank you for this excellent, insightful post!

These are some of the same reasons that I was always repulsed at the notion of being relegated to "womens ministries." To me that has always been a means that the complementarian churches have used to try to appease women in their midst who feel a call to ministry--sure we'll let you minister---(but only to other women just like we've always done) and we'll even call you a "director" to make you at least think you're important (in every case only the men on staff are given the title pastor, check for yourself). Oh and you don't need to be ordained, God has already ordained you (even though all the men seek for & are given their Rev.'s). Seminary education, oh don't bother your pretty head with such things (as the men said in Yentel "storybooks for the women, holy books for the men!") The misleading title of women's "ministries" from what I've observed as a former Senior solo church pastor is just a sham used to "keep women in their place." No thanks!!!!

God called me to be a church pastor for a season, so after 7 years in school, an M.Div. from seminary & Ordination I had the privilege of serving Him in this role at 2 churches for 5 years. Following that, a new call opened for me--I have been serving Him ever since as a Hospice Chaplain. My "flock" is spread out over many miles and I travel between 100-120 miles a day to pastor them in homes, nursing homes, hospitals & other settings---absolutely love what I do and see so much fruit come out of my service to the Lord that it is a sheer delight and so fulfilling.

I can & have certainly held my own in the past with a solid biblical & theological defense of my call to ordained ministry and church pastor & ministry in general, but I've moved on. I could care less who doesn't approve--there's only One whose opinion matters and whose directives I follow. He called, I listened and obeyed, He opened the doors, I obediently walked through them--He has blessed & prospered me, and enlarged my territory--end of report.

Whatever ministry God calls you to, relentlessly pursue it and do it. And when you are serving in it-you can laugh at the detractors to their faces and remind them that there's absolutely nothing they can do about it--then go on your merry way serving Him with all your heart--because you know that's what He called you to do. Basing your response to God's call on human opinions is sheer disobedience and you will always carry a spirit of discontent if you chose to pursue something other than what He is calling you to. Yes, you'll face human opposition as myself and any other ordained women in ministry will attest to, but it doesn't hold a candle to opposition from God, if you won't obey Him due to what some mere humans are telling you. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

i just appreciate for your good and encouraging words .Even here in Africa it s the same issue we are facing as women leader in the church ,but let us allow holy spirit to control and empowering us .

As a current ThM student with a passion akin to Amanda's that does cause me to veer away from WM and as a complementarian, I very much appreciate this post. I think this is one of the reasons so many women find the egalitarian position so attractive. But I believe the limitations we have imposed on ourselves in ministering within a complementarian paradigm should not be confused with the potential that gifted women leaders can infuse within the body of Christ within that same paradigm.

God has given you a tremendous gift to be able to write what is on your heart and what you are passionate about Sarah. I have learned much from you and have encouraged you to express what is on your mind. I believe that the church needs to encourage women and men to think thru issues and make decisions for themselves. There is no better method than to read for ourselves what the bible has to say about life issues and apply that to our decisions. All church ministry, not just women's ministry needs to address this!
May Tanis
Director of Ministry Development
Converge MidAmerica

It seems that history has played a dirty trick on us. There was a time when the scope of most everyone's life was limited to making a living because life was hard and eating/surviving was the home's primary occupation. But then came the 19th & 20th centuries and the opportunity for men to succeed significantly. But the women were still in the home, maintaining their previous posture. Men adjusted to the changes in history but for a variety of reasons, our women did not. Some of this was out of necessity; some from tradition.

We can still be complementarian and at the
same time drop that baggage which holds us back ministry opportunities. We can expand the function of ministry without sacrificing to the modern liberal notions of egality. But my suspicion, though, is that matters of community and social involvement may remain the theme. (Isn't that what ministry, all ministry, is really about -- relationships?) We only need to reframe them to the current situation.

Where are today's creative thinkers?

Sarah, I love your call to take a look at the women who are not participating and ask "Why?"

Pam Gillaspie
Author of "Ablaze: Igniting Spiritual Passion for Life through Reading God's Word" and "Sweeter than Chocolate: An Inductive Study of Psalm 119"

I've opted out of women's ministry for years because I can't seem to find any women who want to DO anything with their bible study, women's retreats etc. What is the point of studying the bible if it doesn't move the ball forward, change our lives, grow us in our faith etc. Sadly, men's ministry doesn't look any better either. Churches I've been in lately are hosting men's poker nights, Band of Brothers - motorcycle riding groups and Dudes eating Donuts. Perhaps a larger criticism on church as a whole?

I am a pastor's wife, theologically conservative and an evangelical Christ Follower. I have avoided being part of WM because of many of these issues. Bible studies that supply all of the "answers" and ask me to fill them into the blanks at the end of the study simple leave me cold. I want to be challenged to dig into the scriptures and really know (not just believe because I have been told) what the truth is that God is conveying to me. The issues of quality Biblical study and study methods should never be divided along gender lines. However, the realtity is that the general expectations for WM studies is that we need to be spoon fed. Shame on us if we settle for that. It is not egalitarian to want to have the best resorces and study methods applied to WM.

Another issue is that of developing social subcultures amoung the women of the church. I have attended serveral different churches over the years where the women in leadership have demonstrated a certain superiority over those who choose not to, or are not able to (beacuse of work) participate in WM. In those cases, the WM became like a country club that catered to only a certain "elite" type of woman, and if you didn't fit the mold you had no other alternatives to choose from. You simply did't participate. If you didn't like to do crafts, have socials and swap recipes you were looked at as deficient in some respects. I am not against socialization amoung women in the church who have like interest. Just don't assume that all our interests should be the same. Why doesn't WM have a book club to review and discuss new books? They have a men's gym night - why don't they have a women's gym night (and not just arobics or yoga- type excercise)?

There is a place for socialization - especially if it is used to develop relationships with non-believers and new believers. There is also a place for solid, theologically sound Bible study for women that requires us to think, and stretch, and grow our faith beyond conventional bounds.

I would actually prefer it if we spend rather less time talking about the complementarians' "Biblical Womanhood." It's tiring. Although I worship with minimal discomfort in my complementarian church, I avoid women's ministries largely because of the "idealization of the 1950's housewife," and my fatigue at defending my egalitarian views and marriage to women who are simply not interested in listening with open minds. That, and the fact that the only women's bible studies are scheduled during working hours. When nearly three-fourths of women work outside the home, I would think the church would offer something in the evenings or on weekends!

I love SARAH SUMNER and her book. I would like to go and hear her preach sometime.

I attend an egalitarian church - thank you, Lord!! - but even our women's ministry is pure fluff. Thankfully, though, we in the Methodist church have other options such as our Disciple classes (four series covering different parts of the Bible), Christian Believer classes, Jesus in the Gospels classes, etc. all of which are several months-long classes taught by both genders to mostly co-ed groups. These classes have been a God-send and provide true spiritual "meat" on serious theological issues. All in all, they've been pretty popular.

1 Corinthians 11:7-9 first of all. We are for are husbands.
Women (Godly disciples of Christ) need to make their lives available to younger women. Its all about modeling and example. It's not so complicated!

I'm a leader in Women's Ministries, in perticular, moms of all stages and ages in life. After having read Sarah's article and commentaries I can't help wonder why all the discouragement among what sounds like potentially great women leaders? After all, it only takes one passionate and prayerful contender who knows she's been sent by God.

Why do we think that because we are the minority in desiring depth in our studies of Christ that the conversations and prayers need to begin with others' approval or that we are the minority?

I can't handle too much fluff in bible studies or elsewhere, just give me Jesus and I'm good. Like most people (I presume) I've had to learn to lead and facilitate studies without formal education. Naturally our studies usually become a more indepth journey to our hearts and where they stand in the prescence of God.

Could it possibly be that you are stuggling with a misunderstood calling from God? When the Holy Spirit told me I would lead this group of moms I began to run the other way, real fast, but I had a choice to make, obey God or not. Without a doubt I knew He was calling me to go somewhere I had absolutely no desire to venture to, but also knew God would carry me through it. Three years later, I can see why the Lord would send me.

I hope not one of you runs the other way like that old friend Jonah. Why not be a radical for Christ and challenge yourself, faith and others to dig deeper into God's Word?

There is, without a doubt, a strong yearning among women for depth and authenticity in relationship with God and with other women in today's church. I wait with eager anticipation to see what will happen in the days ahead as God responds to the heart cries of women who are struggling with today's needs and challenges.

We all need mentors, people we can be real with, who know how to take us closer to Christ and are able to model vibrant lives of integrity and character in today's culture. What worked for our mothers and grandmothers doesn't fit where we are today. Let's figure out what this looks like in this generation.

I can't wait to see what He will unfold!

In my real life I am a nurse practitioner/nurse midwife . I see 20 women per day in my office and attend them in the most challenging times in their lives (birth, death, death of children, miscarriages, after they find out about the affair, new cancer diagnosis,infertility, my daughter is pregnant, "I can't get pregnant" , no sex drive, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder . I do some "speaking " on the side of my real job.... I have found that women need real theology- not platitudes and fluff. I have held a woman in my arms after 10 years of infertility and her baby has died and she screams "WHYYYYYYYYYYY???" I have to be strong. I have to be grounded in the Word for myself and my "ministry" . Part of the role I have is to misnister to spirit , soul , and body...We have to encourage women to KNOW God and His word. I am an egalitarian with absolutely no apology . Complementarians make me crazy and I am not on my way to accepting homosexuality ( as WG would attest) We are all image bearers of the Living God...our Jersualem (great commission) may be our family but we are not confined to that only... As an example of strong Women's ministry ,I suggest you check out the Hillsong Colour your world conference (London or Sydney) - I don't agree with all their theology but there is a very different type of women there. They are out to change the World through Jesus. So to Amanda I would say --open your eyes there are many like you out here!

I am a young woman who does help in WM in my church. I agree that women's ministry should not just be fluff and we should try to adress the true needs of women in the church and not always in the traditional manner.
I do have to say though that it's is very difficult to do that for reasons that haven't been stated. Women in the church today seem to be less willing to get over thier perseived view on what WM is in a church and actually come out to WM events. They are unwilling to give their time and gifts to help and improve WM. Often WM runs with the help of a limited few and limited resources. Often it is not about a willness to change but the means to do it. Remember you need to be willing to be involved and lend your ideas and help with change in order for things to happen.
It may not be overnight but I know that God will bless you if you do.
change is not going to happen by just talking about it, you need to get involved.
That is what I decided to do and I've enjoyed every new thing we have tried, but have often been discouraged by those who will not even come out because of their percieved views on WM.
My latest passion is to start a true mentoring program at our church... as described in Titus. It will take willingness and women going out of their comfort zone.

Thanks for your post, Sarah, and for putting a face to the overall trend of younger women shying away from women's ministry. I believe God is going to use conversations like this one to do a new and powerful work in and through women in his church.

"And when you are serving in it-you can laugh at the detractors to their faces and remind them that there's absolutely nothing they can do about it--then go on your merry way serving Him with all your heart--because you know that's what He called you to do."

If that is what serving the Lord in your womanhood is, then count me forever out. And is is even possible to ridicule someone else because they are not at the same point in their walk of faith as we are and then merrily serve the Lord? This is a very distressing post from Rev. Carlene. I may not agree with how other people view my work in women's ministry, but I am called to serve others with the love of God. Many are crippled in their views but if I resort to making fun of their handicapped theology then I better go gaze into the perfect Word and see WHO is really crippled. Yes, when God directs me I am called to follow Him but I do not find any examples in His Word that we should mock those who are still struggling to find their way. Maybe you should lend a helping hand or light the path for them with a loving example???

Although I do not particularly enjoy WM in many of its current faces, I DO support the women who lead, serve, and teach in WM. They ARE serving the Lord with their whole hearts and most of them are not cliques or all about recipes,etc. I am in senior management in a large Fortunate 50 company and spend my days very busy at work. Over the years I have a strong network of friends and family. My closest friends-many are stay at home moms, some not but all are great to hang with, talk in great depth spiritually, and always a challenge in my spiritual life. Please, can we be kind and considerate and supportive of each other without resorting to cliches and meanness? You can be who God has made you whole heartedly without any damage or pain to anyone else. I try to envision Jesus in the middle of these conversations and it helps me to remember the "love is the greatest of these".

“The misleading title of women's ‘ministries’ from what I've observed as a former Senior solo church pastor is just a sham used to "keep women in their place."” No thanks!!”

Carlene, thanks so much for your comments. Though my post wasn’t a theological or practical argument on the gender role debate, I do appreciate you passion for ministry and the life of the female mind. Women have a great deal to offer the church intellectually, and we definitely agree on that. However, I don’t agree that “women’s ministry” is a sham created to keep women down. Titus 2 is clear that such a ministry is a part of God’s plan for the church.

“As a current ThM student with a passion akin to Amanda's that does cause me to veer away from WM and as a complementarian, I very much appreciate this post.”

Lisa, this is exactly why I wrote this – to encourage current leaders in women’s ministry to broaden their perspective and encourage women like you to pursue that area of ministry. I know that some probably think “what’s the big deal?” and sometimes I go to bed thinking that very same thing. But then the moment I begin contemplating just about any area of theology, I long for other women to want to go as deep as they can go in their faith. And women’s ministry serves as a primary context to see that work done. If we can change hearts and minds, we can impact the future church, families, and culture.

“God has given you a tremendous gift to be able to write what is on your heart and what you are passionate about Sarah. I have learned much from you and have encouraged you to express what is on your mind.”

May, thank you for your part in developing me into the leader that I both am and becoming. ?

“We can still be complementarian and at the same time drop that baggage which holds us back ministry opportunities. We can expand the function of ministry without sacrificing to the modern liberal notions of egality.”

Collin, it’s nice to see a man responding to a post at GFL! I’m sure its happened before—but maybe not! You’re right to call us to expansion without compromise.

“the WM became like a country club that catered to only a certain "elite" type of woman, and if you didn't fit the mold you had no other alternatives to choose from. You simply did't participate.”

Debbie, I agree with your concerns about the “country club” mentality. While no one would ever admit it, chalking it up to my perception perhaps, its clear that we see something that isn’t quite right in the subculture of women’s ministry. Fellowship has got to be something that flows out of ministry, not a primary emphasis. And when some are unable to “fellowship” because their time is limited by work or family, or because they want to steward their time better and commit to bible studies and discussion groups, these women lose both the spiritual growth and the fellowship that flows from it.

“the fact that the only women's bible studies are scheduled during working hours. When nearly three-fourths of women work outside the home, I would think the church would offer something in the evenings or on weekends!”

Hi Robyn, I very much enjoy and respect Sarah Sumner as well, though clearly I do not identify myself as an egalitarian. And I agree with you entirely on the scheduling of things. Women’s ministry has got to move to 2nd shift and accommodate the needs of women who can’t make it during the day. Perhaps in your church you could step up and offer to develop that idea!

“These classes have been a God-send and provide true spiritual "meat" on serious theological issues.”

Patricia, in what you describe about the availability of spiritual meat, I would hope that the broader evangelical community would take a lesson from that example.

“Women (Godly disciples of Christ) need to make their lives available to younger women. Its all about modeling and example. It's not so complicated!”

Disciple of Christ, Titus 2 says that the mature women are to “teach what is good” and I think most would agree that that is more than being an example. You’re right, we must be an example, but we have to be able to give them Jesus and the reasons for Jesus as well.

“Without a doubt I knew He was calling me to go somewhere I had absolutely no desire to venture to, but also knew God would carry me through it. Three years later, I can see why the Lord would send me. I hope not one of you runs the other way like that old friend Jonah.”

Corin, thank you for also encouraging a courageous move forward! The opportunity to help shape women’s lives by taking them deeper should not be avoided for any reason, and perhaps even fought for!

“We all need mentors, people we can be real with, who know how to take us closer to Christ and are able to model vibrant lives of integrity and character in today's culture. What worked for our mothers and grandmothers doesn't fit where we are today. Let's figure out what this looks like in this generation. I can't wait to see what He will unfold!”

Linda, indeed, I believe we are seeing this unfold now. How we get this message to the churches requires a great deal of communication, a movement of writers and speakers eager to saturate the women’s ministry subculture, but to also be a part of the greater movements that are happening among our evangelical churches. Pastors have got to hear this message, that women’s ministry is not a social group to be set to the side, left to their own devices. With the majority of people in the church being women, we shouldn’t squander the opportunity to make the greatest impact possible.

“They are out to change the World through Jesus. So to Amanda I would say --open your eyes there are many like you out here!”
s

Rita, Amanda’s eyes were open only by way of our very enlightening discussion. She didn’t know that there was a movement of women ready to see change—she thought it was the way it was, and that was it. Who knows what she will do now, perhaps she will be a part of the change so desperately needed!

“My latest passion is to start a true mentoring program at our church... as described in Titus. It will take willingness and women going out of their comfort zone.”

Linda, as a young woman in women’s ministry I encourage you not only to get involved, but persevere!

“Thanks for your post, Sarah, and for putting a face to the overall trend of younger women shying away from women's ministry. I believe God is going to use conversations like this one to do a new and powerful work in and through women in his church.”

Amy, these are conversations that God continues to place in front of me. The traditional ways of women’s ministry suggest that women cannot serve the church and each other in deeper ways without compromising their home or family. Frankly, I believe that’s the one lie most women believe that goes completely unaddressed. So the church may be losing young, intelligent women, steering them to other areas that might serve as an outlet for their particular giftedness because they believe the church isn’t interested.

“I try to envision Jesus in the middle of these conversations and it helps me to remember the ‘love is the greatest of these’.”

Trish, amen!

Christina,
The comment which so offended you has to be taken in context. I have dealt with people along the way with whom I do not agree and don't have a problem--I just show them by example. The ones who I'm talking about are those who come to you and say the most vile unchristian things. It would be hard for a woman who's not been a pastor to understand what that's like. The ones I refer to cause people to write off Christianity they are so obnoxious and hateful. They talk at you,point their fingers, tell you you're going to burn in Hell, and won't listen to anything you try to say. Sooo all you can do is wait for a break in their rant, laugh at their silly nonsense and walk away.
A real life example of these heretical nuts: Someone from a church I attended when my call came was so intent on stopping me that they sent anonymous, obscene threatening notes to my home. Very scary, especially because my children waited at the end of our 100 foot long driveway for the bus. I was fearful with good cause that someone might try to run them down or kidnap them. I called the police. Imagine how devastating it was for me when I learned it was someone at church. As soon as I learned this, I sent a letter to the pastor explaining my call asking him to remove me from membership rolls and ended by saying "Even though we will never agree, when I see any of you on the street, I'll still greet you as brothers & sisters in the Lord." After that, amazingly those letters stopped. I still continued my preparation but was so traumatized that a supposed "Christian" would do such a thing that it took me 2 years to recover.
Sooo the people I am referring to are not just people with whom I differ, but the radical nuts who give Christianity a bad name with their hatefulness and sense of superiority.

Rev. Appel-thank you for the clarification-it did seem a little harsh but now we all know what exactly you meant. I, too, had been the brunt of many mean things-verbally and actions. Many times I ended up compromising myself in order to "appease" them or make the conflict go away. I finally had to grow up and realize that God himself made me who I am-intellectually, gifted with leadership and strong administration skills, and a big dose of discernment. To apologize for who I am means to throw mud in the God of the Universe's face about His very own creation. So I do not engage with these individuals-I just live my life for His glory. Each of you is a unique creation of the Divine Heart and no one will ever walk this earth again that has your unique gifts and abilities.

I was born again in a complementarian church. When I asked why I never saw any women on the platform, the pastor told me the usual complementarian reasonings. After watching the pastor lead men's groups and retreats, I told him I felt neglected by him -- that he was not giving me, or any of the other women in the church, the same level of disclosure and teaching that he was giving the men, and I asked him to do a one-week, early weekday morning retreat for the women as women, not necessarily as spouses and mothers. Praise God, he said yes, and far more women came out every day than any men had when he had held the same kind of retreat for the men of the church!

It's been my experience that what any leader puts their own time into shows what they are truly invested in. Why not ask your complementarian pastor to teach a Bible study for the women in your church under the WM banner? Chances are that they've never been asked OR that they fear what will go on in their own minds when faced with all of those women in one place (no, I'm not making this up -- that was the reason that the pastor gave me for not having done a women's retreat before then; although I found that reasoning ridiculous [speaking honestly], I told him we'd pray for him, and we did). If they refuse, then the kind of learning some of you are saying you would like within the church is simply not his priority, and that may be why you haven't been getting any of it.

Sarah,

Congatulations on a most thoughtful & discerning article. It strikes me that some of what you are speaking to is a cultural problem beyond gender.

I have found that much of what passes for men's ministry also takes place at a very superficial level.

Perhaps some of the problem, for both men and women, is that we do not wish to be accountable, because we fear being exposed.

Sarah

Thank you for your insight and post. I truely love your passion and desire to see women used in their God-given talents. You make a difference in so many lives women and men!!

Hi. I’d just like to make one brief point. I’m not trying to convert anyone over to the egalitarian side or start a debate; I just want to explain our perspective. We don’t see egalitarianism as giving in to liberal notions of equality, that is, the liberal culture. We see egalitarianism as a Christ-led, Christ-like reaction to the sin-filled culture that put women down for thousands and thousands of years. So, from our viewpoint, limiting women’s role is giving in to that culture, particularly since the debated verses apply to certain circumstances unique to the situations Paul was writing about, such as Jewish women not being allowed to learn (or even testify in court), so how could they teach, etc. Actually, Paul’s command that they must learn was very pro-female and radical for that age.

As for the Hillsong group, I too have noticed that the Sprit-filled women’s groups discuss more in-depth spiritual matters. Just look the Spirit-filled publications aimed at women, verses the other Christian women’s publications.

Reverend Carlene, I think we’re all appalled at how you were treated. Sometimes you just have to wonder how some people can sit in church and then act the way they do.

What is sad to me is how many women do not affirm the gift of leadership in women. As the Founder and President of Inspire Women, we fund the training of women for ministry. We send them to be trained in the programs that will best prepare them for their calling. We send many to seminary. What I have found is how some women are often the ones who limit their sisters by their own self image. What must change is for women to recognize the gift in each woman, not be threatened by it and support the fact that God has set some women apart to be leaders. As such, they should be as prepared as they can be and pursue the highest level training possible that fits their calling.

Anita, I don't think it is modeled well at the level of the local church. What our pastors don't encourage our women will not either. And what seems to be a matter of roles, our young women are not as frequently encouraged by church leadership to pursue seminary education as the young men are. My hope and prayer is for our church leaders within my own complementarian paradigm to recognize female leadership for the gift that it is to the church. Women can be encouraged to seminary education without the compromise of any core beliefs.

This whole subject makes my heart ache.

I wish God's people loved each other well enough that this stuff wouldn't even be an issue.

God will lead His people through fluff and fire, to make them who He wants them to be.

I can't wait until heaven when we will be seen as we truly are by each other. No gender issues, no denominations. Everyone playing their part and having all of their needs met.

Sorry, this is just such a hard issue for me. I think everyone should read Sarah Sumner's book until it makes sense and they can live it.

What attracted me to the article was a "big word" I didn't understand. I finally had to google it! It occurs to me that when we slap lables on people or groups of people, we de-personalize them. Murder occurs easier when we aren't dealing with a "person."

Much of my frustration early in my ministry came from being part of a group of believers who gave lip service to all being equal in Christ, but in reality only let women do "women's ministries."

In reality all ministry is a function of relationship. You can't lead women out of "fluff" until they've experieced your hunger for "Truth." If that means getting into the trenches of WM then so be it! I have chosen to go where the women are!

I have found many women who are truly hungry! I have helped them discover their gifts and helped to launch them into ministries. But that meant "loosing" them from the ministry I was in. True WM isn't about building a bigger "group" but about leading women "into" ministry. (And the women in the group are in so many different stages of maturity!)

Isn't that what the church is for? Launching people into ministry? I don't care what form that takes. I don't care what label it has. I want to form lasting relationships with other women so that they can find God's calling in their lives.

I don't need to validate my calling by slapping a label on someone else's ministry! Let the men do that!

Amen, Sarah :-)

In response to Collin Brendenmuehl's comment: I think the creative thinkers are out there; it's just that either their voices do not have an adequate platform, or they are not being listened to because of the wall that's gone up as a result of the complementarian/egalitarian debate.

I thank you for this article, I just typed in tired of women's ministry stuff, and up it came. I am so glad to hear there are women out there who feel the same as I do. I am an ordained Minister. I also am one who is doing a home ministry, a park ministry, a neighborhood minister,(whenever Father opens the doors in these areas). To those women who are called to women's ministry, proceed on. But it is so good to know that it is okay not to have to make bricks if I am not called to. I am so glad to walk liberty and in His presence whereever and whenever God chooses. Bless you sister.

Gifted for Leadership

categories

who we are

editorial advisors

Free Newsletters

top sellers

on LeadershipJournal.net

Does 'Complementarian' Equal Anemic Women's Ministry?

Comments

recent posts

Archives

resources

Writing for
Gifted for Leadership

Gifted for Leadership

categories

who we are

editorial advisors

Free Newsletters

top sellers

on LeadershipJournal.net

Does 'Complementarian' Equal Anemic Women's Ministry?

Comments

recent posts

Tags

Archives

resources

Writing forGifted for Leadership

Writing for
Gifted for Leadership