Books – They are such a great thing and I could say, I wish I had more time to read all the books I want to read and, the truth is, I do really. Just turn the TV off more! It’s not rocket science. I read books every day, but I’m challenged to read more and so I aim to do so in 2023.
Books can just be for relaxation, and when I think of my favourites for this, I have to go to the Francine River’s series, The Voice in the wind! Brilliant books. Other books teach you to be bold and confident in your dreams, like, Chase the Lion by Mark Batterson. Others tell the life stories of people we ‘know’ from our TV screens – Matthew Perry was a Christmas present for me! – the book, not him!
Then there are the books that make your eyes water and challenge your ‘all my life’ thinking and to question whether you might actually be wrong in what you thought about a subject. ‘The making of Biblical Womanhood’ – Beth Allison Barr is one such book. I thought I would journey through it with you, if you want to join me, to explore a deeply engrained subject. Some of you will no doubt say, at last, here she comes! I know I am late to the party for many people, but I also think there are a lot behind me too and because it’s not easy to write that you could be wrong, I wanted to document my thoughts as I go through it. Will it convince me that I’ve been wrong? Probably.
Beth Allison Barr is a Professor of History and teaches at the Baylor university in the US. It’s important to note that. She is qualified to speak.
Let’s go.
Beth begins the book by explaining where she is from – Texas and her Church back ground – Southern Baptist. In everything from sermons to Sunday school, she was taught from well meaning teachers that women were called to secondary roles in church and family, with emphasis on marriage and children. That women behind the pulpit were not acceptable unless just describing experience. In other words, no preaching, just story telling. [1]
I am from the North of England and my church background is Pentecostal. I can’t honestly remember that kind of teaching being so prevalent. I know that Elim in the early 90’s debated for years on the ordination of women, but I was outside of that and I don’t remember having an opinion back then. I think I am right in saying that Marilyn Harry – a wonderful friend, who also happened to be on the panel at our very first church interview in Porth 1989! Thank you for giving us the job! – was the first woman to be ordained in Elim – and I will say, very worthy of that ordination. I don’t know if there was pain attached to that journey for Marilyn, I hope not, but there probably was. My thoughts on women leading churches is mainly protective, I have other thoughts too, but protective of my own sex is up there. Ministry is TOUGH. I’ve been in it all my life. My dad was a pastor and the pain I have seen my parents go through, who would want that? And it’s only when the buck stops with you, that you will understand that pressure.
At this point, I should probably tell you that I am in the process of ministry training – I will get ordained in a couple of years unless I’m cancelled for my thoughts! Hahaha! I am laughing as I write this because never in my wildest dreams did I think I would go down this road, maybe I will tell the story later.
For now, back to the book.
Beth was taught and ‘believed’ that women were meant to let their husbands rule (Genesis); wait for the perfect husband (Ruth) mens’ voices were public and women were to be private (1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy) and, when women did take charge it was either because of sin, (Eve) or because a man failed to do their job (Deborah) [2]
This was her world for 40 years. It’s impossible to comment on the whole book, but the crux for her was when she was told by her church that she couldn’t teach anything biblical to a Sunday School class because it had 14 year old boys in it and it was at this age that it was considered you moved from being a child to an adult, therefore not theologically acceptable. The year was 2016.
Again, I would love to know if it was like this in Elim because I don’t remember it being so when we joined Elim in 1979 (my parents were given the Blackpool Church at that time). When John and I first went into ministry, 1989, I said I would never preach because I didn’t think it was for me, not for women, for me. We are over 30 years away from those early days and preaching/teaching are among some of the most favourite things I do! (Not just my opinion by the way). I have never been told I can’t preach/teach in the sense of not allowed. I have had people walk out on me because they don’t think women should, so I don’t take that personally, but it’s never been an official stance of any church I have been in. Let me know if it has been for you. I am interested.
Beth’s qualification as a historian and the evidence she has found, has shown her how biblical womanhood was constructed, century by century and it is this evidence, brick by brick, that changed her mind on everything she had been taught in the church regarding womanhood.
I think it may just change mine too.
Until next time, D x
[1] Page 1
[2] Page 2
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