I met with a great group of guys and gals this week at Town and Field Church to participate in the EFCC Theology Conference. I listened with interest to the arguments presented by the speakers and the questions and answers that followed. I loved the discussion stirred up in our room after the talks!
I was particularly impressed with one of the speakers, Andrew Bartlet.
I did not agree with everything he said, and I share different convictions to him; however, I appreciated the gentle and honest spirit that he brought to the discussion. I also deeply appreciated his willingness to wrestle deeply with hard Scripture in a genuine quest for truth, challenging my convictions in the process. I would love to sit and talk more with him! After Andrew’s talks it felt like a sincere invitation had been offered to keep the discussion on this topic going, and it must!
Ten years ago we decided to not touch the issue of ordination of women and the role they play in ministry. That time has passed, and this is the time to be addressing these issues honestly with courage and with openness to one another’s convictions or as someone else once mentioned, “with charity”, love, and mutual respect.
To be clear, I am unashamedly ‘complimentarian’. This does not mean that I believe men are superior to women or women inferior to men. This does not mean I believe in restraining how women use their gifting or abilities in church simply based on their gender. This does not mean I support an evil system of of patriarchy that abuses women or covers up their abuse. I highly value the role, gifting, and call of women to serve God as He desires and chooses. I have 4 wonderful women in my home whom I deeply appreciate, knowing each is uniquely gifted to serve Him.
I also work with a number of women who serve God in various ways from leading children and youth, guiding pastors through credentialing, and even pastoring, amongst many other roles and tasks.
I believe that men and women are equal before God (Galatians 3:28) and that women are called to serve God as men are; however I also believe that men and women are inherently different and are each wired differently by God with differing roles and responsibilities. Wikipedia defines it, “a theological view in Christianity…that men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, and religious leadership”.
There are things that men are great at and women are not. There are other things that women are great at that men are not. Therefore, when we work together towards building the Kingdom of God, we ‘compliment’ one another. A simple understanding, I know, but why should it be complicated?
What about egalitarians? I love them! I love that a brother (or sister) with a different conviction can sit me with me, and we can wrestle with this together. It is not what defines their, or my, Salvation; therefore, it is not an ‘essential’ issue that should divide us. I do not see the egalitarian view as less Scriptural, unbiblical, or wrong…just different, and I would love to discuss it!
Also, I do not view complementarianism and egalitarian as two opposing sides but rather a sliding scale with two extremes. All of us, depending on our Scriptural hermeneutic, our biases, or our Theological convictions find ourselves somewhere on this scale. As we discuss together, we find ourselves moving either forward or backward along this scale. The reason this dialogue is so necessary is because of our differences and diversity in thought and perspective, and because of these differences, we have devised systems to work within.
Is there a perfect system? No. Does any system define the Church and its message? No. Are there problems or opportunities for abuse and hurt within these systems? Yes. It does not matter whether it is complimentarianism, egalitarianism, denomination, marriage, government; sin has permeated them all and left them all imperfect and broken systems.
This is not a simple issue that will be resolved by us. The church has wrestled with this for thousands of years and will continue to do so long after we are gone. Will we be remembered as the generation that became divided over this or in spite of our differences, found a way to work together – unity!
This Theological Conference was not a call to draw our lines in the sand. It was a call to open the discussion, an invitation for you to join the discussion. It is a discussion that must not marginalize groups because of their particular convictions but include everyone. It is a call to unity, and what creates unity is not uniformity or conformity but diversity. The EFCC, by its nature, is diverse. It is diverse in language and culture, diverse in its hermeneutics and Theology, diverse in how it practises faith, and diverse in its convictions. Unity comes through embracing our diversity and driven to find a way to work together!
So let’s talk about this. Lets discuss it openly and honestly, and let’s be ready to listen – listen to learn, listen to have our convictions challenged or affirmed, and listen to grow. Are we listening? Am I listening?
