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August 25, 2009

Spiritual Casualties of Gender Wars

by by Leanne Dzubinski

Earlier this summer, in her excellent post “Weary of the Gender Wars,” Nancy Parkhurst Leafblad presents a compelling portrait of how she was unwillingly conscripted into a war not of her making when she followed God’s call into ministry. This article carries on from her ideas.

Nancy Parkhurst Leafblad describes how she found herself in a war she never wanted, because she is a woman with pastoral gifts working in the church. She is not alone. Women may enter vocational ministry well aware of spiritual warfare yet completely unaware of gender warfare until they are already in the thick of the battle. This certainly happened to me. From early on I had a strong theological bent and was delighted when I was able to enroll in the ThM degree program at Dallas Seminary in 1986, the first year they opened that program to women students. Comments about my presence there were usually easily deflected by the reply that I was training for work as an overseas missionary. Though I didn’t know it at the time, those conversations were the beginning of an ongoing pattern of defending my call to those who thought it should be for men only.

Unlike Nancy, however, my main battles have not been fought in the academy but in the trenches amid the realities of daily ministry. (For a few stories, see my earlier post, “How We Treat the Missionary Wife.”) The academy continues to debate, as she points out, but in my trenches the battle is mostly waged by silence. The question of women in ministry is rarely mentioned and is considered as settled: women belong in home-and-family-based ministry. In the countries and churches where I have served and in the organization that sent me, I have been one of the few voices speaking out in favor of seeing missionary women as vocational workers for God’s kingdom.

For the most part the missionary women around me have also chosen to do battle through silence, staying out of the spotlight and getting the job done. Their faithfulness and perseverance show that they are compelled by that same calling from Christ and love for him that motivates their brother-workers.

It took quite a few years for me to realize that this war is every bit as difficult as the spiritual warfare we encounter on the mission field, and with potential consequences that are just as serious. Perhaps it is simply another aspect of the spiritual war that we are all fighting. There are personal stakes like my own health and sanity. There are marriage and relational stakes, affecting the good of my husband and children. There are also the women in my organization who need me to be a voice on their behalf. But far larger and more significant are the stakes for God’s kingdom here on earth.

These stakes are the same whether we are in North America or the furthest corner of the earth.
We are here to be agents of transformation. We have a life-giving, life-changing message, one that many are hungry to hear. Yet we forget who the real enemy is. We forget what the battle is really about. The enemy is not the women who willingly obey God’s calling on their lives, but Satan who wants to divide us and detract from God’s glory. Those believers who deny Christ’s call on their sisters to certain kinds of ministry, just because they are women, are falling prey to spiritual warfare and hurting the body of Christ. Whether the warrior woman is lost due to spiritual attack or to “friendly fire,” she is still lost to the cause of Christ on earth. The casualties from the “Gender Wars” are every bit as damaging as the casualties from spiritual warfare, yet totally unnecessary.

In 2 Corinthians 6 Paul recounts the sufferings he has gone through at the hands of unbelievers for the cause of Christ. After listing them, he appeals to the Corinthians believers in these words (vv12-13): We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

As a Christian vocational worker I would like to use the same words to appeal to my brother-workers: We women have opened wide our hearts to you and not withheld our labor, our obedience to God’s call or our affection for Christ. As a fair exchange, open your hearts to us and accept us as fellow-laborers for God’s kingdom. Let us stand shoulder to shoulder with you as we fight the true battle to which God has called us both.

Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on August 25, 2009 8:57 PM

Comments

Yes, Amen! A new day is dawning for the women in the Body of Christ. A house divided against itself cannot stand - what a glorious day it will be when Christian men fully embrace women leaders as blessings to the Body! We enough external opposition from the enemy - let us continue to pray as Jesus did in His High Priestly Prayer of John 17 - "that they may be one."

Posted By: michele | August 27, 2009 6:20 AM

I have held public office for 12 years, been responsible for tens of millions of dollars in public spending, contract negotiations with unions, hiring and firing staff, etc etc, yet in some churches I am told that because I'm a woman I am barred from serving in certain areas. Does it please the Lord that the skills of talented servants are welcomed by the "world" but not by His people because of their gender? I think not.

Posted By: laura | August 28, 2009 9:25 AM

Thank you for saying my words. God gave me a wonderful ministry six years ago that has allowed women a day of REST, where they are pampered physically, emotionally and spiritually. My pastors and elders are very supportive, but I still feel they do not understand how very much I minister because I am compelled by God...it is my calling; not something I just do to have a gathering of women. It is lonely sometimes, but then through the encouragement of my husband and fellow servants, I find God's approval and not man's. That is an awesome feeling!

Posted By: Barbara Walls | August 28, 2009 9:31 AM

I as a pastor's wife can identify and relate to this constant struggle. I am a missionary in America in the church. I am called, but yet I continue to fight the traditional mindset which keeps me from fully using my gifts. The pain in this is constant and at times unbearable. The gender bias that has nothing to do with the gospel continues to have a stronghold on the church and mission field. Vocationally recognized or not I am still working. Please let us not eliminate those who have yet to have the privilege of the vocation behind in this conversation.

Posted By: Lori | August 28, 2009 11:56 AM

What a fantastic article! I am a senior pastor in a church planting movement based in the UK. I have learned to go through the doors that are open and leave those that are shut to the grace of God. However, I have much room in general nowadays, and am key to releasing other women in this movement. It's a little at a time and God is with us as we move forward, forgiving but not giving in. Not fighting and reacting but continuing to hear the word of the Lord and obeying it...

Leanne, you're an amazing role model for many, and the grace of your words is very encouraging to hear.

Posted By: Bev Murrill | August 28, 2009 12:17 PM

I want to say this publicaly: Thank you Leanne for staying in the battle, even though you are so weary. Your willingness to put yourself in the front lines, and the resultant cost to you, your ministry and, peripherally, your family is a courageous step of faith. I believe that your daughters will rise up and call you blessed, as will many others who will benefit from your prophetic voice in the Church. As one who has been not-so-silent, but generally not listened to and under- valued, I encourage you to gain your strength from the Lord and ask Him to show you which strategic role He wants you to fill as you fit yourself for the battle. Be courageous! I pray this sincerly for you. God give you His rest, His peace, His wisdom and His strength for today and every day He has you in this place.

Posted By: Debbie | August 28, 2009 2:21 PM

I was amused last month to read a comment to Jimmy Carter's announcement that he had left the Southern Baptist denomination after 60 years of committed involvement because he'd come to the conclusion their position that women could not serve in any pastoral type role was not fully biblically supportable. The comment was merely: "It took him 60 years to discover this?"

Posted By: Donna Brown | August 28, 2009 3:33 PM

Like yourself, I am always saddened when the body of Christ is at war with itself. The women are not the enemy. I, too, am a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and though the students have not always embraced the calling of women, the professors clearly did. As Founder of Inspire Women, I have celebrated how our ministry funds scholarships for biblical training not just for the women but for the men they recommend. I so vividly remember one day when some men students were ridiculing how our ministry were selling bears as a fund raiser. I looked him straight in the eye and said, "Did you know that these bears have funded every scholarship for students who could not otherwise continue in school?" There was silence. And then the men said, "This is a holy bear!" That was the last time I heard any ridicule. So praise God for always having the final word and protecting His daughters!

Posted By: Anita Carman | August 28, 2009 10:26 PM

Yes, praise God! for the work of men and women after His own heart that has inspired and encouraged so many of us in the younger generation. Two great books as food for thought as brothers and sisters are on the journey toward a more biblical church in regards to the growth and ministry of women--

Two views on women in ministry (especially the writing by C.L. Blomberg on the exegetical issues):

http://www.amazon.com/Two-Views-Women-Ministry-Counterpoints/dp/031025437X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251568975&sr=1-2

Growing strong daughters (Lisa McMinn provides both theoretical and practical advice on how we can grow the younger generations of women for God's glory and purpose):

http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Strong-Daughters-Encouraging-Become/dp/0801067995/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251569220&sr=1-3

Posted By: Helen | August 29, 2009 1:11 PM

Carolyn Custis James, MA Biblical Studies, has done some excellent research on this topic. Check out her ministry organization, Whitby Forum, which promotes thoughtful biblical discussion to help men and women join forces in serving God together.

Posted By: marji | August 29, 2009 11:39 PM

I have always been baffled by the passages on women's silence in the church in 1cor14 and 1tim2, as they seem to contradict so many other scriptures, in both testaments. If anybody could clear up this issue for me I would greatly appreciate it

Posted By: margaret marquez | August 31, 2009 9:40 AM

Thank you, Leanne, for words of wisdom, insight, empathy, and encouragement.

I find that healthy and productive ministry partnership is desired by most Christian leaders, but rarely experienced. Sadly, many do not know how to discuss gender issues in order to learn how to partner together for the cause of Christ. To be honest, we must admit that responsibility for this lies with both men and women.

Every ministry leader, male or female, needs the support and encouragement of those around him or her. Each person needs to be encouraged and challenged to bring their very best to the table. Leaders need to learn to value the uniqueness of God's call and design in each person's life and ministry. Doing so honors the Lord who made each of us and called us to serve in His name.

Jesus said that Christlike love for one another as we pour ourselves out in service would be the evidence that we are His disciples. May it be true in our lives and ministries.

Posted By: Debbie Piper | August 31, 2009 1:15 PM

The light will shine on this when you realize it is not about gender, it is about race. Women are barred from public ministry to white men, but black men or red men or yellow men or even little green men are an acceptable mission field for a woman. Oh, and add handicapped men, jailed men and developmentally disabled men to the list.
I think we need sseparate congregations because no man should be providing pastoral care to anyone other than his own family.

Posted By: DR SANDRA WHEELER | September 2, 2009 12:49 PM

Hear! Hear!

Dr. Wheeler, your point is well made. Don't forget also that women may go into the deep, dangerous wilds of another Nation and minister to all genders there as well.

I reiterate this point when addressing this subject; a woman is a woman and a man is a man, only in a physical relationship. Where there is no physical familiarity, gender is of no consequence. Move that further into the spiritual realm and you don't have gender identification at all. We engage in ministry as a "spirit in The Holy Spirit", not as a man or a woman by gender identification. "In the Spirit there is neither male nor female...."

Posted By: Ramona Cook | September 8, 2009 9:37 AM

Thank you, Leanne. I was honored that you picked up on my article and continued with your story. My 'trench' is the church. I know that's where God has called me to serve, but the doors have once again been closed to me. I believe all of this grieves our Father's heart. Thank you for persevering in the work. I will, as well, in hope for a new day, for repentance, and for oneness in the community of faith.

Posted By: Nancy Leafblad | November 13, 2009 12:02 PM

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