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< Back Imagining Equity Daniel Williams Sep 21, 2022 The gifts of Christian feminist theology Summary:'Christian feminist theology challenges traditional theology and church practices that have restricted half of God's people from serving Go and the church as priests, pastors, teachers, and baptizers. this book offers a constructive argument and biblical examples to suggest a dynamic adaptation and revision of customs in narratives, prophecy, and wisdom, including especially the incarnation and in Jesus's life and teaching. After carefully defining "feminism" and examining the biblical text, the author emphasizes that outsiders and "othered" peoples are represented in the Bible as loved and used by God, even though the privileged have actively discriminated against them and continue to do so both in and out of ecclesial structure. Christian feminists seek to find, listen to, and raise the voices of women and others' experiences through diverse means, in order to contribute to the spread of the gospel, redemption, and justice for all.' Karen Strand Winslow (Author), United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry (U.S.) (Issuing body) Previous Next

< Back Meghan Markle is not holding back. ​ Sep 21, 2022 Duchess of Sussex has opened up about her personal life. Archetypes , the Duchess of Sussex has opened up about her personal life during intimate conversations centered around gender-specific stereotypes and labels. Read the full article in People: https://people.com/royals/meghan-markle-biggest-revelations-in-archetypes-podcast/ By Skyler Caruso Previous Next

< Back ARCHETYPES on Spotify ALW Sep 21, 2022 Meghan Markle has started a new podcast on Spotify that explores some of the language used to describe women. Meghan Markle has started a new podcast on Spotify that explores some of the language used to describe women. The first three are out and available here . Previous Next

Advocates for Free Methodist Women in Leadership (AWL) is a group of women leaders in the Free Methodist Church USA (FMCUSA) who are passionate about creating a culture of equality, opportunity, and safety for women in our churches. We’re here to provide everyone in the FMCUSA with the resources to understand our theology and practice regarding the equality of women in the kingdom of God—in value, role, and function. ​ We’re also here to offer a safe space for women to tell their stories of church experience. This site is curated to assure those stories can be told with authenticity and without fear. We hope all can learn from your experiences. ​ You are welcome here whether you are well immersed in egalitarian ideas, desiring information on what the Free Methodist position regarding women is, or questioning what you think about that position. We pray you will find what you need in these pages. Join Our Next Event! PreacHer Sunday VISION The vision of Advocates for FM Women in Leadership is to help lead the Free Methodist Church USA toward an egalitarian culture in its entirety, including marriage and ordination, theory and practice. MISSION Our Mission is to be a healthy biblical community of Free Methodist leaders supporting one another and assisting the Free Methodist Church USA in understanding the societal distinctives of women in the US in order to fully recruit and empower women among our disciples, leaders, groups and churches. Highlighted Resource: On the Feminization of the Church The feminization of the church movement has argued that men in particular are leaving churches because churches and church practices have been feminized. ​ For a response to these assumptions, two articles and a book may be helpful.

Job Openings On this page we have assembled links to FMC USA job opening lists in areas that are specifically seeking applications from women. If you know of others, please let us know! Email Us The River Conference This Conference specifically encourages applications from women, minority groups, veterans, and people with disabilities.

The So-Called "Feminization" of the Church The "feminization of the church" movement, despite the historical marginalization of women from full engagement in life and meaningful work, and their segregation into household and spiritual pursuits, blames women for the failures of an essentially male-led church. These resources will get you up to speed on these issues. The "Feminization" of the Church by Kristen Rosser ​ A Jesus for Real Men: What the new masculinity movement gets right and wrong by Brandon O'Brien (If you do not have access to CT , you can download the full article here .) ​ The Making of Biblical Womanhood by Beth Allison Barr

Biblical Interpretation and Tradition Here are just a few of our favorite articles and blogs. Check out more thorough discussions of the interpretations of various passages in some of our recommended books , videos , and websites . Authority and Submission Submission and the Legal Reality of Peter’s Rome by Jill Richardson ​ Chain of Inference: “Seeing” Male Authority as God’s Design in Genesis by Bob Edwards ​ The Bible Teaches the Equal Standing of Man and Woman by Philip B. Payne ​ See also videos on our video page , such as: Humility: it looks different for women and men Theology of Suffering Headship in Ephesians Women Pastors and 1 Tim 2:12 There are Women Pastors in the New Testament by Marg Mowczko ​ Was Paul For or Against Women in Ministry? by Craig Keener “But What About 1 Timothy 2:12?” Ten Talking Points by Gail Wallace Women in Leadership: The Only Thing That Matters is What the Bible Says by Kelly Ladd Bishop ​ Humor: Ten Reasons Men Should Not Be Ordained as Ministers by David M. Scholer ​ See also videos on our video page , such as: Why do women preach? The pushback Adventures in Sexist Hermeneutics Modesty, 1 Tim 2:9 and I Peter 3:3-4 5 Things the Bible Does (and Doesn’t) Say About Modesty by Jill Richardson Modesty: I Don't Think It Means What You Think It Means by Rachel Held Evans Church Tradition Feminine Language for Paul and Jesus in the 11th Century by St. Anselm ​ Modest, Industrious, and Loyal: Reinterpreting Conflicting Evidence for Women's Roles by Susan E. Hylen. Email AWL for full article . ​ "Women and Authority in the Fourth Century" from Chrispina and Her Sisters by Christine Schenk. Email AWL for full article . ​ See also "Holiness in Black & White" on our podcast and websites page .

Share Your Story Personal stories from women about their leadership journeys Your identity will not be published (unless otherwise requested.) This information is for our verification purposes. Email Name Conference/Church Share your story Do you wish to remain anonymous? * Yes No Phone Position Held If you want to be identified, please email a headshot and a short (3 sentence) bio Send Thanks for your submission. We’ll get back to you shortly.

Contact Us If you'd like to contact the team of Advocates for FM Women in Leadership, contact us via the form below. This forwards to our gmail account, and an AWL team member will respond to you within one week. First Name Last Name Email Choose an option Reason for Contacting Message Send Thanks for contacting us! One of our team members will get back to you within one week.

Abuse and #MeToo See the resources below for understanding, preventing, and responding to abuse in the church. To begin with, the following phrases should be avoided at all cost! Practices to Avoid Cycle of Abuse: When an Abuser Uses the Church by Center for Family Violence Prevention; church version by Kaitlin Shetler ​ ​​How the Misuse of Matthew 18 Bullies Abuse Survivors Into Silence by Russell Meek ​ Why Adult Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse Are Not to Blame by Mark Scheffers ​ What Were You Wearing? Exhibit at DSU dispels myths on sexual assault (video) ​ 4 Problems with Andy Savage’s Apology by Ashley Easter ​ She's Not That into You : how men overrate women's interest ​ How Clergy Sexual Misconduct Happens: A Qualitative Study of First-Hand Accounts by Diana R. Garland & Christen Argueta Resources for Addressing Abuse ​Resources from GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment ​ The Mend Project . Many resources, but particularly check out their "Tools for Pastors" on their Tools + Resources page. ​ History of Violence Checklist : an eye-opening list of behaviors that constitute abuse Abuse Prevention Healthy Boundaries videos (English only) and workbooks (English and Spanish). Many other resources are also available through this database of resources on gender-based violence . ​ What You in the Congregation Need to Know about Clergy Misconduct (English and Spanish). ​ How To Raise Strong Girls (and Boys!) in an Age of #MeToo by Jill M. Richardson ​ A Tale of Two Rapes: What Tamar and Bathsheba Teach Us About Power, Consent, and Sexual Violence by Erin Moniz ​ Understanding Sexual Abuse By a Church Leader or Caregiver by the Mennonite Central Committee ​ See also videos on our video page , such as: Theology of Suffering The Danger of Civility Intersectionality ​ Some of our book recommendations will also provide best practices to recognize and avoid abuse.

Podcasts and Websites Newly Added Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil will blow your socks off with her discussion of stepping into our callings of resisting both sexism and racism. Her wisdom and passion are sorely needed in the FMC today. Rev. Dr. Jill Richardson recently spoke as a guest for FM's Light & Life Podcast on the topic of Advocating for Women in Church Leadership. She gives us five action points--simple steps to take so that we can live what we believe. We are so excited for this invitation and the wisdom she shared. Enjoy! Rev. Dr. Laura J. Hunt gave us an overview of approaches to biblical interpretation that we can use to make sure that our sermons are empowering to women. Check out her five points below! Service Name AWL Jan event Rev. Dr. Laura J. Hunt 00:00 / 52:35 Bible stories that do not seem to empower women might benefit from removing layers of biased interpretations (Samaritan woman, John 4) being seen through the lens of liberation (Syrophoenician woman, Mark 7) being put into conversation with other texts that empower women (Luke 8:1-3 and many others) being used as discussion starters in which women are listened to (Dinah, Gen 34) being passed over in silence until we get a better handle on them (Bathsheba, 2 Sam 11-12). Lead Stories On this podcast, Steph Williams O'Brien and Jo Saxton discuss leadership issues such as burnout, breakthrough, and self-leadership. Check out this one on True Empowerment ! Marg Mowczko Marg does a fabulous job of digging into the Bible and making clear the behind-the-scenes academic discussions about the texts that are used to limit or support women. The Junia Project On this website, Gail Wallace and Kate Wallace Nunneley provide resources on biblical equality, equipping women, and resourcing the church. Holiness in Black & White: Women, Race, and Sanctification Drawing on two decades of research, Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison focuses on Wesleyan/Holiness women evangelists in the early 20th century, including Emma Ray, an African American who preached in Seattle rescue missions alongside SPU students and went on to become a Free Methodist Conference Evangelist. This was the 2013 Walls Lecture in Wesleyan Theology at Seattle Pacific University. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ CBE International CBE (Christians for Biblical Equality) is THE website for all things related to the equal partnership of women in the church and church teaching. With 400 audio files , over 2000 blog posts and magazine articles , close to 1000 academic articles , almost 300 book reviews , and 90 videos , not to mention courses , you should be able to find information on all aspects of this topic. Women and Church Standings A quick reference page for various people and denominations who have a stated position on women's roles. Not exhaustive. 2013_05_01_L_Priscilla_Pope_Levison 00:00 / 1:12:21 Free Methodist Feminist Christy Mesaros-Winckles gives us the history of debates around women's roles in the FMC, and the women and men who fought them. Sorry Watch This website analyzes examples of apologies in contemporary culture and measures them against their standards for a good apology . Becoming an Ally: A Roadmap for Men Who Aspire to Advocate for Women by Rob Dixon If you would rather read a written version of this material, see Raising Up Allies: A Standardized Pathway for Developing Men into Allies to Women.

Teaching Opportunities for FMCUSA As part of our work, we're providing the Center for Pastoral Formation with names of women who would like to be considered for teaching opportunities for FMCUSA at the national level. If you would be interested in being included in that list, please send your name, contact information, current appointment, educational credentials (minimum of master’s degree required), relevant experience, and topics of interest to advocatesforfmwomen@gmail.com We also need help vetting resources. The following books need review: Developing Female Leaders by Cole Keeping the Faith by Marie Fortune Making Christianity Manly Again: Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, and American Evangelicalism by Jennifer McKinney Email Us