Parchment & Pen Blog

Egalitarianism The belief that God has created men and women equal in all things. Men and women are ontologically and functionally equal. The way the sexes function in the church, society, and the family is determined by individual giftedness, not role distinctions according to the sexes. Therefore, each person should be judged individually when being [...]

You guessed it. It was about complementarian. Enjoy (again). The most common understanding of both Complementarianism and Egalitarianism goes something like this: Complementarians: Do not let women be pastors over men. Egalitarians: Do let women be pastors over men. or… Complementarians: The husband is the leader of the family. Egalitarians: The husband and wife co-lead [...]

No, not a biblical one. No, not a theological one. This is a very practical question of application. I want to see how your belief plays out in real life. Here is my question(s): Is there any way for us to train boys to be “men”? Is there any way for us to train up [...]

The most common understanding of both Complementarianism and Egalitarianism goes something like this: Complementarians: Do not let women be pastors over men. Egalitarians: Do let women be pastors over men. or… Complementarians: The husband is the leader of the family. Egalitarians: The husband and wife co-lead the family, with no priority. or… Complementarians: Wives submit [...]

I don’t know of many more controversial issues in the church than issues regarding women in ministry. It is not controversial whether or not women can do ministry or be effective in ministry, but whether or not they can teach and preside in positions of authority over men. The most controversial issue aspect of this [...]

Towards the end of last semester as I was immersed in studying Greek, I came across the names of a couple of female New Testament scholars.  Naturally my curiousity got the better of me.  My preliminary quest turned up a platform on gender issues amid other publications.  I must say I was disappointed.  I then [...]

As many of you know, my family and I moved to Norman, Oklahoma, a year and a half ago primarily due to my mother’s illness. Previously, we lived in Frisco, Texas, where I was a pastor at Stonebriar Community Church for six years. We all loved the church. We loved the people, the commitment to [...]

A friend wrote to me recently, asking why I haven’t written anything about wife abuse on Parchment & Pen. She urged me to do it because, according to her, complementarianism is rich soil in which to grow this kind of wickedness (she’s an egalitarian). Now, I could dispute the merits of that viewpoint, but I’ll [...]

1 Timothy 2:12-14 “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet. For Adam was formed first and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.” There are a few ways in which this passage has [...]

Considering the topic as of late, I thought that this might even be better to lighten the mood a bit before round two (I have no idea where this comes from, but have been using it for years.) Let’s say a guy named Roger is attracted to a woman named Elaine. He asks her out [...]

I have taught a Humanity and Sin course in The Theology Program many times. Before we begin our session on the theology of genders, I spend some time asking both the men and the women some questions. I don’t want people to think that this is necessarily leading anywhere so that their answers are not [...]

In response to Ruth’s “Top Ten Reasons I am a feminist,” I thought that I would have some fun with one of my own. 10. I like to smoke cigars. 9. I am a completmentarian and by default that what we are supposed to be. 8. The woman made me do it. 7. If Jesus [...]