I don't have to agree with you on every point here to be really grateful you penned these words. You've done a great job practicing, as Brene Brown says, a strong spine and a soft front. Your integrity and your graciousness are both clearly intact. Good job.
Hi Jennifer, I am commenting WAY late cause I just discovered this post in a deep dive on the "gender role" debate. I so appreciate your thoughts here. I've been thinking about this idea of imaging/figuring Jesus as a reason why eldership may be reserved for qualified men, but I have some questions I'd love insight on if you have time to answer them. FYI, I'm not coming at this from a Comp or Egal conviction, so I hope it doesn't sound like a challenge. Just some things I'm trying to work out myself on what has become an incredibly sensitive issue for me. 1. Is there Scriptural evidence that representation is the reason eldership is reserved for men (i.e. the idea that men figure Jesus like the OT priests prefigured Jesus)? I find this interpretation way more palatable than many other Comp interpretations, but I'm trying to figure out if Scripture supports it. 2. Since the NT doesn't use the term "Lead Pastor," what's the Scriptural equivalent to that? And if a woman were an "associate pastor," or if she does similar tasks to a "lead pastor" (like teaching a mixed congregation) why would that be ok if she is functionally doing the same things? Isn't it just an issue of semantics at that point? 3. I've heard people differentiate between teaching and preaching in regards to the gender role debate, and I wonder what the Scriptural reasoning is for this. Do you have thoughts on that? Sorry for the long comment. I hope these questions make sense. They're hard to articulate, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness about the topic, and would appreciate your thoughts on these questions. Thanks so much! P.S. I look forward to reading Defiant Joy!
I really appreciate this. I may not agree with your point on only males being lead pastors, but I'll admit I'm still doing my own work on this subject so I'm listening. Thank you for your well-written thoughts.
I don't have to agree with you on every point here to be really grateful you penned these words. You've done a great job practicing, as Brene Brown says, a strong spine and a soft front. Your integrity and your graciousness are both clearly intact. Good job.
I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and the way you reasoned through and framed this. Thank you.
Hi Jennifer, I am commenting WAY late cause I just discovered this post in a deep dive on the "gender role" debate. I so appreciate your thoughts here. I've been thinking about this idea of imaging/figuring Jesus as a reason why eldership may be reserved for qualified men, but I have some questions I'd love insight on if you have time to answer them. FYI, I'm not coming at this from a Comp or Egal conviction, so I hope it doesn't sound like a challenge. Just some things I'm trying to work out myself on what has become an incredibly sensitive issue for me. 1. Is there Scriptural evidence that representation is the reason eldership is reserved for men (i.e. the idea that men figure Jesus like the OT priests prefigured Jesus)? I find this interpretation way more palatable than many other Comp interpretations, but I'm trying to figure out if Scripture supports it. 2. Since the NT doesn't use the term "Lead Pastor," what's the Scriptural equivalent to that? And if a woman were an "associate pastor," or if she does similar tasks to a "lead pastor" (like teaching a mixed congregation) why would that be ok if she is functionally doing the same things? Isn't it just an issue of semantics at that point? 3. I've heard people differentiate between teaching and preaching in regards to the gender role debate, and I wonder what the Scriptural reasoning is for this. Do you have thoughts on that? Sorry for the long comment. I hope these questions make sense. They're hard to articulate, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness about the topic, and would appreciate your thoughts on these questions. Thanks so much! P.S. I look forward to reading Defiant Joy!
Also, do you have any recommended books on this topic (in regards to both church and marriage)?
I really appreciate this. I may not agree with your point on only males being lead pastors, but I'll admit I'm still doing my own work on this subject so I'm listening. Thank you for your well-written thoughts.
I don't think Jesus would approve of this discrimination .it's plain "wrong".
God Bless all our Famale Pastors with Strength
and Courage to Continue.
💘 love and Respect to Them