A Letter from Bishop Chris (March 2024B)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

March is Women’s History Month and I believe it’s important that we celebrate the contributions of the incredible women who’ve helped spread the gospel and build the church. I give thanks to God for the many ways in which women have faithfully witnessed to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m currently reading an excellent history called, “Daughters of the Church: Women and Ministry from New Testament Times to the Present,” by Ruth A Tucker and Walter Liefeld. I appreciate how this book recounts the stories of women in church history without advocating current feminist ideology nor a traditionalist interpretation. Rather, it seeks to faithfully relate the facts about the lives and ministries of women in the church and includes observations on how they were perceived as well as the ways these perceptions have changed throughout history. Beginning with the Gospel accounts of the women disciples, it moves through the New Testament and the rise of the church (and the downfall of Rome), to medieval Catholicism, reformation Protestantism, through the missions movement, the Holiness and Pentecostal movements, to the non-western church, and to the relatively contemporary church (the book was published in 1987).

Another read that you’ll find engaging if you’re interested in understanding the biblical possibility of women’s leadership in the church, is an article by New Testament scholar Dr. Kenneth Bailey called, “Women in the New Testament: A Middle Eastern Cultural View.” Dr. Bailey spent 40 years living and teaching New Testament in Egypt, Lebanon, Jerusalem, and Cyprus, holding the title of Research Professor (emeritus) of Middle Eastern New Testament studies at the Ecumenical Institute (Tantur), Jerusalem. I had the pleasure of studying under him while a student at Trinity School for Ministry. His commentaries are outstanding and have shaped me deeply particularly regarding Jesus’ parables. It was Dr. Bailey’s socio-cultural scholarship, linguistic studies, and thorough biblical exegetical work that helped me see that ordination is a legitimate option for women who are called and gifted by God to serve as leaders in the church.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month I encourage you to pick up either or both of these resources to enhance your understanding of the amazing contributions women have made in the church of Jesus Christ.

With gratitude for the godly women in our midst,

+Chris