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Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. Unfortunately we as the church have become guardians rather than gardeners...What we love is not the growth but Jesus. We are called to be deep & wide. (1 Corinthians 3:6) @gavalanched Would leadership be a less contentious issue if it was not about power, but about empowerment? @faithandlifeks More Settled Issues between Complentarain (C) and Egalitarian (E): male/female are equal image bearers, posses a sin nature, gifted by the spirit, sin impact gender relationships, Jesus affirmed women in countercoultural manner, both have equal access to salvation. @AaronWiens “We stand in a long line of men and women who throughout the centuries and around the globe have struggled to understand how to respond to God’s call on their lives and ...

Here are some of my favorite tweets from the last few weeks.  This is one of the blessings of social media where we can hear the gospel from people all over the world. If you like the tweet, go and follow the person on Twitter. The Holy Spirit gives us power to do God’s work, and He changes us to be more like Jesus. #thegospelprojectkids The whole idea of atonement is that the righteousness of Christ has covered over, obliterated, our sin. (Jack Miller)   Not every Democrat or Republican, evangelical or non-believer, conservative or liberal, complementarian or egalitarian is as vile as our categorical generalizations imply. Let’s neither demonize nor deify anyone. @ScottyWardSmith When the dominant goal is to defend one’s position, it is extremely difficult to consider the possibility that answers may not lie exclusively on one side, to see the beneficial arguments on the other side, and to explore new areas. (Michelle Lee-Barnewall) #usmbstudyconf     ...

Perspectives from the Global Family International Community of Mennonite Brethren-survey Leadership positions in the Church are varied across the world Ordination of Women (Congo, Canada, India, Japan, Angola) National Conference Leadership (Paraguay, India, Thailand, Canada) Theological Education (Uruguay, Canada, Paraguay, India, Japan) Conference Discernment (various positions of restriction (Germany, Ukraine)  to no restriction (Congo, Angola, Thailand) & everything in between) Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches General MB Conference-Resolution (1999)-Current US official position Open Space Event-March 2001-Call and affirm women for leadership Donald Peters Open Letter-April 2001-“put the issue of women in leadership back on the table” Manitoba MB Conference Resolution (2003)-removed restriction of lead pastorate Multiple Provincial Symposiums-5 regional locations-(2004-2005)-Focused on 2 Texts-Galatians 3:28 & 1 Timothy 2 Canadian MB C...

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 a...

Bible believing Christians on either side of the issue often read only certain texts while ignoring others. Where does the biblical evidence point? The Bible has many prophetesses, some very prominent. (Miriam, Huldah, Deborah) Can women be apostles and prophets, but not pastor-teachers? But what do we do with the two texts that many take to prohibit women’s ministries?  Paul cannot be mandating all kinds of silence. (i.e. no singing) It was customary for people to interrupt public lectures with questions. So Paul gives short and long range solutions Stop asking disruptive questions in church because you are unlearned. Ask your husbands at home The problem in Corinth is not that women are teaching, but that they are learning too loudly. Did you know 1 Timothy 2 is the only text in the Bible that prohibits women from teaching? Happens to be in the only series of letters where we specifically know that false teachers were targeting women with ...

The status of the question The level of disagreement on principles The level of disagreement on conclusions A preliminary impression: In Scripture, women do all sorts of things, but not everything. They occasionally serve as judges, prophetesses, and help start churches. But men, not women are monarchs, priests, apostles, church planters, and elders. Elders/overseers are male-the husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6) 3 Ministries of women in OT (selected) Miriam with Moses-leading women in worship Huldah-vital counsel for Josiah in a crisis Pattern: They lead beside men, give private counsel, but we don’t see public proclamations Women declared truths of Scripture. Miriam, Hannah, Esther, Anna. Case study Abigail 1 Sam. 25 Women strategically collaborate with Paul in early churches-Romans 16, Junias, Priscilla Jesus called women to discipleship, but chose twelve male apostles. Jesus reversed expectations for women. Learning over food prep-Luke 10...

Complementarian-Scripture requires some restrictions on ministry for women. Egalitarian-Scripture does not require restrictions on ministry for women. There are many settled issues in this debate. Each church or denomination needs to start this conversation with teaching these settled issues. Bottom line-1 Corinthians 11, 14       Complementarians affirm that these texts are restrictive and prescriptive.       Egalitarians affirm that these texts are descriptive and situational. The presentation will be organized around 13 different questions. Does Genesis 1 teach hierarchy? Does Genesis 2 teach hierarchy? What impact stems from the Fall? Is it relevant that Deborah was the leader of the nation? How much significance should we attach to female prophets in OT and NT? Was Jesus an egalitarian? Did the early church deal with issues related to gender? What can we learn from the practice of Paul? What can we learn from 1 Corin...

There will always be issues that threaten our unity. Acts 15 Clear theological issues were at stake. (15:1) There was a willingness to engage in a difficult conversation.  They recognized that God was doing something new. (Vs. 7-11) They were guided by clear biblical understandings.  “We can seriously misunderstand God’s activities in the past and present if we do not carefully examine the Scriptures.” (Geddert) They practiced both grace and truth. (Vs. 19) They affirmed core beliefs and allowed for diversity of expression. “As long as the gospel is not compromised, diversity of expression can be tolerated.” (Darrell Bock, Acts, pg. 508) They arrived at a mutually agreeable solution. “How do we distinguish between the differences which make a difference, and the differences which don’t make a difference?”(N.T. Wright) The text said it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and us not the Holy Spirit and me. (Vs. 28)

Dr. Valerie Rempel started the study conference with a historical overview of women in our history as MB’s. From the beginning, women have been involved in missions. Context matters. The church doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Often culture affected our views within the church. In our early history, practice and policy did not always agree.  What was the appropriate model for leadership in the church?  This question shaped a lot of the conversation in various issues not just regarding women. Word of encouragement: We stand in a long line of men and women who have responded to the call of God and be faithful to Scripture. Word of caution: How will we include our brothers and sisters of other cultures and races?

I'm excited to be headed back to Phoenix on Saturday, January 12th.  It will be a great time away with Bethany for a few days.  The purpose of the trip will be to visit my friends at Axiom Church in Peoria, AZ.  My church led a family mission trip during Spring Break a few years ago to Axiom and I'm looking forward to seeing them again and worshipping together.  I will also lead a workshop at Axiom called "Pass It On: Discipling Children" in the evening on Sunday. In addition to my time at Axiom, we will also be attending the USMB The Bible and Women in Ministry Study Conference January 14-16.  Check back here for quotes from speakers and thoughts from attendees.  If you want to stay connected to what is going on at the study conference, use the hashtag #usmbstudyconf