While conducting research for a book on Christian women, Jim Henderson of Off the Map commissioned a respected polling organization to gather some data. The results are a bit… surprising. You can read them yourself:
1. 84% say that their church’s perspective on women in ministry is almost identical, very similar, or somewhat similar to their own.
2. 83% [...]

In anticipation of Mother’s Day I was sent a video, along with other pastors in our denomination, to show in our church as a way of celebrating the moms among us. Sadly, this bit of production is a modern version of the same old stereotypes women have been living with since the advent of the [...]

Gratitude. It’s what I feel whenever I contemplate the good fortune of being born in a time and place that allows me more freedom and opportunity than women have known before in the history of humanity, and in much of the world still today.
This photo journal and Letter to Young American Women  by Gail Collins [...]

I once heard someone say, “People who have power never think about it. People who don’t have power think about it all the time.”
 
Some recent events in my life have me pondering the dynamics of power in relationship. I believe there is a lot of truth in that quotation. I’ve lately been on the receiving [...]

I am often asked to describe Convergence, and I find that the perfect words elude me. When we gather together each year something special happens.  It’s women leaders connecting. Beautiful. Honest. Empowering. Artistic. Creative. Enlightening. Refreshing.

And then I’m asked what it is that we actually do. Well… We Listen. Talk. Sing. Laugh. Dance. Pray. Grieve. [...]

Last month we attended an outdoor wedding on a covered bridge in one of Oregon’s many quaint little countryside towns. Though it was a pretty good drive for us to attend, Josh and I agreed that the stunning beauty of the Oregon spring day made the drive on country roads more than worth it.
The [...]

I’ve started writing this post a number of times and each time I find myself struggling of the enormity of the subject matter. I don’t think that proof-texting my position is responsible or helpful. But on the other hand, this isn’t the venue for a detailed exegesis of all of the relevant passages in scripture [...]

Plenty of lengthy explanations for a biblical understanding of gender equality exist, on the web and in print. I would still like to offer what I hope will be a brief summary of my own framework for a scriptural understanding of equality. Let’s start with some myth-busting.

Myth: Egalitarians believe “equality” means “same.”
Of course men and [...]

It just keeps coming up, like a disease that won’t be cured. The subordination of women in the Church and in the family. I was surfing the website of a cool church that I’ve admired from afar for awhile. Neat church, involved with wonderful ministries, has great ideas about how to do church. And then [...]

Last year’s panel of women leaders turned out to be rather a disaster. A panel of educated, intelligent, wise, and interesting women were given the privilege of asking a couple men some questions. ick. Brian McLaren was one of those men and he was insightful enough to recognize the problem and name it in [...]