This is a post from an excellent network called Sophia. Sophia is headed up by Jenny Baker and is a network encouraging and equipping women in ministry.
Here is a snippet of her post:
“I think the motivation to keep people talking about the issue, and to find a way of working together and respecting each other in spite of our differences is really good. But my question about a ‘centre-ground coalition” is what happens in that space and who gets to decide? It is one thing to be generous and respectful about the difference in our beliefs about men and women; it is another thing to be generous about our practice.
I am not keen on labels and I agree that there is a range of views under each of the words ‘complementarian” and ‘egalitarian”, but I”ll use them for shorthand. My concern is that the ‘centre-ground” for shared worship and mission will end up being complementarian by default, not a place that genuinely accepts the beliefs and practices of all sides of the conversation.
Let me explain. If you are a complementarian man or woman in an egalitarian space, then you might feel uncomfortable when you hear a woman preach or see her lead, but your practice — the way you are obedient to what you believe God is calling you to — does not need to change.
If you are an egalitarian man in a complementarian space, then again you may feel uncomfortable that women aren”t allowed to lead or preach, but your practice does not need to change. You can lead, preach, teach and innovate to your heart”s content. You”ll be listened to and welcomed round the table, wherever that table might be.
But if you are an egalitarian woman in a complementarian space, then your practice is restricted.
But is that generosity reciprocated? Are complementarian churches or organisations in the habit of saying ‘we don”t normally have female preachers or teachers, but we recognise that you”re exercising that gift in your context and your church or organisation affirms your leadership so we”ll invite you to speak to us”?”…..
For the rest of this well considered post, click here: http://blog.sophianetwork.org.uk/2011/11/thoughts-on-the-middle-ground.html
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