Men, Women and Biblical Equality - Ministry Exchange (MX)

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þÿ Men, Women and Biblical Equality

Redemption
6. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ came to redeem women as well
as men. Through faith in Christ we all become children of God, one in
Christ, and heirs to the blessings of salvation without reference to

racial, social, or gender distinctives (John 1:12-13; Rom 8:14-17;
2 Cor 5:17; Gal 3:26-28).
The Bible teaches the full equality of men and women in Creation
and in Redemption (Gen 1:26-28, 2:23, 5:1-2; I Cor 11:11-12; Gal
Community
3:13, 28, 5:1).
7. The Bible teaches that at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came on men and
women alike. Without distinction, the Holy Spirit indwells women and
The Bible teaches that God has revealed Himself in the totality of
men, and sovereignly distributes gifts without preference as to gender
Scripture, the authoritative Word of God (Matt 5:18; John 10:35; 2
(Acts 2:1-21; 1 Cor 12:7, 11, 14:31).
Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). We believe that Scripture is to be
interpreted holistically and thematically. We also recognize the
8. The Bible teaches that both women and men are called to develop
necessity of making a distinction between inspiration and
their spiritual gifts and to use them as stewards of the grace of God (1
interpretation: inspiration relates to the divine impulse and control
Peter 4:10-11). Both men and women are divinely gifted and
whereby the whole canonical Scripture is the Word of God;
empowered to minister to the whole Body of Christ, under His
interpretation relates to the human activity whereby we seek to
authority (Acts 1:14, 18:26, 21:9; Rom 16:1-7, 12-13, 15; Phil 4:2-3;
apprehend revealed truth in harmony with the totality of Scripture
Col 4:15; see also Mark 15:40-41, 16:1-7; Luke 8:1-3; John 20:17-18;
and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. To be truly biblical,
compare also Old Testament examples: Judges 4:4-14, 5:7;
Christians must continually examine their faith and practice under
2 Chron 34:22-28; Prov 31:30-31; Micah 6:4).
the searchlight of Scripture.
9. The Bible teaches that, in the New Testament economy, women as
Biblical Truths
well as men exercise the prophetic, priestly and royal functions (Acts
2:17-18, 21:9; 1 Cor 11:5; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Rev 1:6, 5:10). Therefore,
Creation
the few isolated texts that appear to restrict the full redemptive freedom
of women must not be interpreted simplistically and in contradiction to
1. The Bible teaches that both man and woman were created in God's
the rest of Scripture, but their interpretation must take into account their
image, had a direct relationship with God, and shared jointly the
relation to the broader teaching of Scripture and their total context
responsibilities of bearing and rearing children and having dominion
(1 Cor 11:2-16, 14:33-36; 1 Tim 2:9-15).
over the created order (Gen 1:26-28).
10. The Bible defines the function of leadership as the empowerment of
2. The Bible teaches that woman and man were created for full and
others for service rather than as the exercise of power over them (Matt
equal partnership. The word "helper" (ezer) used to designate woman
20:25-28, 23:8; Mark 10:42-45; John 13:13-17; Gal 5:13;
in Genesis 2:18 refers to God in most instances of Old Testament usage
1 Peter 5:2-3).
(e.g. I Sam 7:12; Ps 121:1-2). Consequently the word conveys no
implication whatsoever of female subordination or inferiority.
Family
3. The Bible teaches that the forming of woman from man
11. The Bible teaches that husbands and wives are heirs together of the
demonstrates the fundamental unity and equality of human beings (Gen
grace of life and that they are bound together in a relationship of mutual
2:21-23). In Genesis 2:18, 20 the word "suitable" (kenegdo) denotes
submission and responsibility (1 Cor 7:3-5; Eph 5:21; 1 Peter 3:1-7;
equality and adequacy.
Gen 21:12). The husband's function as "head" (kephale) is to be
understood as self-giving love and service within this relationship of
4. The Bible teaches that man and woman were co-participants in the
mutual submission (Eph 5:21-33; Col 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7).
Fall: Adam was no less culpable than Eve (Gen 3:6; Rom 5:12-21;
I Cor 15:21-22).
12. The Bible teaches that both mothers and fathers are to exercise
leadership in the nurture, training, discipline and teaching of their
5. The Bible teaches that the rulership of Adam over Eve resulted from
children (Ex 20:12; Lev 19:3; Deut 6:6-9, 21:18-21, 27:16;
the Fall and was therefore not a part of the original created order.
Prov 1:8, 6:20; Eph 6:1-4; Col 3:20; 2 Tim 1:5; see also Luke 2:51).
Genesis 3:16 is a prediction of the effects of the Fall rather than a
prescription of God's ideal order.

Application
We believe that biblical equality as reflected in this
document is true to Scripture.

We stand united in our conviction that the Bible,
Community
in its totality, is the liberating Word that provides

the most effective way for women and men to
1. In the church, spiritual gifts of women and men are to be
recognized, developed and used in serving and teaching ministries
exercise the gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit and
at all levels of involvement: as small group leaders, counselors,
thus to serve God
facilitators, administrators, ushers, communion servers, and board

members, and in pastoral care, teaching, preaching, and worship

In so doing, the church will honor God as the source of spiritual
Gilbert Bilezikian
W. Ward Gasque
gifts. The church will also fulfill God's mandate of stewardship
without the appalling loss to God's kingdom that results when half
Stanley N. Gundry Gretchen Gaebelein Hull
of the church's members are excluded from positions of
Catherine Clark Kroeger Jo Anne Lyon
responsibility.
Roger Nicole

2. In the church, public recognition is to be given to both women

and men who exercise ministries of service and leadership.

In so doing, the church will model the unity and harmony that
Endorsed by: Miriam Adeney, Astri T. Anfindsen, Timothy Paul Allen, James Alsdurf,
should characterize the community of believers. In a world
Phyllis Alsdurf, John E. Anderson, P atricia W. Anderson, Carl E. Armerding, Myron S.
fractured by discrimination and segregation, the church will
Augsburger, Raymond Bakke, Sandra Bauer, James Beck, Virginia L. Beck, Elizabeth Bell,
Roy D. Bell, David G. Benner, Gordon C. Bennett, Joyce R. Berggren, Char Binkley,
dissociate itself from worldly or pagan devices designed to make
Sandra Bostian, Mark A. Brewer, Bettie Ann Brigham, D. Stuart Briscoe, Kathleen K.
women feel inferior for being female. It will help prevent their
Brogan, James A. Brooks, Beth E. Brown, H. Marie Brown, F. F. Bruce, Cheever C.
departure from the church or their rejection of the Christian faith.
Buckbee, David H. Burr, Donald P. Buteyn, Anthony Campolo, Linda Cannell, Daniel R.
Chamberlain, Caroline L. Cherry, Jack M. Chisholm, Gerald Christmas, Rosemary

Christmas, David K. Clark, Shirley Close, Bonnidell Clouse, Robert G. Clouse, David W.
Family
Clowney, Naomi C. Cole, Mark O. Coleman, Jim Conway, Sally Conway, Kaye V. Cook-
Kollars, C. S. Cowles, R. Byron Crozier, Peter H. Davids, Edward R. Dayton, Paul H. De

Vries, Sidney De Waal, J. Jey Deifell, Jr., John R. Dellenback, Mary Jane Dellenback, Gary
3. In the Christian home, husband and wife are to defer to each
W. Demarest, Dolores Dunnett, Walter Dunnett, Charlotte Dyck, James F. Engel, C.
other in seeking to fulfill each other's preferences, desires and
Stephen Evans, Colleen Townsend Evans, Louis Evans, Gabriel Fackre, Gordon D. Fee,
aspirations. Neither spouse is to seek to dominate the other but
John Fischer, Patrice Fischer, David B. Fletcher, Joan D. Flikkema, David A. Fraser, Nils C.
Friberg, Donn M. Gaebelein, Kevin Giles, Alfred A. Glenn, Barbara R. Glenn, Arthur A.
each is to act as servant of the other, in humility considering the
Goetze, Tita V. Gordovez, Lillian V. Grissen, H. James Groen, Vernon Grounds, Darrell L.
other as better than oneself. In case of decisional deadlock they
Guder, Lee M. Haines, Robin Haines, Richard C. Halverson, Sandra Hart, Stephen A.
Hayner, Jo Ellen Heil, Betty C. Henderson, Robert T. Henderson, John J. Herzog, Bartlett
should seek resolution through biblical methods of conflict
L. Hess, I. John Hesselink, Roberta Hestenes, Janet S. Hickman, Marvin D. Hoff, Colleen
resolution rather than by one spouse imposing a decision upon the
Holby, Arthur F. Holmes, Beverly Holt, Carol D. C. Howard, David Allan Hubbard, M.
other.
Gay Hubbard, Anne Huffman, John Huffman, Philip G. Hull, Sanford D. Hull, Richard G.
Hutcheson, Jr., William J. Hybels, Vida S. Icenogle, Dorothy Irvin, Evelyn Jensen, Alan F.
In so doing, husband and wife will help the Christian home stand
Johnson, David W. Johnson, Robert K. Johnston, Rufus Jones, Kenneth S. Kantzer, Robert
against improper use of power and authority by spouses and will
D. Kettering, John F. Kilner, Herbert V. Klem, Richard C. Kroeger, Harold E. Kurtz,
protect the home from wife and child abuse that sometimes
Pauline H. Kurtz, Bruce Larson, Michael R. Leming, William H. Leslie, Arthur H. Lewis,
Walter L. Liefeld, Zondra Lindblade, Helen W. Loeb, Richard N. Longenecker, Richard F.
tragically follows a hierarchical interpretation of the husband's
Lovelace, Deborah Olsoe Lunde, Kenneth H. Maahs, Faith M. Martin, James R. Mason,
"headship."
Alice P. Mathews, Dolores E. McCabe, Te rry McGonigal, David L. McKenna, Lois

McKinney, William A. Meyer, Hazel M. Michelson, A. Berkeley Mickelsen, Alvera
Mickelsen, Eileen F. Moffett, Samuel H. Moffett, C. Sue Moore, Edward Moore, Graham
4. In the Christian home, spouses are to learn to share the
Morbey, Mary Leigh Morbey, Elizabeth Morgan, Stephen C. Mott, Richard J. Mouw, Jeana
responsibilities of leadership on the basis of gifts, expertise, and
Nieporte, William M. Nieporte, Alvaro L. Nieves, Arnold T. Olson, Daisy M. Washburn
availability, with due regard for the partner most affected by the
Osborn, LaDonna Osborn, T. L. Osborn, Grant R. Osborne, Grace Paddon, John Paddon,
Elizabeth L. Patterson, Virginia Patterson, Richard Patterson, Jr., Philip Barton Payne,
decision under consideration.
Robert W. Pazmino, Janet M. Peifer, William J. Petersen, Richard V. Pierard, Paul E.
In so doing, spouses will learn to respect their competencies and
Pierson, Carolyn Goodman Plampin, Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., Christiane Posselt, Quah
their complementarity. This will prevent one spouse from
Cheng Hock, Robert V. Rakestraw, Sara Robertson, Lianne Roembke, Lydia M. Sarandan,
Alvin J. Schmidt, Richard C. Schoenert, David M. Scholer, Jeannette F. Scholer, Robert A.
becoming the perennial loser, often forced to practice ingratiating
Seiple, Ronald J. Sider, Lewis B. Smedes, James D. Smith III, Paul R. Smith, P. Paul
or deceitful manipulation to protect self-esteem. By establishing
Snezek, Jr., Klyne Snodgrass, Howard A. Snyder, Aida B. Spencer, William D. Spencer,
their marriage on a partnership basis, the couple will protect it from
Adele O. Sullivan, W. Nelson Thomson, Ruth A. Tucker, Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen,
Joseph W. Viola, Virginia G. Viola, Emily Walther, George H. Walther, Patricia A. Ward,
joining the tide of dead or broken marriages resulting from marital
Timothy Weber, Van B. Weigel, Bruce Wilson, Earle L. Wilson, H. C. Wilson, Nicholas
inequities.
Wolterstorff, Linda R. Wright, Walter C. Wright, Jr., Louis H. Zbinden. (9/95)

5. In the Christian home, couples who share a lifestyle
(c) 1989, Christians for Biblical Equality. Permission to
characterized by the freedom they find in Christ will do so without
reproduce the statement in its entirety can be obtained from
experiencing feelings of guilt or resorting to hypocrisy. They are
the national office of CBE.
freed to emerge from an unbiblical "traditionalism" and can rejoice

in their mutual accountability in Christ. In so doing, they will
CHRISTIANS FOR BIBLICAL EQUALITY
openly express their obedience to Scripture, will model an example
122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite 218, Mpls, MN 55404-2451
for other couples in quest of freedom in Christ, and will stand
Phone: (612) 872-6898 Fax: (612) 872-6891
against patterns of domination and inequality sometimes imposed
E-mail: cbe@cbeinternational.org
upon church and family.
www.cbeinternational.org