Suzanne has linked to her blog a request for an apology from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood for the practical consequences of “The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Biblical Womanhood”. Perhaps Suzanne or the Freedom for Christian Women coalition can provide those who are unfamiliar with the statement with some more background and context for this call for an apology.
I believe the only way to combat intense/overboard patriarchial aspects of Evangelicalism, particularly of the “Reformed” movement, is to do what “they” (the CBMW comps) do: PLANT CHURCHES –> churches with less restrictions for women which affirm and put into practice creeds and doctrinal statements affirming racial/gender equality and the full scope Christ’s redemptive work as it applies both spiritually and practically to both MEN and WOMEN.
It’s also vital for egalitarian men and women to to attend and fill up the leadership/faculty ranks of seminaries, divinity schools, universities, etc…and publish books, articles, blogs etc and lecture/preach…about how both the historical and current excesses of patriarchy weaken the church. People need to be warned about the dangers of where the church can be headed should the “comp” doctrine be taken too far.
I’m conflicted because I do not reject “complementarianism” altogether. I reject the authoritarian and reactionary tendencies of the CBMW and the extremes to which several high profile leaders make their interpretations of this doctrine, and how it should be applied, a cornerstone pillar of their worldview and ministry.
That all being said, I frankly do not see a bonafide “outcry” against complementarianism gathering any momentum. There are several reasons for this: 1) Many churches (comp ones included) are neither blatantly “sexist” nor spiritually abusive. 2) A lot of *young* women frankly do not aspire to have leadership roles within the church nor question the nature and focus of many women’s ministries. 3) And this is probably the biggest one: Bcause the rest of the culture is “egalitarian” and seemingly getting progressively so, most young women take our “rights” in SOCIETY for granted, so many do not sense any threat to them coming from either within or outside the church.
It disappoints me that more young women in conservative Christian circles do not question the “ole boys club/fraternity-like” aspects that unfortunately characterize much of modern-day Christian leadership. I’m not saying women need to be pastors, but why aren’t they concerned that our voices are being shut out from the general intellectual and theological discourse taking place within the church? That our voices are shut out at general assembly meetings for our prospective denominations?