In part 1 of these articles on Equality, Lesley Ramsay presented the argument that differences between men and women are an essential part of their God given equality, and that to deny the differences is dangerous to women. In this article I will address the issue of how an order of authority does not undermine equality.
Read MoreWhen men take the lead in practicing submission, here’s something we will discover: submission is hard. It’s a substantive and weighty act of self-denial. It can feel like death, even though we know it’s the path to life.
Read MoreKevin DeYoung has set out to write a short, easy to read but biblically sound book introducing “the divinely designed complementarity of men and women as it applies to life in general and especially to ministry in the church.” (p15) I think he’s done just that!
Read MoreWhat’s been your experience of church leadership? Perhaps you have experienced only godly, faithful and loving ministry leaders thus far. Or perhaps you know all too well the difficulties that can exist in this area of church life. Personally, I’ve had a range of experiences over the last 19 years… Here are some real situations that we’ve faced.
Read MoreLast year I was asked if I would give a short talk on the topic of submission, and what it looks like in my life. I think this is a really important topic, and to be honest I said yes without thinking too much about it.
Read MoreWhen Rosie Batty was appointed Australian of the Year for 2015, we knew (or at least hoped) it would get everyone talking about domestic violence. It seems to have worked, and now we can only pray that real and lasting good comes from all that talking. Despite growing community awareness and concern, statistics suggest domestic abuse is rife, and that it’s not only outside the church.
Read MoreDifferent by Design encompasses six talks by Claire Smith on the role of women in the church and in relationships. These talks are based on six important but controversial Bible passages: 1 Timothy 2, 1 Corinthians 11, 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Peter 3, Ephesians 5 and Genesis 1-3. The two of us met to discuss the talks over a period of weeks, and found it to be an enriching experience for our relationship with God, with each other and with the local coffee shop.
Read MoreDiscipline is an ugly word in our society, but it is an essential mark of a Christian in training in godliness. It involves hard work and takes a lifetime, which is not of great appeal to our laid-back, quick-fix society!
Read MorePerhaps because my reading coincided with the recent debates in the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Uniting Church of Australia about homosexual and lesbian clergy, or perhaps because I am a Christian woman living in a feminist (or post-feminist) society, I found Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood one of the most rewarding books I have read for a while.
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