The Gender Agenda

by Lis Goddard, Elisabeth Goddard

In an age when men can be nurses or stay-at-home dads and women can be pilots or business managers, there are few areas left where gender alone determines what a person can and cannot do.

Yet different models still exist in Christian ministry. Some denominations contend that certain areas of church life should be the preserve of men alone, while others allow full access to all areas for both sexes. But which is right?

In this compelling email exchange, Lis Goddard and Clare Hendry search the Scriptures for guidance on the roles of women and men in church leadership today. Against the busy backdrop of everyday life, their conversation covers all the key passages, leaving no tricky verse unexamined. Passionately arguing their respective corners, they pinpoint where they disagree - and agree - all the while modelling Christian debate and friendship.

Points to ponder helpfully enable readers to explore their own conclusions.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Gael Browne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting concept, and I enjoyed the back and forth of the email framework.
Favourite and most valuable chapters for me were those towards the end, particularly for their recognition of the need to engage with each other ‘across the fence’ of liberal / conservative evangelicalism.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book really frustrating. The premise was really good - two women discussing God's plan for church leadership, one arguing for male headship and the other against. However, in practice, both women look functionally the same, as they're both happy to preach in church to mixed congregations. A discussion between two more opposing views than this would have been much more helpful, I think, and would have made the 'conservative' argument more consistent. I also found the email format and the glossary quite patronising. However, the comments on the need to train women well in theology were spot on.