Dr. Michelle Lee-Barnewall at #usmbstudy conf "Women in Pastoral Ministry: An Alternative Approach"

Some thoughts on the current state of the debate.

Is there something that we are missing?  What are the unintended consequences of the two positions?

My goal is to present an approach rather than a third view.

One of the tactics of the enemy is to turn us against each other in the gender debate.

The impact of culture: three time periods in American history

• The mid-nineteenth century to the turn of the twentieth century
• Victorian woman-more fragile, more virtuous 
• More corporate than individual, pragmatic age
• What’s best for the country
• The post-World War II era
• Just want peace so increase on individual home as a place of safety
• Family roles in evangelical churches
• What’s best for the family
• The 1970’s and the influence of the civil rights movement
• Home is now seen as a limitation. 
• Rights were considered selfish. Instead the focus was on what was best for the country.
• What’s best for the individual

Reframing: New Testament themes and implications for ministry

• Unity
• Oneness, love
• In regards to Egalatarians, they want to focus on equality.  Do the Scriptures focus on equality or inclusion?
• When we focus on inclusion, it includes oneness, being more relational and grace oriented
• Individual rights are subservient to love.
• We are both individuals and a part of the body of Christ.
• Inclusion is a more relational term.  The point is not the individual but on the God who gives. 
• A theology of reversal
• Sacrifice
• Several examples in OT and NT.
• Reversal of human expectations. 
• When we think of leaders, we often think of leaders up front.  

Conclusions and Implications

• What if we focused not on power but on empowerment?
• What does it mean to be a man or woman in the body of Christ?
• Are there other ways to think of a gender differences?

I think the conversation has been too focused on a power model rather than a relational model.