This morning, I posted the following on Twitter: Here’s the problem with complementarianism in a nutshell. The historic justification has been that they are less intellectual & more emotionally unstable than men, but that’s clearly sexist. Women are no less well equipped than men to be profound teachers and leaders. So one might then retreat […]
complementarianism
On keeping the ladies in the nursery: A response to Owen Strachan
This morning, I came across the following tweet from Baptist theologian Owen Strachan (courtesy of Matt Mikalatos): "When I hear women & men challenging God’s order, saying…“Women should do more than just serve in the nursery or teach children.“ I wonder why they have such a low opinion of those babes in the nursery? Why […]
The Complementarian Dilemma
Egalitarianism is the view that all offices of church ministry and leadership should be open to both genders. By contrast, complementarianism insists that some offices of ministry and leadership should be restricted to males. I am an egalitarian and yesterday I posted this tweet expressing my concern that complementarianism is not just wrong, but potentially […]
How I wrote an article critiquing John Piper … and got attacked by egalitarians
Yesterday I posted an article in which I argued that John Piper’s ill-formed and poorly argued prohibition on women teaching in seminary reveals that he is sexist, i.e. prejudiced against the female sex and gender. I did not anticipate that my argument would receive resistance from egalitarians. Trash! One individual named Henry Imler replied: Heirarchy [sic] […]
John Piper’s Sexism
Yesterday John Piper posted a podcast answer to the question “Is There a Place for Female Professors at Seminary?” (A hat tip to Matt Mikalatos for tweeting this.) Piper stipulates that his answer to the question of whether women should be teaching in seminaries is predicated on an assumption that complementarianism is true. (Complementarianism is the view […]
Is Christian Complementarianism Immoral and Sexist?
For 150 years the Mormon church barred all members of African ethnicity from attaining the priesthood based on the alleged prophecy that dark skin reflected the “mark of Cain”. Then, in 1978 the prophet of the Mormon church received a new revelation that God wanted the ban rescinded. Good to know! An outside observer would reasonably […]
Should women be allowed to preach if it is carried out under the authority of a male elder?
This is the question addressed in Pastor John Piper’s most recent podcast. The questioner was concerned about the relevance of 1 Timothy 2:12. Pastor Piper responds by addressing verses 12-14: “12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. […]
52. Women in Ministry
In 1967 Katherine Switzer made history as the first woman ever to enter … and complete the Boston Marathon. In this iconic photo you can see race official Jock Semple (the bald man in the black blazer) attempting to pull Switzer’s numbers off and stop her from running. As I reflect on the role of women ministering […]
Snapshots from Baltimore (Part 1)
Over the last few days I’ve been in Baltimore at the Evangelical Theological Society annual conference. While ETS just wrapped up last night, this evening the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature begins (fortunately at the same venues). Thus far I’ve been intrepid with my microphone and have recorded eight — count […]
What would complementarians do with a hermaphrodite pastor?
Complementarianism is the theological view that while women and men share ontological equality (i.e. both are made in the image of God), they nonetheless properly have different roles in church, the home and the wider society. The way this often cashes out in church is that women should not teach or be in authority over […]
