The Gift of Gender

If you're familiar with the debate over women in ministry, you've seen how the discussion seems to circle the same handful of verses. There's 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Corinthians 14: 34, passages that seem to preclude the possibility of women leading. On the other side there's Galatians 3:28 and Philippians 4:2-3, verses some claim effectively erase the gender divide.

But an equally important passage—and one that is often overlooked—is Genesis 5:1-2: "When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them" (emphasis mine).

Whether you're a man or a woman, the message of that passage is tremendously empowering. Think about it. God didn't choose a man to bear his image—or a woman. It took both.

The debate over women in ministry is an important one. It needs to continue. But Genesis 5 is a good reminder for both sides that it takes both men and women to reflect God's image to a needy world.

Our September issue spotlights the efforts of several churches to do just that.

Pastor Steve Norman recounts how the frank observation of a visitor—"There were no women on stage"—prompted him to seek out women leaders. Norman writes: "The question isn't really 'Should we be creating opportunities for women leaders to stretch and grow?' Instead it should be 'Which women already display callings and gifting and how will we invest in them.'"

In "Sharing the Stage," husband-and-wife team Joel and Rachel Triska reflect on the experience of leading "based on giftedness, not gender." They've had some challenges, but they've maintained their commitment to co-pastoring, even when Rachel is still sometimes introduced as "the pastor's wife."

In "Permission to Lead," Tyler Braun discusses how working at a smaller church forced him to develop more lay leaders. He tells the story of how one of those leaders, a woman who served in the Navy, blessed his church with a Memorial Day sermon. Even in a church that adheres to male-headship, he's finding ways to create space for female voices.

On a topic fraught with tension, we needed some comic relief. Margot Starbuck offers "a field guide" for navigating gender sensitivities. With a good dose of humor, she lets us know when it's okay to honor traditional gender roles and when it's best to resist them.

We hope these stories will spark creative thought about your own context. How can you develop the men and women in your midst? As Genesis 5 reminds us, we need both. Without either we end up reflecting only half of God's image.

Drew Dyck Managing Editor