Equality Junction

Gender equality - Why?

 

The message is urgent and the timing is now. There is a movement for Christian women's full equality in the church and home. Will you join the women and men who are working for full acceptance of women's spiritual gifts and calling?

 

Christians are of two minds. That comes as no surprise to us because we see all around us churches of various denominations and beliefs. We are divided in many ways doctrinally, but the biggest division among Christians is regarding women’s places in those churches and in their own homes.

 

This division can be identified as: those who believe women are equal in duties and responsibilities in church and home, and those who believe that women are not equal, and are to have certain so-called ‘roles’ that define them in both church and home. There are various degrees of what a church or denomination believes and practices. However, when “equal” is qualified in any way, women become unequal in whatever way a religion decides to define it.

 

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 exempted churches from discrimination against women. Churches took this and ran with it. They clamped down on women with what is called male headship, or male leadership. Complementarian is another word for this theology. Church constitutions and by-laws, and statements of faith affirm a church and/or denomination’s belief and practice in male headship. Male headship means that all men have authority over all women all the time. This is in the home and in the church. Only males can be in authority. All women must submit.

 

Male headship gives a husband complete and total control over his wife and family. He calls the shots. One day he is an unmarried 20 year old and with the “I do” he has carte blanche in running his family. While the Bible says men should be of good character, male headship cannot by its very nature, make that distinction. Male headship, unlike women, has no restrictions. It cannot. If males are heads, then they are heads, subject to do whatever they choose.

 

It cannot be said strongly enough, when churches deny women freedom to be pastors, deacons, or elders, then every woman in that congregation has been denied. When women refuse to allow other women the freedom to serve as pastors, deacons, or elders, they are denying equality for themselves. The greater problem when women refuse to accept the equality they were given at creation is that they are abdicating their own responsibility to serve.

 

Equality Junction will bring together people and ideas of those who are working for full equality for women in the church and in the home