Same Service

This page signposts readers to resources that argue that men and women should have give the same service (egalitarianism) in the church.

* = Christadelphian authors

1. Books
  • Two Views on Women in Ministry by James R. Beck, Stanley N. Gundry, Linda L. Belleville
    What does the Bible say about women's roles in the church? With pros and cons on either side of a heated, ongoing debate, no definitive conclusions have emerged. This book furnishes you with a clear and thorough presentation of the two primary views on women in ministry so you can better understand each one's strengths, weaknesses, and complexities. Each view - egalitarian (equal ministry opportunity for both genders) and complementarian (ministry roles differentiated by gender) - is represented by two contributors.
  • All One in Christ Jesus by Ian and Averil McHaffie*
    In our Christadelphian community the part played by sisters has varied considerably. In almost all ecclesias sisters exercise the same part as brothers when they vote for ecclesial offices. In some ecclesias sisters give Bible Class addresses and have done so from the beginning of last century, but in others they are forbidden to take part in any formal discussion; in most ecclesias sisters are not allowed to contribute vocally at Breaking of Bread meetings except in singing. This book seeks to establish firm Bible principles for the guidance of ourselves and our ecclesias for the future. 
  • One Father One Teacher One Head: Women In Worship by Robin Jones*
    Jesus said that He is the only ultimate spiritual leader of men and women. “And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”  There are a handful of passages which seem to contradict this message. When Jesus was tempted to take a passage at face value he said: “It is also written” (Matt. 4:7). This research considers what is “also written” and investigates the passages which appear to elevate men as leaders, and silence women.
  • Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle's Vision for Men and Women in Christ by Cynthia Westfall
    Respected New Testament scholar,Cynthia Long Westfall, offers a coherent Pauline theology of gender, which includes fresh perspectives on the most controverted texts. Westfall interprets passages on women and men together and places those passages in the context of the Pauline corpus as a whole.
  • Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth Bailey
    The result of over thirty years of research and lecturing, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes is a ground-breaking study of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. Bailey examines this canonical letter through the lenses of Paul's Jewish socio-cultural and rhetorical background and the Mediterranean context of the Corinthian recipients. Read a Mini review of Kenneth Bailey's: Paul through Mediterranean Eyes by Averil McHaffie* The writer summarises Bailey's analysis of 1 Corinthians 14. 
  • Men and Women in Christ by Andrew Bartlett
    The debate between egalitarian and complementarian views on women in the church and in marriage continues to cause division among evangelical Christians. Many books on the subject are written from a firmly partisan point of view, whether complementarian or egalitarian. This one is different. Andrew Bartlett makes use of his experience as a judge and arbitrator in assessing the debate, with impartiality rather than advocacy (like a barrister). In a very thorough but accessible analysis, he engages with exemplars of each view and with all the key biblical texts. He partly agrees and partly disagrees with both sides, and offers fresh insights into interpretation of the texts. He seeks progress towards healing of a sharp division.

2. Articles
  • A critique of: Working Together (2) "A Theology of Gender" (The Christadelphian, May 2020) by Robin Jones*
    The writer of ‘Theology of Gender’ assigns different ‘roles’ to men and women with the claim they are to teach a greater spiritual lesson and are endorsed by God. He makes the mistake of interpreting Genesis 3 through a corrupted understanding of 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy 2 and Ephesians 5-6. His arguments are not only built on a wrong foundation, but in the case of 1 Corinthians he has aligned himself with the false church teachings that Paul was vehemently opposing. He ends by saying that Biblical principles should be upheld and not sidelined because they are ‘culturally unpalatable’. This response is to show that men and women have the same duty to become like Christ and their role is the same because they are ‘born again’. It has nothing to do with rejecting teachings because they are ‘culturally unpalatable’ but rejecting them because they are not ‘of God’.
  • A critique of Working Together (4): "Some Old and New Testament Examples of Prominent Women" (The Christadelphian, July 2020) by Ian McHaffie*
    I have tried to be careful and accurately biblical in my observations. If anything can be shown to be wrong, I will be happy to retract. But I encourage everyone to examine these issues carefully, and to beware of following ideas which cannot be firmly based on what the Bible actually says.
  • Saved in Childbearing? by Mark Seagoe*. Paul’s concerns in this passage clearly fit into the Artemisian cultural context like the points in a matching fingerprint. He was faced with a worldly ideology perverting the gospel, and addressed it point by point, with specific instructions to manage the cultural issues the Ephesian believers faced. 
  • A Shame for Women to Speak? by Mark Seagoe*. If 1Corinthians 14:34-35 was originally a marginal gloss, what might that imply in regards to its authenticity?  Does it sound feasible that an inspired author writing an epistle would forget and leave out some portion, only to remember to add it to the margin later?
  • Silencing Women by Robin Jones*
    A link to 11 articles, where the writer argues that scripture has been misread in order to silence women against God's will.
  • Bible Teaching about the Role of Women in the Ecclesia by Christie Johnson*
    The writer bases her research on principles of sound Bible interpretation (Klein, Blomberg and Hubbard):
    1. Never base a whole doctrine on a single passage;
    2. Never base a doctrine on a passage with interpretive difficulties;
    3. Always give the greatest weight to clearer teaching.
  • Wrested Scriptures? by John Launchbury*
    As a community, we benefit greatly from Bro. Ron Abel’s book, Wrested Scriptures, which provides brief and insightful notes for discussing many disputed Biblical passages. As a thought-experiment, the writer examines the main passages used to justify the doctrine of gender “roles” in a similar style. 
  • Female Ministry; or Woman's Right to Preach the Gospel by Catherine Mumford Booth (1861)
    Catherine Booth, along with her husband William Booth, founded the Salvation Army in England in 1865. Her objectives in this article were, in her own words, to: "... endeavour to meet the most common objections to female ministry, and to present, as far as our space will permit, a thorough examination of the texts generally produced in support of these objections."
  • Reasons Why Sisters Should be Encouraged to Offer the Same Service as Brothers by Averil & Ian McHaffie* This is a summary of the authors' arguments from their longer work: All One in Christ Jesus.
  • Supplement: 1 Tim 2:11-15 by Tom Gaston and Andrew Perry*
    The discussion in this issue of the Christadelphian EJournal's supplement is about the role of sisters in the ecclesia and whether they should have the same roles open to them as brethren with regard to teaching. The first article (T. Gaston) argues an egalitarian case and the second (A. Perry) argues the complementarian case.
  • Did Priscilla teach Apollos? by Marg Mowczko
    There is only one verse in the entire Bible that disallows a woman from teaching a man—1 Timothy 2:12. Some Christians see this verse as comprehensively declaring a universal and permanent ban on every woman teaching any man. However, other verses in scripture indicate that there is nothing wrong with a godly woman teaching a man. Acts 18:26 is one such verse. Acts 18:26 tells us that Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, explained theology or, more precisely, the doctrine of Christian baptism, to a man named Apollos.
  • "Speak" by Harry Whittaker* from Bible Studies, pp392 -393.
    1 Corinthians 14:34-35: For this particular passage, Harry Whittaker puts forward an egalitarian view that Paul is requesting just those sisters who are speaking in tongues, and causing a disturbance, to keep quiet during the service. He argues that Paul is dealing with a specific problem in Corinth, which should not be read as a prohibition on women addressing the assembly for all times and in all places.
  • "The Twelve Apostles were all Male" by Marg Mowczko
    An argument often brought up in discussions about women in church leadership is that Jesus’ twelve apostles were all male, and, because there were no females among the Twelve, this means that women cannot be church leaders. The writer evaluates this argument in the light of scripture.
  • Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 14:35-37 by Caroline Radbourne-Harris*
    Using her experience of teaching students who are not yet proficient in English, Caroline suggests a cultural interpretation of these verses: that Paul is asking the married women who do not understand the language being spoken (Greek) not to interrupt the service - but to ask their husbands (who do speak Greek) when they get home.
  • Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 14:33b-36 by J Sidlow Baxter
    Baxter argues that the words which seem to silence women are actually quotes from the Judaizers, which Paul then lambasts and dismisses.
3. Audio: Podcasts & MP3s
  • The Other Side of the Story A seminar, of six talks by Christadelphian speakers, on women's roles held in Adelaide, Australia, in 2009.*
    Talk 1: The Greater Context by Adrian Dangerfield
    Talk 2: The Foundations by Janine Hennig
    Talk 3: Who is the Head? by Andrew Fotheringham
    Talk 4: The Cultural Context by Merri Mansfield
    Talk 5: Women and Prophecy by Brian Hurn
    Talk 6: Difficult Passages by Deb Hurn
    Talk 7: Questions
  • Female Church Leadership, Complementarity and Marriage by N.T. Wright (ask N.T Wright anything series) Respected theologian, Tom Wright, answers questions on what the New Testament says about the role of women in church leadership. Does 1 Tim 2:13-15 forbid women from teaching? What does he make of complementarian vs egalitarian theology? How does he treat passages such as Ephesians 5: 22  ‘wives submit to your husband’?
4. Blogs and Posts
  • Exploring the Biblical theology of Christian Egalitarianism by Marg Mowczko
    Anyone with an interest in biblical gender equality will flourish from the work of Marg Mowczko. Her well-researched biblical reflection richly informs ... anyone curious about women’s leadership and Scripture. An accessible writer committed to excellence in biblical scholarship.
  • Even the Dogs eat the Crumbs: Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman by Kristen Rosser
    For years I didn't know what to think of this story.  It looked like Jesus was first ignoring, and then insulting, a poor, desperate woman-- for no other reason than that she was a Gentile.  It looked like she obtained healing for her daughter only after submitting to humiliation by agreeing that she and her people were little more than "dogs."  If Jesus is really the compassionate Savior of all mankind, how could He be so racist and cruel?
  • We mustn't try to make the Bible say more than it does by Jan Smith*
    We mustn’t try to make the Bible say more than it does: the books (OT and NT) were all written in a patriarchal world, and the inclusion of women was always unusual, often radical. 
5. Videos

  • Christ and Gender Roles by John Launchbury*
    Traditionally Christianity has called for gender-distinctions in religious service. This is based on a handful of verses together with inferences from other contexts. In this series of classes we argue that the traditional understanding is flawed.
  • Division of Gender Roles in Christadelphian Meetings by Catherine Sinclair and Matthew Harrison*
    A zoom presentation on the division of gender roles in the Christadelphian meeting structure developed and delivered in 2020 by Catherine Sinclair and Matthew Harrison. Through the framework of "past, present, future," it examines how and why Christadelphians practice this, where it came from, and presents a future vision in this regard.
  • Paul in Context: 1 Timothy by Averil & Ian McHaffie*
    An examination of the context of 1 Timothy, in which Paul aims to correct the mistakes of men and women believers. Averil and Ian McHaffie conclude that Paul's intention is that both faithful men and women should teach (2 Timothy 2:2).
  • Paul in Context: Corinthians by Averil & Ian McHaffie*
    An examination of the context of Romans and Corinthians, in which Paul aims to correct the mistakes of men and women believers. Averil and Ian McHaffie conclude that Paul's intention is that both faithful men and women should teach.
  • To Speak or not to Speak? by Averil McHaffie*
    A discussion starter considering the work and service of men and women in the ecclesia.
  • Confusion in Corinth by Robin Jones*
    Looking at the context of 1st Corinthians. Were tongues a sign for believers or unbelievers? Did Paul silence women or encourage them to speak? Should women wear head coverings? Why it matters.
  • Authority to Speak by Robin Jones*
    Explaining the passage in 1 Corinthians 14 which appears to silence women in church. Only by understanding that Paul was referring to the preposterous suggestions of church members to silence women does this passage make sense.
  • One in Christ by Robin Jones*
    Paul said that women SHOULD SPEAK. This youtube explains why two confusing passages, which seem to contradict Paul's other instructions, should be understood in their full context. 
  • Biblical Basis for Women's Service in the Church by N. T. Wright
    N. T. Wright's penetrating analysis of key New Testament passages on women in ministry shows how Scripture supports women's service in the church.
  • Baylor ISR: Women and the Bible: A Historical Perspective by Ben Witherington III
    One of the problems with the language used about women is in the New Testament is that we're used to seeing what we see, but we don't always observe the significance of what we're seeing. This is certainly true in the stories of Joanna (Luke 8:1-3) and Junia (Romans 16:7).
  • Women and Ministry, Part 2 by Ben Witherington III
    Witherington shows that 1 Corinthians 11, 14 and 1 Timothy 2 are examples of where Paul is correcting specific problems in the churches of Corinth and Ephesus - not establishing blanket rules in banning women from leading and teaching in every place for all time.
  • Why women should be church leaders and preachers // Ask NT Wright Anything by N.T. Wright
6. PowerPoint Presentations
  • Biblical Roles of Men and Women by Janice Manson*
    Janice presents her thesis that: "The patriarchal culture of the ancient Near East, including Israel, regarded women as inferior to men; in contrast, God's message through Israel's experience and throughout the Bible seeks to subvert this cultural message by giving women roles of leadership and influence equivalent to that of men ultimately to unify the body."