Women Leadership and the Church

Women and men are equal right? Really? How about if a woman believes she should be working towards leadership in the Church? Can a women be a Minister or Senior Pastor: can she be a Bishop? Can a woman be a leader who teaches both men and women from the pulpit? Christians over the centuries have more often than not, suppressed women in the church. All kinds of clever phrases have been used to help prop up the male dominated structures: women are equal, they just have different roles; women are ordained by God to be under the covering of men; a woman cant be over her husband on a Sunday and then the husband over her for the rest of the week - that couldn't work could it!; etc. It gets worse as well: women wanting to "usurp" men's leadership roles have a Jezebel spirit!; they are angry feminists clearly not at peace with God or others... you have heard it before I am sure!
Jim Reiher takes a serious look at just what the Bible says - and what it does not say - in this easy to read and incredibly informative book on the topic. Reiher looks at every main verse and story in the Old and New Testaments that impact on women and leadership. It might surprise you to hear that he comes out with a consistent message from the whole Bible. He shows that the Bible is actually pro-women and men sharing leadership together. He argues that God gives gifts in the church according to God's good pleasure and will, and not according to gender. From the creation of man and woman in Genesis 1 to the start of the Church after the resurrection and at Pentecost, the constant reminder is that God wants "sons and daughters" to exercise gifts in the church (Acts 2), and he wants "men and women both" to rule the earth (Genesis 1).
Jim looks at all the verses: those that affirm equality for women (like Gal 3:28) but also those that seem to restrict women in leadership roles (like 1 Tim 2:12). He shows that the verses that appear to limit women's roles, have been misunderstood, or taken out of context, or distorted to say things they never said. By the end of this book he has put together a consistent and recurring demonstration that all of the Bible affirms men and women should do whatever God gifts them to do. And if that is leadership in the church, so be it.
Okay: you now know where this author stands and where he is going to try to take you. Are you up for the challenge? If you disagree with his view are you willing to let him try to convince you? If you agree, you will find some extra convincing arguments to help you talk to others.
A terrific read on a very important topic.