Comments on: My Perspective on the Women in Ministry Debate http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/ Christian theology for the every day woman. Thu, 17 May 2012 17:49:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Hannah http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-30713 Hannah Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:17:43 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-30713 As a seminary student in the south, I appreciate this very much! Thank you for sharing! As a seminary student in the south, I appreciate this very much! Thank you for sharing!

]]> By: Women in ministry - Everyday Man of God http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-27733 Women in ministry - Everyday Man of God Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:53:01 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-27733 [...] a female’s perspective, Sharon Hodde has written quite thoughtfully on the role of women in the Church from a decidedly Evangelical position.  With a high view of [...] [...] a female’s perspective, Sharon Hodde has written quite thoughtfully on the role of women in the Church from a decidedly Evangelical position.  With a high view of [...]

]]> By: Sharon http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-27581 Sharon Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:25:15 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-27581 I should also add/admit that I did a poor job of engaging my professors on this topic. I intentionally mentioned my classmates alone in the above post, because it was their conversations that guided me. I felt judged for asking some of these questions about women in ministry and I think it caused me to shut down and disengage. However, had I pressed forward and studied alongside thinkers like Hays, I do think I would have had a different experience in retrospect. I should also add/admit that I did a poor job of engaging my professors on this topic. I intentionally mentioned my classmates alone in the above post, because it was their conversations that guided me. I felt judged for asking some of these questions about women in ministry and I think it caused me to shut down and disengage. However, had I pressed forward and studied alongside thinkers like Hays, I do think I would have had a different experience in retrospect.

]]> By: Sharon http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-27575 Sharon Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:12:49 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-27575 Deborah, as I mentioned in the above post I don't think my experience was true of Duke on the whole. In fact, I doubt my experience of this particular issue was true of Duke on the whole either. For whatever reason, the various classmates I tried to engage on this topic were repeatedly uninformed or even hostile to the discussion of the topic, and that led me to the kind of journey I had. I don't think my experience is necessarily true of everyone, but the above story merely reflects my unique path. The circumstances, even if they were unusual, were what they were. Deborah, as I mentioned in the above post I don’t think my experience was true of Duke on the whole. In fact, I doubt my experience of this particular issue was true of Duke on the whole either. For whatever reason, the various classmates I tried to engage on this topic were repeatedly uninformed or even hostile to the discussion of the topic, and that led me to the kind of journey I had. I don’t think my experience is necessarily true of everyone, but the above story merely reflects my unique path. The circumstances, even if they were unusual, were what they were.

]]> By: Deborah http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-27574 Deborah Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:07:51 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-27574 Sharon, I stumbled upon your blog a few days ago and appreciate your honesty in this post. Yet, admittedly, I am baffled by your portrayal of your experiences at Duke Divinity School since I attended Duke Div the same years that you did and had a radically different experience regarding this issue. Unlike you, I grew up in a rather conservative, evangelical setting, where the Bible's authority was taken seriously and women's ordination was out of the question. I chose to go to Duke Div not serve the church in a leadership role, I thought such an option bordered on scandal, but to stretch my mind and to grow academically and spiritually in my faith. Then and now I continue to uphold the authority of the Bible and strive to live by Scripture's words each day. Yet my experiences at Duke, and more specifically my interactions with Richard Hays and his writings on the topic of gender roles and women in ministry, provided me with the first and subsequently most eloquent articulation that I have ever encountered of a biblically grounded support for women in ministry. As a result, I am now ordained in the PCUSA, served a couple of years in parish ministry, currently work in campus ministry, and am in the process of getting my PhD as well. Your post and your portrayal of your experience at Duke pains me. Perhaps the two of us had different conversation partners or were asking different questions, but it is very difficult for me to reconcile my own experience at Duke with the one you have presented here. Sharon,

I stumbled upon your blog a few days ago and appreciate your honesty in this post. Yet, admittedly, I am baffled by your portrayal of your experiences at Duke Divinity School since I attended Duke Div the same years that you did and had a radically different experience regarding this issue.

Unlike you, I grew up in a rather conservative, evangelical setting, where the Bible’s authority was taken seriously and women’s ordination was out of the question. I chose to go to Duke Div not serve the church in a leadership role, I thought such an option bordered on scandal, but to stretch my mind and to grow academically and spiritually in my faith.

Then and now I continue to uphold the authority of the Bible and strive to live by Scripture’s words each day. Yet my experiences at Duke, and more specifically my interactions with Richard Hays and his writings on the topic of gender roles and women in ministry, provided me with the first and subsequently most eloquent articulation that I have ever encountered of a biblically grounded support for women in ministry. As a result, I am now ordained in the PCUSA, served a couple of years in parish ministry, currently work in campus ministry, and am in the process of getting my PhD as well.

Your post and your portrayal of your experience at Duke pains me. Perhaps the two of us had different conversation partners or were asking different questions, but it is very difficult for me to reconcile my own experience at Duke with the one you have presented here.

]]> By: Ingrid http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-26751 Ingrid Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:18:22 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-26751 Thank you for your clear and, to echo others, irenic writing on this too often too acid discussion. Since coming to seminary in 2000 and discovering there was an "issue" with women (previously clueless that there was such a problem) I've read thousands of pages, exegeted the Greek and Hebrew (esp. creation accounts), spoken with spokespeople from various perspective and found I couldn't in good conscience put up tent in either the very broad complementarian nor the egalitarian camp. I sighed some relief sitting in on Douglas Walker's Fall 2011 dissertation defense on the role of women in the church. He entered his research complementarian, but concluded that the foundations of both camps are faulty. YES! One of the core issues lies in the meaning of "head" and approaching the text either with perspectives of organic-relationship or as authority-leadership. I've got to take a break from my own work and read his now completed dissertation! Will those who have attained "leadership" status all around be willing to consider the possibility of re-evaluating and abdicating entrenched positions and seek reconciliation between divisive factions? I'm hoping, praying and working with you, Sharon, that even if the camps remain, dialog may be pursued on these secondary matters with humility and dignity, setting the example as those who follow Christ. Thank you for your consistent, godly wisdom. Thank you for your clear and, to echo others, irenic writing on this too often too acid discussion. Since coming to seminary in 2000 and discovering there was an “issue” with women (previously clueless that there was such a problem) I’ve read thousands of pages, exegeted the Greek and Hebrew (esp. creation accounts), spoken with spokespeople from various perspective and found I couldn’t in good conscience put up tent in either the very broad complementarian nor the egalitarian camp. I sighed some relief sitting in on Douglas Walker’s Fall 2011 dissertation defense on the role of women in the church. He entered his research complementarian, but concluded that the foundations of both camps are faulty. YES! One of the core issues lies in the meaning of “head” and approaching the text either with perspectives of organic-relationship or as authority-leadership. I’ve got to take a break from my own work and read his now completed dissertation! Will those who have attained “leadership” status all around be willing to consider the possibility of re-evaluating and abdicating entrenched positions and seek reconciliation between divisive factions? I’m hoping, praying and working with you, Sharon, that even if the camps remain, dialog may be pursued on these secondary matters with humility and dignity, setting the example as those who follow Christ. Thank you for your consistent, godly wisdom.

]]> By: Sharon http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-26537 Sharon Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:26:14 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-26537 I just came across one other article that might interest those of you looking for helpful egalitarian perspectives. Here is Dallas Willard's take: http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=154 I just came across one other article that might interest those of you looking for helpful egalitarian perspectives. Here is Dallas Willard’s take:

http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=154

]]> By: Chris Donato http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-26519 Chris Donato Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:16:52 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-26519 Great and thoughtful stuff here, Sharon. I just may track you down for a quick interview someday soon. So much for avoidance . . . Great and thoughtful stuff here, Sharon. I just may track you down for a quick interview someday soon. So much for avoidance . . .

]]> By: Sharon http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-26261 Sharon Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:12:11 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-26261 Sorry for the delay in responding to some of your requests about relevant reading--it's been one of those days! It's hard to pin down one or two definitive books and articles that helped me come to my position because it's such a combination of things that include sermons, lectures, conversations, etc. and I can't remember where they all came from. However, here are a couple places to start: Two Views on Women in Ministry--this book has four authors, two for each of the two positions. I particularly liked Linda Belleville's contribution. Her explanation of 1 Timothy was really helpful for me. For another complementarian position, I have heard that Scot McKnight's book "The Blue Parakeet" is a great read, and he also just came out with an e-book called "Junia is Not Alone," which examines the Biblical precedent for women in leadership. The following link will also take you to N.T. Wright's defense of women in ministry: http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Women_Service_Church.htm Also check out the Groothius. Regarding complementarianism, John Piper and Wayne Grudem are the main authorities on the topic, but I would also recommend Wendy Alsup's blog, Practical Theology for Women. Wendy is complementarian and I really respect and appreciate the way she teaches it. Sorry for the delay in responding to some of your requests about relevant reading–it’s been one of those days!

It’s hard to pin down one or two definitive books and articles that helped me come to my position because it’s such a combination of things that include sermons, lectures, conversations, etc. and I can’t remember where they all came from. However, here are a couple places to start:

Two Views on Women in Ministry–this book has four authors, two for each of the two positions. I particularly liked Linda Belleville’s contribution. Her explanation of 1 Timothy was really helpful for me.

For another complementarian position, I have heard that Scot McKnight’s book “The Blue Parakeet” is a great read, and he also just came out with an e-book called “Junia is Not Alone,” which examines the Biblical precedent for women in leadership.

The following link will also take you to N.T. Wright’s defense of women in ministry:

http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Women_Service_Church.htm

Also check out the Groothius.

Regarding complementarianism, John Piper and Wayne Grudem are the main authorities on the topic, but I would also recommend Wendy Alsup’s blog, Practical Theology for Women. Wendy is complementarian and I really respect and appreciate the way she teaches it.

]]> By: Eyvonne http://sheworships.com/2012/01/23/my-perspective-on-the-women-in-ministry-debate/#comment-26096 Eyvonne Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:52:30 +0000 http://sheworships.com/?p=1387#comment-26096 Sharon, Thank you for the thoughtful and careful way you have handled this topic. I am a complementarian from a complementarian tradition. I would be interested to know what arguments have been instrumental influencing your current view along with the scriptures that support those arguments . I agree completely with your description of the marriage relationship -- which is closer to a complementarian perspective than egalitarian by my estimation. Specifically, as it relates to spiritual leadership in the church, what has been most influential moving you to a more egalitarian position? Sharon,

Thank you for the thoughtful and careful way you have handled this topic. I am a complementarian from a complementarian tradition.

I would be interested to know what arguments have been instrumental influencing your current view along with the scriptures that support those arguments . I agree completely with your description of the marriage relationship — which is closer to a complementarian perspective than egalitarian by my estimation.

Specifically, as it relates to spiritual leadership in the church, what has been most influential moving you to a more egalitarian position?

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