Women and Men in Ministry: A Complementary Perspective

by Robert L. Saucy (Editor)

The role of women in the church is a debate that has raged within the church for much of the twentieth century. On one side are those who say there is no difference between men and women. On the other side are those who severely limit women who want to offer ministry to the church. Judith TenElshof and Robert Saucy take the middle approach. Believing that the modern views have denied the distinctions between men and women, the authors adopt a view called complementarianism. TenElshof and Saucy argue that while men and women are equal, God has given different roles to each and that these roles rely on each other to be fully effective.

Genres: Theology

416 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book describing men and women's roles from a complementarian perspective. Strengths of this book: it is edited by both a man and a woman, and the entire book focuses on the importance of men and women working together and complementing each other.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful read.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very insightful, tempered read at the academic level but also suprisingly practical. Mainly deals with the sticky issue of women and the church, addressing such topics as the church's historical attitude toward women, current trends of women's roles (the whole gamut ultra-conservative to liberal). The authors include both men and women and they approach this highly flameable issue with sensitivity, depth, humility and biblical focus. Not sure that personally I agree with all their conclusions, but it has definitely made me think. There are several essays by different authors and while some of the conclusions are predictable, the explanations are fuller and more complex than the usual surface answers I've heard in churches and bible studies. By no means do any of the authors browbeat either gender and are respectful to those that would disagree with them. Worthwhile for both men and women to read, particularly those seeking to resolve the question: What service role is there at church for a "brainy" woman who is not good with small children and doesn't care to be tied to the kitchen? How does she serve God without "overstepping" any boundaries and order set up by God? How does she live in a Christian culture that sometimes wishes to restrict women's ministry to only the nursery or the kitchen? :-)

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was written well and presented a very thorough picture of the complimentarian perspective. However, It lacked in its engagement with the egalitarian perspective by not clearly presenting more information about it other than a brief section in the first chapter.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. 350 pages could have been reduced to about 25.