This accessible guide will enable readers to look at what the Bible says about the roles of men and women in family life, in ministry and in society. Ideal for individual reading or group study, each chapter contains a Bible study, insights from current scholarship, an exploration of contemporary application, questions for reflections and prayers.

Title Page

Copyright Information

The Lord is Risen!

The Authors

Introductory Notes for Group Leaders

The Opening Prayers

1. Women and Men in the Creation and Fall Stories

2. Humanity Redeemed in Christ

3. The Women of the Early Church

4. Women, Teaching and Authority

5. Women and Men in Family Life 

6. Women and Men in Ministry Today

The Story of the Recognition of the Ministry of Women in the Church of England

Frequently Asked Questions

Afterword

What does it say about the place of women in the Christian faith that, at a time when they had little social status, they were the first witnesses of the resurrection and the first to be commissioned by Jesus to carry the good news? Women went on to exercise a significant ministry in the early Church, but not without debate about the respective roles of women and men in society, church and family - a debate that continues to divide the Church today. The heart of the question is not whether women should exercise a particular ministry. It is about how we view each other as sisters and brothers within the Body of Christ, how we structure our family lives, and how we relate to the wider world. This accessible guide will enable readers to look again honestly and carefully at what the Bible says about the roles of men and women in family life, in ministry and in society. It will help the Church recover a sense that the message of the Christian faith is profoundly good news for the whole of humanity. Ideal for individual reading, group study or as the basis for a series of sermons, each chapter contains a Bible study, insights from current biblical scholarship, an exploration of contemporary application, questions for reflections and prayers.

The Lord Is Risen

The Authors

Introductory Notes For Group Leaders

The Opening Prayers

1 Women And Men In The Creation And Fall Stories – Jo Bailey Wells

2 Humanity Redeemed In Christ – Stephen Cotterell

3 The Women N The Early Church – Stephen Croft

4 Women Teaching And Authority – Ian Paul

5 Women And Men In Family Life – Joanne Grenfell

6 Women And Men In Ministry Today – Rosalyn Murphy

The Story Of The Recognition Of The Ministry Of Women In Ten Church Of England – Viv Faul

Frequently Asked Question – Emma Ineson

Further Reading

Afterword

• A balanced and informed exploration of key scriptures related to the role of women in society and church by leading scholars and church leaders • Debate around women as bishops will run for at least three years until it can return to Synod and churches are now more eager to understand the issues more fully • Fills a real gap – as churches requested study material to help them reflect on the issues, none was available. • Other denominations and Christian traditions are also rethinking their yiews on women in ministry and leadership.

Bishop Steven Croft: I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ and called to ministry and mission in the Church of England. I'm married to Ann. We have four children: Paul, Andy (married to Beth), Amy and Sarah. I have been Bishop of Sheffield since 2009 and love my work most days. I'm a Yorkshireman, originally from Halifax and it's a huge privilege to serve this city and region.

Dr Paula Gooder is a freelance writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies. Her research areas are the writings of Paul the Apostle (with a particular focus on 2 Corinthians), New Testament Interpretation and the development of Ministry in the New Testament Period.

She is Canon Theologian of Birmingham and Guildford Cathedrals, Lay Canon at Salisbury Cathedral, a Six preacher of Canterbury Cathedral, Vice president of the Bible Society, Visiting lecturer at King's College, London, and Associate lecturer at St Mellitus College, London. She is a Reader in the Church of England and a member of General Synod.

This book will assist you as a Christian with an independent mind, conscience and opinion look with prayer, honesty and understanding at what the Bible says about men and women in family life, society and the church.

It is written by people who believe that it is biblical for women to serve the Church in many different ways including preaching, teaching and through being ordained as bishops, priests and deacons.

It is the authors’ hope that this book will help many people respond the very deep feelings stirred up by outcome of the general synod debate, through study, prayer and conversation. As the debate moves forward in the Church of England, it must be about more than a process to keep everyone together.

This book is an effective and informative focus for your small group and whole church to help answer the key questions of:

• What can we know about the historical situation that might tell us what the writers meant by what is written in the bible and early church teachings?

• What does the text actually say – looking as necessary at more the one translation to her the words in a slightly different form.

• What am I binging to the interpretation of this text – my hopes, expectations, fears and cultural perspective?

The expert writings within this book will help you support the Church as it recovers its sense that the message of the Christian faith is profoundly good news for the whole of humanity. Intended for individual reading, group study or as the basis for a series of sermons, each chapter contains a Bible study, insights from current biblical scholarship, an exploration of contemporary application, questions for reflections and prayers.

"The style is accessible and open. We've drawn as much as we can on recent scholarship but in such a way that any interested reader can explore the questions. Some of the proceeds from the book will go to Christian Aid to support their work for gender equality throughout the world." - Bishop of Sheffield: Steven Croft

What does it say about the place of women in the Christian faith that, at a time when they had little social status, they were the first witnesses of the resurrection and the first to be commissioned by Jesus to carry the good news? Women went on to exercise a significant ministry in the early Church, but not without debate about the respective roles of women and men in society, church and family – a debate that continues to divide the Church today. The heart of the question is not whether women should exercise a particular ministry. It is about how we view each other as sisters and brothers within the Body of Christ, how we structure our family lives, and how we relate to the wider world. This accessible guide will enable readers to look again honestly and carefully at what the Bible says about the roles of men and women in family life, in ministry and in society. It will help the Church recover a sense that the message of the Christian faith is profoundly good news for the whole of humanity. Ideal for individual reading, group study or as the basis for a series of sermons, each chapter contains a Bible study, insights from current biblical scholarship, an exploration of contemporary application, questions for reflections and prayers.

\["For Christians seeking clarity on gender roles in faith", "Addresses confusion on women's roles in the Church", "You will gain a deeper understanding of God's design"\]

This guide explores the roles of men and women in Scripture and the Church.

The Good Book Stall

This is an excellent guide or study book to a heated and topical issue - that of women and men in scripture and in turn of their roles and positions within the church, noteably of course how they can minister as highlighted by the ongoing debates over the role of women. This book is designed to be used as a group study but can just as well be used as a personal study guide, however I think the benefits of using it in a group setting would far outweigh the personal use. You are going to want to talk about what you read in here with someone, regardless of your personal stance.  
  
It must be clearly highlighted, however, that this book does work from a starting bias (as can most clearly be seen in the answers to the Frequently Asked Questions section at the back) of being inclusive, or as some may say pro the full ordination of women. This though should not immediately make you reject this book if you hold a different stance, because it is a clearly written, well articulated guide to the key issues, and a very good study on a thorny topic.

Women and Men in Scripture and the Church

Navigation Bar

Header Default

Download the Christian360 App to read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks bought at Christian360

Women and Men in Scripture and the Church

Description

Need support?

Customer reviews

Download the App

Download the App