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Women in Ministry: Four Views (Spectrum Multiview Book Series) Kindle Edition

by Bonnidell Clouse (Editor), Robert G. Clouse (Editor), Robert Culver (Contributor), Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 54 ratings
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Should women teach men?
Should they exercise authority over men?
What about ordaining women?

Even those who agree that Scripture must determine our answers do not agree on what it teaches. And too often differing sides have not been willing to listen to one another. Here in ove volume are the views of four deeply commited evangelicals that focus the discussion on the issues.

Robert Culver argues for what might be called the traditional view that women should not exercise authority over or teach men. Susan Foh suggests a modified view which would allow for women to teach but not to hold positions of authority. Walter Liefeld presents a case for plural ministry that questions ordination as a means of conferring authority. Alvera Mickelsen defends the full equality of men and women in the church.

What makes this book especially helpful is that the writers all respond to the other essays, pointing out weaknesses and hidden assumptions.
Previous page
  1. ISBN-13
    978-0830812844
  2. Sticky notes
    Not Enabled
  3. Publisher
    IVP Academic
  4. Publication date
    May 28, 2010
  5. Part of series
    Spectrum Multiview Book Series
  6. Language
    English
  7. File size
    3159 KB
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Here in one volume are the views of four deeply committed evangelicals that focus the discussion on the issue of the role women should play, if any, in ministry.

About the Author

Susan T. Foh (M.A., Westminster Theological Seminary) has contributed articles and book reviews to various journals and the chapter "Abortion and Women's Lib" to the book Thou Shalt Not Kill: The Christian Case Against Abortion. She is also the author of Women and the Word of God: A Response to Biblical Feminism.



Robert G. Clouse (PhD, University of Iowa) was professor emeritus of history at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was also an ordained Brethren minister and served churches in Iowa and Indiana. His books include Meaning of the Millenium, Women in Ministry, War: Four Christian Views and Wealth and Poverty. He also wrote The New Millenium Manual (Baker), Two Kingdoms (Moody), The Story of the Church (Moody) and Puritans, the Millenium and the Future of Israel (Clarke, with Peter Toon).



Robert Culver (Th.M., Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary) has taught at Grace Theological Seminary, Wheaton College, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Northwestern College. He has also served as minister in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and the Evangelical Free Church. His published work includes numerous articles in books and periodicals as well as a major commentary, Daniel and the Latter Days, and a book on the Christian and the state titled Toward a Biblical View of Civil Government.



Liefeld (Ph.D., Columbia University) is professor emeritus of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has also served as pastor of Christ Church in Lake Forest, Illinois. Among his several books are New Testament Exposition, Interpreting the Book of Acts and (cowritten with Ruth Tucker) Daughters of the Church.



Alvera Mickelsen has taught at Wheaton College and Bethel College, and has served as editor for Christian Life Magazine, The Conservative Baptist and David C. Cook Publications. In addition to numerous articles, her publications include Better Bible Study, Family Bible Encyclopedia, Understanding Scripture and Women, Authority and the Bible.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001Q3L87E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ IVP Academic (May 28, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3159 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

Bob Brantsch
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Topic & Format - Essays & Responses
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2018
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I’ve used this in adult classes 3 times over the past 20 years as a student and teacher. The various viewpoints bring out cogent and lively Biblical discussions.

Since I come from a mainline Sacramental view of worship, I would have appreciated that perspective. This book is primarily based in American fundamental and evangelical theology. Any reasonable educator or theologian can adjust to these differences. Still well worth reading, teaching, or discussing in adult classes.
3 people found this helpful
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Eliot Lugo Hernandez
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Subject
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2009
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Women in ministry is one of those topics that few like to talk about in the church and, when it is talked about, brings with it extreme opinions or views. Though the book "Women in Ministry" presents four views on the topic and their respective responses, I found that, at the end, one cannot truly comes to terms that the four views presented, answered the question whether women can be in the ministry or not.

People naturally follow their opinions or views even when there is strong and convincing evidence that they could be wrong. When one is convinced about a certain doctrine they learned, they seem to look for verses in the Bible that could, even remotely, prove their points at any cost. I am not referring to the amount of verses, but to the quality or content of the evidence. Christians must come to terms that there are things in the Bible hard to understand and that may never be fully understood. That is why it is imperative that Bible students get closer to the meaning of texts, their relevancy, and their principles, while at the same time leave their personal bias, opinions, and preconceive ideas aside. Instead of asking themselves what the Bible is stating or teaching them, they have to be careful not to impose on the passages what they want the passages to state that eventually contradicts the whole message of redemption. Though it is easier said than done, it is possible.

The disagreement whether women can be in a position of authority does not come from the lack of evidence but from the lack of accepting the evidence that they can be in the ministry, too. If women are co-partakers of the same grace God showed to men, what or who disqualifies them from serving where God so desires? Jesus died for all humanity, male and female. If there is only one body of Jesus Christ (His church) and all (male and female) are members of this body, how can a body function properly when some members are rejected or disqualified from serving under the same head (Christ Jesus)?

How is a proponent against women in the ministry able to reconcile their views of forbidding women in the ministry with the statement that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus"? How can a person be able to practice the Golden Rule with others when they discriminate on fellow believers such as women?

Many Christians accept that women were subject to men because of the fall and that, in the beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed a relationship that was alien to chain of command or hierarchy. But though they accept Eve to be equal with Adam in responsibilities of replenishing the earth and subduing it, they somehow forget, conveniently, that Jesus came to restore all things (seek and to save that which was lot ), including placing women to their pre-fall state: side by side with men. But for so long now, many Christians, have debated, and continue to debate, the indispensable role women have in Christian ministry. Some men and women of God conveniently ignore that God is no respecter of persons, that He is sovereign, and that He does as He wills. Being subject to man ordination as a result, comes from the lack of knowledge of the circumstances or situations at the time that some of the Scriptures were written under. Are not all Christians called to the ministry of reconciliation?

What the book did for me was to deepen my past limited knowledge about the different views some people hold about women in ministry. I feel like Mel Gibson's character (Rev. Graham Hess) in the movie "Signs": he went back to his faith which was the very thing he had denied at the beginning of the movie. Though more information was added to my brain about this topic, I am back to the place I was before reading the book: I believe God can use women in any type of leadership role just as He uses men. For me, some of the views, both for it and against it, re-enforced my belief that women are gifted, authorized, and permitted by God to exercise their spiritual gifts in any position the Holy Spirit desires for them to be. I also believe that the limits or restrictions imposed on women are usually born out male supremacy. What one has to look is at the results women produce when they are in the ministry. As student Lawrence Morgan stated (emphasis mine), "God used women throughout the Bible, in the Old and New Testaments. There have been many fine women teachers that have had an impact on my Christian walk. Granted this should not be based on feelings or experiences, but they serve as a witness to what the Bible shows."

I see God as a limitless One and that He is not limited by gender. Having stated that, it is important to find out what the Holy Scriptures say about this subject which, by the way, has caused many churches to split. But at the same time, we must be able to recognize that we don't understand everything that God does.
18 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 views provides balance in trying to understand this subject
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2022
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I have over a dozen books of this type. I'm referring to authors clashing where they present their view and then they respond to another's view.

The book is balanced in giving the most conservative to the most liberal/progressive views. The authors are quite good and competent.

Essentially, the clash may be isolated to two Bible texts and how one interprets these two verses will unfold their position. Paul to Timothy exhorting that women cannot teach men because they were deceived in contrast to Paul teaching that there is no difference between men and women in Christ. Of course, this point I'm writing here is an extreme over simplification; however, it is seed for where an argument will begin or end.

If you're trying to justify your position, understand your position, prepare for a debate, or understand to make a decision, the book will do you well.
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Trudy L. Walk
3.0 out of 5 stars Basically good but could have been better
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2010
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As one who is trying to understand the different perspectives I was frustrated by Dr. Culver's sections. He tended to rely on tradition or "75 generations" instead of exegesis. His arguments were not convincing and at times illogical (i.e., hard to follow). In some of his responses to the other perspectives I found his comments sarcastic (e.g., "Presumably Eusebius and Schaff, both eminent church historians, were 'conditioned' by theology to assume that women had no important leadership roles in the church"). I also thought that he failed to match his fellow writers' knowledge of the Greek language and Biblical exegesis. I noticed a difference between his professional "tone" and the other three scholars. Admittedly, I do not espouse the traditional perspective and this book further connfirmed my beliefs. I guess I was hoping for a well-written, scholarly essay (a fair fight, so to speak). I am left wondering if I disagree so whole-heartedly because of the actual traditional position or am I just really frustrated by Dr. Culver's presentation. I am assuming it is probably both. But,I am reading other books and articles so I will have other opportunities to test what I believe.
22 people found this helpful
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Mrs. Avery
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2018
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This text fits perfectly into my studies.
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Darby
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read. Helpful to anyone one interested in understanding ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2014
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Great read. Helpful to anyone one interested in understanding the four basic perspectives of women and thier traditional roles in the church throughout history. This helps each reader to assess in order to consider his or her own perspective as he or she reads why others view women in ministry the way they do.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent discussions
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2014
I rented this from my university bookstore because I was unsure if I would like to purchase it or not. It provides a lot of excellent discussion regarding women in ministry. I found even the arguments of those I disagree with to have very good reference materials to understand why some people feel the way they do. I would like to purchase it for future reference, so I will buy from Amazon if I can't purchase the rental that I have been using. So many misunderstandings out there from culture and tradition have kept women from being all God has called them to be! Women do belong in ministry and should fulfill their callings! Excellent book!
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2014
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Wasn't informative at all
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