* = Christadelphian Author
1. Books and Magazines
- "Men and Women in the Church" from Senior Sunday School Lessons Book 3, by the Australian Christadelphian Sunday School Union (ACSSU)*.
An overview of the complementarian and egalitarian views - with challenging discussion questions. - Living on the Edge by Jonno Burke*
In this book, the writer focuses on women in the congregation from pages 413 - 462. He focuses entirely on determining what the text says, without prescribing how people should apply it. No rules or regulations are suggested. - The Christadelphian Tidings magazine, December 2019 by various sisters* This issue is mainly written by sisters, and articles by Mary Bilello and Melinda Flatley consider the work done by women in the first-century church.
- Is the Bible Good for Women? by Wendy Alsup
Perhaps the best case for a moderate complementarian view of women in ministry, finding a healthy, middle ground in a highly contentious debate within evangelicalism. Wendy avoids the contemporary egalitarian tendency, that asserts that women should serve as elders in a local church, that reads too many modern assumptions into the New Testament, effectively undercutting the Scriptural doctrine that male and female are equal yet ultimately not-interchangeable. But she also knocks down the opposite hyper-complementarian view, that puts women, who are wonderfully gifted to serve in various forms of ministry and church leadership, into a tiny little, dehumanizing box. - "The Participation of Women in Public Ministry" by Alfred Norris* from Acts and Epistles, pp. 669 - 683. Norris states: "I am in favour of the maximum participation by believing women in the work of the congregation. But the examination of what is lawful must be scriptural, and this is what I'm trying to do" (p669). Acts and Epistles is currently out of print, but can often be purchased from the Second Hand book department of the Christadelphian Office.
- Men and Women in Christ by Andrew Bartlett
The debate about men and women in the church and in marriage continues to cause division among Christians. Most books on this issue are written from a firmly partisan point of view - complementarian or egalitarian. This one is unique. Andrew Bartlett draws on his theological learning and his skills as a judge and arbitrator to offer an even-handed assessment of the debate. His analysis is thorough but accessible. He engages with advocates of each view and all the key biblical texts, weighing the available evidence and offering fresh insights. He invites the reader to move beyond complementarian and egalitarian labels and seeks progress towards healing the division. Read a review here.
2. Articles
- One Woman's Journey: A Call to Reflect by Sarah Joiner*
Three articles that chart how a sister's studies and experiences led her to change her views on head coverings and reassess women's roles in the ecclesia. - Can sisters fill non-speaking roles in the ecclesia? by Christie Johnson*
This is an important question because our witness to the world is given equal weight alongside the edification of the current ecclesial membership. We must therefore seriously consider the consequences if we refuse, without a clear Biblical mandate, to make changes that could help make the gospel more attractive to the world, or to our own children. - Letters written in response to "All one in Jesus" by Hannah Gaston, Anna Clarke & Sarah Joiner* from The Christadelphian magazine. Letters to the editor, February 2020, written in response to January 2020's letters.
- Women's Issues by Linda Wilkinson*
A three-part series from The Christadelphian Tidings, 2004. Linda analyses the treatment of women in extremist groups - and asks whether Christadelphians have strayed from Bible teaching and fallen into the same traps. She then goes on to look at examples of female teachers and leaders in the Old and New Testaments. - The Role of Women in the Church by Bill Davison*
We, in our beloved Christadelphia, have a huge source of untapped talent, namely our sisters in Christ. It is high time they played a more prominent part in our worship and fellowship, as did women in the 1st century church. For example, reading in public from Holy Scripture and praying in meetings; and serving the emblems on a Sunday morning in remembrance of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Read a review of this article from The Testimony. - "Virgins of the Lord" by Harry Whittaker* from Bible Studies, pp 204 - 205.
After demonstrating that women served at the temple in both the Old and New Testaments, Harry Whittaker asks the question: Does it have any bearing on the status and activities of sisters in the ecclesia today? - "The Ministering Women and their Mirrors" by Dr Merrilyn Mansfield*
This paper argues that the women who served at the door of the tabernacle, mentioned in Exodus 38:8 and 1 Samuel 2:22, did so in a Levitical capacity. - Women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting by Marg Mowckzo
In two verses in the Hebrew Bible, there is a brief mention of women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting. The focus of these two verses is not the women but the women’s mirrors, in Exodus 38:8, and the despicable behaviour of the priests Hophni and Phinehas, in 1 Samuel 2:22. What can we know about these women? Did their service involve religious rituals? What is the significance of their mirrors? And what do we know about the space that is referred to as “the entrance of the tent of meeting”? - Dare to be a Phoebe by Melinda Flatley, reproduced from the Christadelphian Tidings magazine.* The title of this article, challenges all sisters, you and me, to a high standard of active faith! Paul’s description of Phoebe yields some remarkable lessons. So, let’s dig in to understand in depth what Paul is saying about this exceptional sister.
- Ordained Women of the Patristic Era by Darrell Pursiful
There is considerable evidence of women deacons, elders, and even bishops in the early life of the church. - Gender and Biblical Translation by Andrew Walker*, The Christadelphian, July 2020
- Book Review of Andrew Bartlett's: Men and Women in Christ by Neil Creighton*
- Should Women Serve as Elders, Deacons or Pastors? by Clarke Morledge
A nineteen part series of blogs, where moderate complementarian, Clarke Morledge, looks at the gender discussion from different perspectives. Well worth reading the whole series to get an overview of the whole debate.
4. Presentations
- The Roles of Men and Women in Scripture and Today by Jon Davies*
A three-part series given at Watford Bible class in 2019. The presenter has read widely on the topic, and remains neutral in his conclusions. Challenging questions are asked of complementarians and egalitarians alike. - The women who served at the entrance to the tabernacle by Sarah Joiner*
We learn that women had a specific role in the running of tabernacle worship in two "throw away" verses: Exodus 38:8 & 1 Samuel 2:22. Who were these women? What work did they do? How does this impact on our understanding of women's role in the church today?
