Carolyn Custis James (MA in biblical studies) is a vibrant new voice with a biblical and affirming message for women. Her vision is eloquently and passionately articulated in her books, When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference (Zondervan, 2001), Lost Women of the Bible: Finding Strength and Significance through Their Stories (Zondervan, 2005), and Understanding Purpose (Thomas Nelson and Women of Faith, 2006). Her next book, The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough to Break the Rules, is scheduled for release in early 2008.

Carolyn is the president of WhitbyForum, a ministry dedicated to helping women go deeper in their relationship with God and serve him alongside their Christian brothers. She is a popular speaker at church conferences, colleges and other Christian organizations both in the United States and abroad. She also serves as a visiting lecturer at theological seminaries and as a consulting editor for Zondervan's Exegetical Commentary Series on the New Testament. She is the founder of Synergy - a national network of women in seminary and in vocational ministries - in partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ International, The Impact Movement and Reformed Theological Seminary/Orlando.

Carolyn's claim to fame is that she was the first woman student to register at Dallas Theological Seminary, and in the first class of female graduates. She has since become a strong advocate for women who are pursuing seminary training.

A pastor's daughter, Carolyn grew up in Portland, Oregon. During the years between her graduate education and her present ministries, she had her own business as a software developer in Oxford, England. She and her husband, Frank (president of Reformed Theological Seminary of Orlando), live in Orlando, Florida, with their college-age daughter.

Read Carolyn's Gifted for Leadership articles:

– "Recovering the Blessed Alliance" (September 16, 2008)

– "When A Woman Finds Her Voice" (February 1, 2008)

– "Born to Follow?" (December 4, 2007)

– "Looking at God from Ground Zero" (September 11, 2007)

Read Carolyn's contributions to other Christianity Today International resources:

– "Reuniting Mary and Martha" (a review of Carolyn's book When Life and Beliefs Collide), Christianity Today magazine (October 2001)