The longstanding conversation about the biblical understanding of the role of women in the church has led to a plethora of local church expressions of this theology, all of which sit across a wide spectrum of what has been termed “complementarian” and “egalitarian.” Amid heated debates and stalemates over how to interpret and apply certain … Read more
The Gospel according to Luke generally is recognized for its positive presentation of women in the ministry of Jesus. The proposed presentation will begin with a brief description of Luke’s characterization of women in general, highlighting passages unique to his Gospel. Within this context, the role of the women in the first resurrection scene (24:1-12) … Read more
The Salvation Army is often and rightly recognized as an early egalitarian ministry. In 1860, a year before William and Catherine Booth broke away from the Methodist New Connexion and five years before they started The Salvation Army in 1865, Catherine Booth preached her first sermon at Bethesda Chapel in Gateshead. From its inception, The … Read more
On May 11, 1789, less than twenty-four hours before William Wilberforce’s first and most famous speech against the slave trade, a woman stood before hundreds of Londoners, presenting a powerful argument against enslavement. Despite her frequent speeches and immense contribution to the campaign against the slave trade, historians have forgotten her name and impact. By … Read more
Recently, evangelical scholars have argued that the pastor plays a fatherly role in the life of a church. Building on the works of these scholars, this paper calls attention to the necessity for women to serve in a motherly role in both unofficial and official capacities in the church, a role this paper calls “spiritual … Read more
1 Corinthians 11:2-16 has been considered one of the most difficult passages to interpret in all of Paul’s letters. From head coverings, to hair length, to angels (or messengers?) watching on, the exegetical challenges are too many to count. One thing seems fairly clear, however: Paul’s leading theological statement about man being the “head” (kephalē) … Read more
When religious authority becomes corrupt, the consequences are devastating. The disturbing rape and murder of the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19 is the culmination of Israel’s descent into corruption and religious betrayal. The story of the nameless and voiceless woman sacrificed to a mob to protect a male religious leader stands in marked contrast to … Read more
What did Paul think women could do in the church? The debate rages on, although it seems to have reached a stalemate. Those who advocate for limitations on women’s roles tend to base their arguments on 1 Corinthians 14:34 or 1 Timothy 2:11–15; those who support their full inclusion in the life of the church … Read more
In 2015, a study using an amalgamation of 66 surveys covering 44 countries showed that norms related to male authority over female behavior are especially predictive of domestic partner violence. However, it could seem to the audiences who heard or read the gospels of Mark and Luke that Jesus does not allow for divorce under … Read more