I have come to feel that some of the underlying and devastating principals that seem to bring women under "condemnation" and push us toward depression and self effacement is the way we as women look at ourselves, especially Christian women. Among the fundamental and Charismatic Christian world the basic teaching on women holds the Bill Gothard/ Wayne Grudem opinion of woman as subservient and to be kept under male authority because she is deemed weak minded, emotional and unable to see the big picture.

I began to see the crumbling edge of this doctrine some years ago as the bottom line of my own relationship with God was to Him and Him alone and this was what was stolen from me in the family and what I fought the hardest to regain. Even as a Baptist Kid, I knew my greatest desire was to share, teach and preach the Good News of Jesus, my Savior. Well the COG seems the best place to do that but... we know the end of that.

While the liberal denominational churches wallowed in liberal Theology for some years one of the areas that they began to explore with excellent scholarship was the call of women to ministry. Needless to say, the battle is still hot and varied, but there is some great research on language, culture and Biblical study in this area. I have posted a few very helpful sites that are balanced and deeply centered in Christ.

I have posted a couple of links to some of my favorites. One is a book written by a medical Dr. who went back to Oberlin College to seek out God's will, as she felt called to missions and ministry, which was denied her by her denomination. The book is the result of her research. There are 3 fabulous ladies that have worked for several years to put the book on the web.

The other is an organization begun by Catherine Kroeger, a Greek classicist and Biblical Scholar, Called "Christians for Biblical Equality"; and, as well, I have posted an excellent article from their web site.

I know this is a HOT subject but these are well established and very balanced. I use their material on a local Cable Station Program called Exploring Biblical Equality, and it is well received by many denominational and non in my local home town.

Enjoy