Thank you Steve, Your post is encouraging...I'm just gonna have to trust that God's grace will prevail. God help us and forgive us for our own shortcomings in all this.
In this world of division, all things for followers of Jesus, we recognize that all things hold together in Christ. How we love and appreciate each other is the best message we can bring to a world that suffers from division and strife. Can we shake off that which hinders us and strive to encourage and lift one another up in prayer as Christ followers in a broken world where we all are longing for the not yet but yet to come?
I am persistently thankful for the men who could make things happen in congregations when there was social opposition...Some men, who led a vision for women in church leadership, suffered for many years...some of them who brought it up in silent council rooms, were shut out and never allowed back in. These men, who understood a different path of biblical interpretation, had forsight and were given a new paradigm. They understood that, in certain ministry settings where the barriers were not theological but sociological, women could bring a perspective that could not be achieved by a council of only men. They understood that the depth and breadth of their ministry could be enriched by broadening the pool of available leadership. I honor these nameless men...men who made uncomfortable decisions that opened the doors for Rev. Ruth Hoffman, Dr. Mary Hulst and the many others that followed...and I honor these congregations that welcomed them. I cannot imagine our lives without these women in elder, deacon and pastorships. God has worked through them in powerful ways and the church is blessed by their work.
For those with a complementarian perspective, I have also developed respect for those who theologically choose not to accept women as deacons/elders/pastors; for that I humbly allow a difference of opinion. I encourage them to seek out ways to encourage women to contribute in their ministry settings and develop their own spiritual gifts to the fullest extent possible. May we be patient and encouraging to each other in all of our God-given callings.
I grew up in a classis that accepted the ordination of women and encouraged women's participation in all offices of the church; In '97 my husband and I were the first couple married in the CRC by a woman-- by our good friend and my pastor, Dr. Mary Hulst.
Upon my marriage, I moved to a classis that did not accept women's ordination or participation in all offices of the church. What was not a question to me became later a long journey of trying to patiently understand others' perspectives. I have had to work very hard to humbly accept these circumstances, wait with discernment and try hard not to pass judgement-- all along asking questions of myself and my church family. God has been good to me, and He has surrounded me with men and women who have provided me with a sense of calling in my church; but, I can truly say this has been very difficult for me. The journey has been marked by a lot of pain but also blessing. I have been repeatedly blessed by women who have shared their wisdom and lives with me. I can only give a shout out to those I love -- they have shaped my understanding of God and His redemptive power and lovingly taught me along the way-- may God enrich you in your work. And may God preserve and bless women in their respective callings, in the church and beyond.
I find the listings for the small-medium churches helpful because most webdesign choices are made by a small group of non-professionals and their pastor. Faith Church in Dyer is an RCA church (only their Highland campus is CRC)...not that it matters;.and they could be considered a "mega church" ...so their web design is farmed out to professional photographers and web design pros and, while slick, my small committee isn't going be able to employ these kind of resources.
I too have built 2 websites - and yes it can be cheap- but it takes a lot of time to get it right. Church leaders in small churches wear a lot of hats- so simple is good and there are a lot of great platforms to choose from - It's true you don't have to spend a lot of money (but you can- as evidenced by a few annoyed above).
We struggled with many of the elements of our web design but in the end it came together. Yes, integration of a "young tech person" from your congregation in your website development can help - ultimately content falls to the entire ministry team. Permission must be obtained from anyone in the photos - and, as happened in our church, you have to remove the photos if they request it or if they move away. The content must be constantly updated- so it becomes a administrative ministry commitment beyond just design.
So true...I would love my daughter and her friends to be able to someday not see these things as a struggle...our girls and young women should always know they are valuable to a vibrant community of faith and instrumental in ministry. And their experience should be by seeing women whose gifts in ministry are never overlooked.
Thank you; this is a good measure for us all in church leadership.
One small caveat though that I’d like to mention is that David clearly held the “power position.” He was the one who held dominance over his accusers. When the tables are turned and the person with very little voice or power is falsely accused, the dynamic can be very different— and possibly even abusive. Still it may be best to walk away, but that person has now suffered doubly at the hands of their accuser. The hard question then should be asked if the vulnerable person is falsely accused should some things be brought to light?
May God grant those who are vulnerable and falsely accused an even greater measure of His provision and help them find a way forward..
Posted in: 6 Observations About COVID and The Church
Thank you Steve, Your post is encouraging...I'm just gonna have to trust that God's grace will prevail. God help us and forgive us for our own shortcomings in all this.
Posted in: The Already, but Not Yet of Unity
In this world of division, all things for followers of Jesus, we recognize that all things hold together in Christ. How we love and appreciate each other is the best message we can bring to a world that suffers from division and strife. Can we shake off that which hinders us and strive to encourage and lift one another up in prayer as Christ followers in a broken world where we all are longing for the not yet but yet to come?
Posted in: The First (Female Minister) Through the Wall
I am persistently thankful for the men who could make things happen in congregations when there was social opposition...Some men, who led a vision for women in church leadership, suffered for many years...some of them who brought it up in silent council rooms, were shut out and never allowed back in. These men, who understood a different path of biblical interpretation, had forsight and were given a new paradigm. They understood that, in certain ministry settings where the barriers were not theological but sociological, women could bring a perspective that could not be achieved by a council of only men. They understood that the depth and breadth of their ministry could be enriched by broadening the pool of available leadership. I honor these nameless men...men who made uncomfortable decisions that opened the doors for Rev. Ruth Hoffman, Dr. Mary Hulst and the many others that followed...and I honor these congregations that welcomed them. I cannot imagine our lives without these women in elder, deacon and pastorships. God has worked through them in powerful ways and the church is blessed by their work.
For those with a complementarian perspective, I have also developed respect for those who theologically choose not to accept women as deacons/elders/pastors; for that I humbly allow a difference of opinion. I encourage them to seek out ways to encourage women to contribute in their ministry settings and develop their own spiritual gifts to the fullest extent possible. May we be patient and encouraging to each other in all of our God-given callings.
Posted in: Where We Are 25 Years After Ordaining Women as Pastors
I grew up in a classis that accepted the ordination of women and encouraged women's participation in all offices of the church; In '97 my husband and I were the first couple married in the CRC by a woman-- by our good friend and my pastor, Dr. Mary Hulst.
Upon my marriage, I moved to a classis that did not accept women's ordination or participation in all offices of the church. What was not a question to me became later a long journey of trying to patiently understand others' perspectives. I have had to work very hard to humbly accept these circumstances, wait with discernment and try hard not to pass judgement-- all along asking questions of myself and my church family. God has been good to me, and He has surrounded me with men and women who have provided me with a sense of calling in my church; but, I can truly say this has been very difficult for me. The journey has been marked by a lot of pain but also blessing. I have been repeatedly blessed by women who have shared their wisdom and lives with me. I can only give a shout out to those I love -- they have shaped my understanding of God and His redemptive power and lovingly taught me along the way-- may God enrich you in your work. And may God preserve and bless women in their respective callings, in the church and beyond.
Posted in: Giveaway Time! Just Say "Hi" and Be Entered to Win Best-Selling Book
Asalaam Maalekum!
May the peace of Christ be with you today!
Posted in: Here Are The Best Church Websites in the CRCNA
I find the listings for the small-medium churches helpful because most webdesign choices are made by a small group of non-professionals and their pastor. Faith Church in Dyer is an RCA church (only their Highland campus is CRC)...not that it matters;.and they could be considered a "mega church" ...so their web design is farmed out to professional photographers and web design pros and, while slick, my small committee isn't going be able to employ these kind of resources.
Posted in: Here Are The Best Church Websites in the CRCNA
I too have built 2 websites - and yes it can be cheap- but it takes a lot of time to get it right.
Church leaders in small churches wear a lot of hats- so simple is good and there are a lot of great platforms to choose from - It's true you don't have to spend a lot of money (but you can- as evidenced by a few annoyed above).
We struggled with many of the elements of our web design but in the end it came together. Yes, integration of a "young tech person" from your congregation in your website development can help - ultimately content falls to the entire ministry team. Permission must be obtained from anyone in the photos - and, as happened in our church, you have to remove the photos if they request it or if they move away. The content must be constantly updated- so it becomes a administrative ministry commitment beyond just design.
Posted in: Witness for Women Gathering in Edmonton, AB
So true...I would love my daughter and her friends to be able to someday not see these things as a struggle...our girls and young women should always know they are valuable to a vibrant community of faith and instrumental in ministry. And their experience should be by seeing women whose gifts in ministry are never overlooked.
Posted in: Blessings and Accusations
Thank you; this is a good measure for us all in church leadership.
One small caveat though that I’d like to mention is that David clearly held the “power position.” He was the one who held dominance over his accusers. When the tables are turned and the person with very little voice or power is falsely accused, the dynamic can be very different— and possibly even abusive. Still it may be best to walk away, but that person has now suffered doubly at the hands of their accuser. The hard question then should be asked if the vulnerable person is falsely accused should some things be brought to light?
May God grant those who are vulnerable and falsely accused an even greater measure of His provision and help them find a way forward..