Last 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 More
In this article we 'eavesdrop' on an interview with Claire Smith in the MooreWomen Magnolia magazine, on the topic of teaching and learning in Christian life and ministry today.
Read More
In the first part of Lesley Ramsay’s reflections on discipleship, we discussed some of the biblical realities that should shape our thinking and method of discipleship. In this second part, Lesley looks at some of the practical implications for disciple-making.
Read More
As Christians we know we should all be enthusiastic about discipleship, but what are the theological reasons behind that desire? In this first part of Lesley Ramsay’s reflections on discipleship, she helps us to see some of the biblical realities that should shape our thinking and method of discipleship.
Read MoreJane Tooher reviews Crossway’s recent book Word-filled Women’s Ministry: Loving and serving the church, edited by Gloria Furman and Kathleen Nielson. (Hint: it's a great resource!)
Read More
In this short, practical article, Anita Lovell encourages us to think theologically and shows us how to do so. It's a timely reminder at this time of the year as many of us are organising our calendars, setting ministry priorities, and preparing for a year of Bible study in various forms.
Read More
Many of us have a pretty good idea of the state of race relations in South Africa, but what of gender relations? How do men and women fare in the rainbow nation? We interviewed Grant and Lillibet Retief, who work in Durban and were visiting Australia for the Geneva Multiply Conference.
Read More
The history of theological reflection is one of disputes and battles. This is not a bad thing. It is as Christians have engaged with different and sometimes false views that key tenets of orthodoxy have been refined. However, as essential as these battles are, they tend to focus on determining the boundaries of orthodoxy.
Read More
Archdeacon Kara Hartley writes about lessons for Sydney complementarians that she picked up at two recent ministry conferences in the UK.
Read More
When 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 MoreWomen, Sermons and the Bible: Essays Interacting with John Dickson’s Hearing Her Voice (WSB) is an important contribution to the discussion concerning the appropriate context for the preaching ministry of women. The essays provide much valuable food for thought across a range of disciplines and areas of inquiry.
Read More
Of all of the ministries out there, one-to-one women’s ministry is one of my favourites. I’ve sat at cafeteria tables and coffee shops and seen women move from death to life before my eyes! I’ve seen women who thought that God could never, ever love them suddenly become secure in his love and grace shown in the cross. One-to-one ministry is one of the most powerful ministries there is, and it is amazing to be part of what God is doing in women’s lives.
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.
Read MoreAustralian Anglican Kevin Giles has attempted many things in his recent book The Trinity and Subordinationism: The Doctrine of God and the Contemporary Gender Debate. Primarily, he alleges that those who argue that God the Son is eternally subordinate (or in submission to) God the Father are saying that God the Son is inferior to God the Father and so are guilty of heresy...
Read More
Why are there so many unexpected people in Jesus' family tree—like Rahab, the prostitute? Why are they recorded for us in the Bible, instead of being quietly swept under the carpet? Helen Jensen takes a look.
Read More