A PAPER SUMBITTED TO DR. SIMON GONCHARENKO
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE COURSE THEO 530
LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
BY
REGINALD TOWNSEND
HATTIESBURG, MS
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Thesis................................................................................................................................1 Introduction......................................................................................................................1 Brief Summary.................................................................................................................1-3 A Critical Interaction........................................................................................................3-6 Conclusion........................................................................................................................7 Bibliography.....................................................................................................................8
THESIS
My view on ministry has roots in both complementarianism as well as egalitarianism. It is my goal to show how these two views have led to my understanding of women in ministry in association with the review of Two Views on Women in Ministry.
INTRODUCTION
The debate of women in ministry is ongoing. This is one that has divided some churches and is split between two views. There have been a number of studies testing the ideology of women in leadership positions in the church or if they should be allowed to use their gifts equally as men.
In the opening of the book the author highlights that this book is actually the second edition of his original work. In his introduction Beck points to the introduction of his work and how this edition seeks to evaluate two views of women in ministry. He surely points out the differs between the original text and the revised edition. The revision as Beck illustrates, was necessary due to the continued debate of women’s position in the church and how this revision adds more concise information that is relevant to the debate.
BRIEF SUMMARY In the book, Beck has a number of contributors that openly share their views on egalitarianism and complementarism. Linda Belleville and Craig Keener are the contributors that align themselves with the egalitarian view. The two opposing contributors as Thomas Schreiner and Craig Bloomberg, who both give their views on complementarian.
The two views that are explained in the text are egalitarian and complementarian. As the contributors move through their views and share their thoughts, in the following pages are the responses of the remaining three contributors. These views can be seen as both respectful and also straightforward, not allowing the writer to get off lightly with their opinion on the opposing views. The egalitarian view deals with equal opportunity. This view as covered in the text provides the readers with insight of how people react to women have equal rights in the church as they do in society. The two main contributors to this school of thought are Linda Belleville and Craig Keener. The complementarian view deals with the traditional, or hierarchal views of women in ministry. The main two contributors of this ideology are Craig Blomberg and Thomas Schreiner. These two do not tread lightly on their view of traditionalism and directly points out the errors that some egalitarians use in their arguments. The main idea of each view centers on God, man, and woman. These two positions visit the creation process and the events of the fall of man and how they relate to God’s plans for women in ministry. The text covers the debate on if women are not only allowed in ministry but at what capacity should they be able to lead or take on leadership roles in the church. As a background for these arguments the contributors do not point merely to certain parts of the Bible. They use scriptures from both the New Testament and the Old Testament. They share the work of the prophets, those who aided in ministry and the life of Jesus to bring the reader to a point of belief as to why their view, whether egalitarian or complementarian should be the main view in regard to women in ministry.
A CRITICAL INTERACTION OF THE AUTHORS WORK
Two Views on Women In Ministry is not set up in a traditional way that one would suspect. The author incorporates the ideas of his peers and allows a section for each to leave feedback of their own thoughts in relationship to the previous contributor. Starting off the topic of sharing their views of women in ministry is a woman by the name of Linda Belleville. Bellville quickly opens with questions on this debate about women in ministry. She leads several questions on whether women can be not only in leadership positions in the church but also if they are able to serve as teachers and preachers. She question whether or not they can serve in affairs such as marriage or burial as well as hold titles such as Reverend or Doctor. Belleville also does not waste any time in writing about the opposing views of traditionalists and how they use certain passages of scripture to push their agenda of the roles of women in the church. This view is later echoed in a response to her writing with claims of egalitarians using the same practice. To support her thought she acknowledges that spiritual gifts have no respect of person and can be shared for men and women alike. She notes that the issue of today’s society is not that women can be apart of ministry but rater if they can be leaders in the church. In Belleville’s section of review of Genesis 1-2, she points out the traditionalist view and how it plays an apart in God’s plan during creation. She highlights Gen. 1:27 in which God distinctly made two sexually different beings. She then points to Matt. 19:5-6 reassuring that although God created male and female, upon joining they become one flesh. Her argument here for equality is later weakened in her attempt to use scripture to reference the creation of woman for man because he was alone, rather than placing emphasis that the scripture mentions woman as being a helper. Later, she points out that hierarchy should not be defined by the events of Gen. 2:23 when Adam names Eve woman. This should not be considered an act of dominion or authority of man. Belleville shares with the readers that naming is an act of simply remembering events. In a response to the egalitarian views of Linda Belleville, Thomas Schreiner starts by a show of respect in acknowledging her defense of her point of view by use of the scriptures. He later goes on to share his thoughts on the scriptures that Belleville had used in her defense. Using Genesis 1-3, he shares that in her view, Belleville aligns herself with the idea of Adam’s creation being on sequence. He shares 1 Timothy 2:11-13 and 1 Corinthians 11:3-9 to show why there is a role difference between men and women. Craig Keener response opens with pleasure in how Linda Belleville’s essay serves as a complimentary argument for his essay on egalitarianism. He shares that the complementarian position is a dominant view for many and leaves the egalitarian viewpoint as simply a movement toward feminism. As Craig shifts gears in his essay he provides evidence for women leadership in the Bible. Gifts such as prophesying, being a judge, an apostle, and overall laborers are a way to advance his egalitarian ideology.
The debate over the use of women in ministry is also focused on in the choosing of Jesus’ disciples and why there were not women chosen. Craig supports this choice in that Jesus was countercultural but had a strategic plan in his choosing so that those working closely with him could advance the gospel.
Moving to the complementarian perspective, Craig Blomberg opens the chapter with larger issues surrounding the debate of women in ministry. This Craig mentions how egalitarians and women are being attacked for their beliefs and this could cause a shift in their beliefs or lack of consideration of other possible views being correct.
Another view that is people views on gender roles can serve as a larger package problem. He suggests that when churches move in a more or less complementarian direction that people question the exclusion of women in ministry or a feminist movement. The third largest issues to women in ministry are simply the questions that arise. One of these questions deals with the ordination of women and the question that arose is what were the women being ordained to. The justification of women here in ministry is that God called them to take on this important role. This call can be both cause spiritual and emotional tension.
Like other collaborators of the text, Craig Blomberg also gives a survey of Genesis. In his survey equality is mentioned as he suggests that God created both men and women in his image and also allowed both to be stewards over creation. He moves on to the idea that man is given dominion through the act of naming. This is an idea that is complete opposite of egalitarian Linda Belleville. His view on being a helper is similar to Belleville in which he reveals that the term is a subordinate role. These two acts in the creation process leads to Blomberg’s point that women are in a way subordinate to man.
As Craig Keener joins in on the debate he responds to the essay with appreciation of theological and scholarly thought on the debate. He goes back to the creation narrative and how hierarchy does not play a role in this process in regard to birth. His argument here is that the former Craig did not really justify his arguments in establishing his rule of subordination.
Thomas Schreiner seems to agree that there should be a diversity of ministry positions. He agrees that women should be included in parts of ministry that are allowed by Scripture while also giving an example of no scripture reference to prevent women from helping with communion.
In reading this book and the various views of Beck and the other contributors I am still at a lost for choosing one side over the other in this debate. The critique of the contributors in the various amount of responses have both strengths and weaknesses. In a world that practices in equality in society, it would seem there would be more equality in the church and leadership roles. “America's largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), for example, now insists the Bible prescribes male pastoral leadership in church and the "gracious submission" of wives to their husbands.” Having been a member of various churches, I have witnessed women serve as associate pastors and lead service in the absence of the senior pastor. On the other side I have also seen women that are not permitted to even set foot in the pulpit and if they are a guest minister they often must stand at a podium to deliver their sermon.
CONCLUSION
The debate of women in ministry is ongoing and with further research, a compromise may be able to be made to accommodate all parties. As most studies of women in ministry have focused on the early chapters of Genesis, misconception of these passages can lay on both sides of the debate. In these debates as time change so did the roles of women and also the relationship between man and woman. In the past there was a time when women had no authority in making decisions. This view has shifted and considering many women in the New Testament that aided in the growth of the gospel leaves this debate of women in ministry unresolved.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Belleville, Linda L, Beck, James R. 2005. Two views on women in ministry. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan
Berggren, Kris. "Living the Dream of an Egalitarian Priesthood." National Catholic Reporter 42, no. 13 (Jan 27, 2006): 5,
"Evangelical Baptist 'Men-Only' Test Falls Short." Daily Townsman, Nov 29, 2002. 9
Haddad, Mimi. "Empowered by God." Sojourners Magazine, 08, 2009. 28
Jane Lampman Staff writer of The Christian,Science Monitor. "All Equal Under God, but Submission for Women? ; Evangelical Group Challenges Claim of a Biblical Basis for Male Leadership." The Christian Science Monitor, Aug 28, 2003. 12,
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[ 1 ]. "Evangelical Baptist 'Men-Only' Test Falls Short." Daily Townsman, Nov 29, 2002. 9
[ 2 ]. Belleville, Linda L, Beck, James R. 2005. Two views on women in ministry. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 21
[ 3 ]. Ibid, 22
[ 4 ]. Belleville, Linda L, Beck, James R. 2005. Two views on women in ministry. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan,27
[ 5 ]. Ibid, 110
[ 6 ]. Belleville, Linda L, Beck, James R. 2005. Two views on women in ministry. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 223
[ 7 ]. Ibid, 126
[ 8 ]. Berggren, Kris. "Living the Dream of an Egalitarian Priesthood." National Catholic Reporter 42, no. 13 (Jan 27, 2006): 5,
[ 9 ]. Belleville, Linda L, Beck, James R. 2005. Two views on women in ministry. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 129
[ 10 ]. Ibid, 190
[ 11 ]. Jane Lampman Staff writer of The Christian,Science Monitor. "All Equal Under God, but Submission for Women? ; Evangelical Group Challenges Claim of a Biblical Basis for Male Leadership." The Christian Science Monitor, Aug 28, 2003. 12,
[ 12 ]. Haddad, Mimi. "Empowered by God." Sojourners Magazine, 08, 2009. 28
