*Sharon James, God s Design for Women: Biblical Womanhood for Today (2007)

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1 Complementarianism reading suggestions/resources * indicates a resource that will be particularly useful for lay people for whom complementarianism is a new idea. 1) Scriptural basis for complementarianism *Sharon James, God s Design for Women: Biblical Womanhood for Today (2007) A discussion of the feminist movement and its impact on women s role in society, then looks at the biblical basis for God s design for women in the family, the church and at work, before contrasting this with egalitarian views. *Carrie Sandom, Different by design: God s blueprint for men and women (Christian Focus, 2012) Accessible discussion of the biblical basis for different roles of men and women in marriage, the church, and the workplace as part of God s good design for humanity. Places key texts in the context of a Bible overview of men and women within God s salvation plan, from Genesis to Revelation. Plenty of examples and illustrations, which makes this a good book to give to congregation members thinking through this issue. Goes much broader than just the should women be ordained/preach? issue to look at the implications of a complementarian viewpoint on the whole of life, in contrast to the influence of feminism on society. *Claire Smith, God s Good Design: What the Bible really says about men and women (Matthias Media, 2012) Short, clear exposition of seven key Bible passages relevant to the debate about women s roles in the church and family. Also deals with common objections, contemporary feminism, and includes a chapter on domestic abuse. W. Grudem and J Piper (ed.). Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (1991, latest edition 2012) The classic big fat book on the biblical basis for male headship (from the people who coined the phrase complementarian ) contains exegesis of relevant Bible passages and also chapters on its application and implications for the church, marriage and society. Also includes the Danvers Statement (1988) from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood which summarises their position. Useful resource for leaders. Ben Cooper, Positive Complementarianism: the Key Biblical Texts (Latimer Trust, 2014) Careful but readable exegesis of the key passages, making a biblical case for a complementarian understanding of men and women in the church, aiming to avoid a negative and defensive tone and to demonstrate that a complementarian reading of Scripture is not just the result of cultural conservatism, and can fit within an Anglican understanding of Scripture (as per Article 20). Good for those with some understanding of the debate wanting to go deeper into the relevant Bible passages. Mary Kassian, Women, Creation and the Fall (1990) 1

2 Old, but still good! Useful discussion of the key Bible passages and how they relate to the roles of men and women in marriage and in church order. Quite academic. (*)Lis Goddard and Clare Hendry, The Gender Agenda: Discovering God s Plan for Church Leadership (IVP, 2010) A friendly and respectful debate between two ordained women, one complementarian and one egalitarian, based on a real correspondence between them. Looks at relevant Scripture passages and identifies areas of disagreement and agreement in their application to the church. (*)Recommended by one incumbent who found it a useful way to engage with more sceptical congregation members who held an egalitarian position by default but wanted to consider both sides of the argument from an evangelical viewpoint. J.R. Beck and C.L. Blomberg (ed.),two Views on Women in Ministry (Zondervan 2001; revised edition, 2005) From Church Society archives: *Jessica Bowen, A Biblical Perspective on Women s Ministries (Crossway, Spring 2006) Accessible and brief introduction by a woman who changed her mind about the subject useful starting- point for those unlikely to read a whole book. See also Reform website for a briefer introductory summary: * Truth matters: The Role of Women in the Local Church by Carrie Sandom ( downloads/src/publication/54/title/truth- matters- the- role- of- women- in- the- local- church) Or on specific issues, e.g. Susie Leafe, article: Complementarian or just Arian?, a brief response to criticism of evangelicals use of the Trinity to support complementarian views of gender. ( downloads/src/article/42/title/complementarian- or- just- arian) 1 Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood website ( from same stable as Grudem and Piper s big book, which contains many helpful articles on family life, marriage, complementarianism, gender and sexuality (although NB. strongly American cultural context at times). *Includes useful resources for church family, e.g. helpful summary of the complementarian and egalitarian positions from Bible texts: of- the- egalitarian- and- complementarian- positions/ *See also Grudem s grid, summarising the different positions and their outworkings in different areas of life, which appeared in Evangelicals Now in November 2000 and is also 1 For a more detailed and technical response to the accusation that conservative evangelicals take an Arian view of the Trinity, see Church Society archive: C.R. Campbell s review article on Kevin Giles, Jesus and the Father: modern evangelicals reinvent the Trinity, Churchman 122/4 (2008): ( 2

3 reproduced in the transcript of a talk given by Carrie Sandom to the Reform Conference in Oct 2010 ( file/downloads/complementarianism.pdf) The Gospel Coalition website ( has a number of useful blog posts and links to articles and related blogs; search under Complementarianism. *e.g. Mary Kassian, Complementarianism for Dummies ( for- dummies) 2) Anglican context: Women bishops etc. *Reform has excellent resources on its website ( including various articles, recordings of talks and videos look under Resources/ God s Way Women section of their website. Much of this was produced at the time of the General Synod votes on women bishops, but it remains useful and relevant, particularly for accessible resources aimed at PCCs and other church members, e.g.: * Is it sexist to vote against women bishops? (Susie Leafe, short video) * Why do you believe what you believe about women bishops? (Rod Thomas and others) The Women Bishops Measure, sex equality and church unity (various contributors, video) *Useful Q&A format contributions to the women bishops debate from Alasdair Paine, Women bishops questions and answers ( file/downloads/womenbsps.pdf) and Mark Burkill, Why are there objections to women being bishops in the Church of England? ( downloads/src/publication/10/title/why- are- there- objections- to- women- being- bishops- in- the- church- of- england) The Church, Women Bishops and Provision: the integrity of orthodox objections to the proposed legislation allowing women bishops, ed. P. Giddings et al. (Latimer Trust, 2011) Originally produced in response to the lack of proper provision for those opposed to women bishops in discussions at General Synod in 2010, but this remains very useful. Aims to show there are good theological grounds for principled objections to women bishops, and that this approach is consonant with the historic formularies of the C of E. Aimed at those who already have some understanding of the contours of the debate and want to understand a complementarian viewpoint more clearly. Covers Scriptural arguments for complementarian views of men and women in the church (including questions of Bible interpretation re. the Trinity, creation order, submission in marriage) and interacts with secular and feminist understandings of gender and rights. Also chapters on the nature of episcopal jurisdiction; and on ways to develop women s ministry along complementarian lines. Recent contributions from Church Society: 3

4 Lee Gatiss, Principles of Flourishing? an exposition of the Five Guiding Principles Crossway (Spring 2015) ( particularly useful for clergy and ordinands. Andrea Ruddick, Complementary Ministry (CS Conference 2015) a brief introduction to ways that CS can promote a positive vision of complementarianism within the C of E, at a local and national level, and discussion of particular challenges faced by Anglican clergy who hold a complementarian view, e.g. inherited ministry patterns, when/how to introduce teaching on the topic, dealing with problems of perception. ( ministry) See also Church Society archive for older material: On the ordination of women priests survey of key arguments and passages, links to Church Society s responses in the 1980s- 90s: On women bishops links to Church Society responses , including various Churchman and Crossway articles: sp 3) Complementarian ministry in practice (mostly useful for incumbents thinking about how to put complementarian ministry patterns into place, rather than items to give to congregation members) *G. Furman and K. B. Nielson (eds.), Word- filled women s ministry: loving and serving the church (forthcoming Crossway, 2015) Outlines a vision for the growth and support of pastor- led Word- based women s ministry in local churches, training women in how to handle the Bible and teach it to other women. Produced out of the Gospel Coalition stable, with chapters contributed by women involved in women s ministry from the US, UK (Carrie Sandom) and Australia (Claire Smith). *Jane Tooher, Overflowing with ministry opportunities - Crossway (2014) ( A really helpful article on how complementarianism, far from stifling women s ministry roles, liberates women to play an essential role in the life of the church looks at training, specific ministry areas, and how these provide a well- rounded and enriching vision of men and women working together in the church. Karen Soole s blog, Karen s Desk ( also contains helpful articles on the need to use women well in complementarian frameworks (particularly a series of 3 posts in November 2013) and Christian responses to feminism (series of 4 posts, May- June 2014). Also a helpful chapter in Latimer Trust, The Church, Women Bishops and Provision (above) chapter 5. 4

5 From Reform: downloads/src/article/43/title/women- s- ministry- in- a- complementarian- setting The Gospel Coalition: For ministers considering how to promote complementarian patterns of ministry, e.g. Gavin Ortlund, Four dangers for complementarians ( dangers- for- complementarians) Jen Wilkin, Pastors need women teachers (and vice versa) ( need- women- teachers- and- vice- versa/) Gavin Ortlund, Winsome Complementariansim ( complementarianism/) See also K. Birkett in Evangelicals Now, November 2014, Review of Complementarian Spirituality, by Natalie Brand. 4) Responses to secular feminism *Kirsten Birkett, The Essence of Feminism (Matthias Media, ) A brief history of the feminist movement by an ex- feminist. Kirsten Birkett provides a readable critique of the ethical and philosophical inconsistencies behind the feminist movement, and its impact on society and on the lives of modern women. Useful for Christian readers beginning to question feminist assumptions. Karen Soole - a series of posts on her blog, Karen s Desk in response to recent renewed interest in feminism in UK society and media (4 posts, May- June 2014). *See also commentary in books by Sharon James, Claire Smith and Carrie Sandom, above. 5) Bible studies for use in churches *Sarah Collins, Biblical Womanhood: ten studies for individuals or groups (new revised edition, Good Book Guides) A set of Bible studies covering women s issues: marriage, singleness, beauty, relationships, children etc., all within the context of God s redemption of sinners through Jesus Christ. Sharon James, God s Design for Women DVD course (Clear Cut Media) 6- part DVD course and workbook, based on Sharon James book of the same title, for use in churches looking at God s design for women in marriage, motherhood, singleness and in the church. 5

Heirs Together: Study of Man and Woman Summer Quarter 2016

Heirs Together: Study of Man and Woman Summer Quarter 2016 I. Course Identification ST5010 1.5 credits 1:30 4:30 PM June 20-24 II. Course Description Through a thorough study of key passages in their context,