Overview

Many churches consider the role of Christian women in the home and church to be a settled issue. However, an honest look at the biblical evidence reveals that there is still much to be learned. This book is especially for readers who are in churches where women are not permitted to teach men or where a woman would not be welcomed in the pulpit. In these churches, there is often a belief that there is no biblical support for women in spiritual leadership unless she is under supervision by a male. Within this culture, women are taught to need to yield their lives within the family to the preferences of male headship. In Called Together, Dr. Larry D. Ellis tackles this misbelief. He examines the issue through the lens of Scripture, embracing the importance of spiritual leadership by both women and men. The author specifically researches the teachings and behaviors of Jesus and the Apostle Paul. He presents a biblical study of the key passages incorrectly used to restrict women from Christian leadership in the home and the church. Ellis specifically examines how some translations can give false impressions of what the original readers would have understood to be the meaning of the biblical texts. He also explores the Mediterranean first-century gentile culture, the biblical history of shared Christian leadership, and the responsibilities of women leaders in the early church. He argues that restricting women from teaching and leadership negatively impacts the spread of the gospel today. Ellis concludes that the spiritual leadership of both women and men is critical for an authentic expression of the vision of Jesus for the church.

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9781950808021

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Reviews

Dr. Larry Ellis tackles a complicated and controversial topic head on. He lays a deep Biblical and historical foundation to frame his argument that women leaders, prophets, and teachers have been used of God to impact His kingdom. This is a thought provoking and insightful work. Harv Powers, PhD Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Leadership Coach God is not a gendered God. God displays characteristics that are both male and female, both generative and receptive. However, in the incarnation, God became human in a gendered person, Jesus the Christ, who chose twelve apostles, all of whom were Jewish males. Why were women not counted among the twelve apostles when women obviously played such an important role in the life of Jesus, even staying at the cross when all others (except John) abandoned our Lord? What are the ordination implications of Paul's statement that in Christ there is no male or female (Gal 3:28). In this book Larry D. Ellis embarks on a worthy endeavor toward a prudent balance of truth, justice, and mercy to address this most important topic of the role of women in ministry. Dr. James R. Hart, President Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Jacksonville, FL The role of Christian women in the home and church community is a topic with great relevance for all Christians, especially today! Dr. Ellis's book, Called Together-Biblical Leadership for Women and Men, ventures into this controversial, and gender-based territory, which is much misunderstood and in need of the clear discussion Dr. Ellis provides. He does not argue from a popular sociological perspective but instead provides a biblical roadway to understand this subject. Those of us raised with a patriarchal concept of Christian authority will certainly be enlightened by this thoughtful book. Richard Cole, Esq.

Dr. Larry Ellis tackles a complicated and controversial topic head on. He lays a deep Biblical and historical foundation to frame his argument that women leaders, prophets, and teachers have been used of God to impact His kingdom. This is a thought provoking and insightful work. Harv Powers, PhD Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Leadership Coach God is not a gendered God. God displays characteristics that are both male and female, both generative and receptive. However, in the incarnation, God became human in a gendered person, Jesus the Christ, who chose twelve apostles, all of whom were Jewish males. Why were women not counted among the twelve apostles when women obviously played such an important role in the life of Jesus, even staying at the cross when all others (except John) abandoned our Lord? What are the ordination implications of Paul's statement that in Christ there is no male or female (Gal 3:28). In this book Larry D. Ellis embarks on a worthy endeavor toward a prudent balance of truth, justice, and mercy to address this most important topic of the role of women in ministry. Dr. James R. Hart, President Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Jacksonville, FL The role of Christian women in the home and church community is a topic with great relevance for all Christians, especially today! Dr. Ellis's book, Called Together-Biblical Leadership for Women and Men, ventures into this controversial, and gender-based territory, which is much misunderstood and in need of the clear discussion Dr. Ellis provides. He does not argue from a popular sociological perspective but instead provides a biblical roadway to understand this subject. Those of us raised with a patriarchal concept of Christian authority will certainly be enlightened by this thoughtful book. Richard Cole, Esq.

Author Information

Larry D. Ellis, DWS, has served as a bible teacher and Minister of Worship and Music in Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches in Denver, Colorado, for more than thirty years. He has founded, managed, and sold a number of businesses in his professional career. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oklahoma. He completed the Master and Doctor of Worship Studies degrees at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (www.iws.edu) doing research in Christian spiritual formation in the ancient church. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1987, has composed more than ninety sacred musical works, and authored a number of books. He has supervised masters and doctoral thesis students at several graduate schools. His is the founder of Adoration Publishing Company (www.adorationpublishing.com) A fifth generation Coloradoan and a born skeptic, Barb was a convinced agnostic, until much to everyone's surprise, including her own, she encountered the love and reality of God while an undergraduate at the University of Denver. After graduation, Barb discovered a passion and gift for teaching practical theology. While continuing to practice her craft, she made ends meet by variously working as a legal secretary, librarian and editor. A constant wayfarer on the Jesus road, she was an early refugee from the American big box church, finding the ancient paths of Christianity more congenial. Resisting categorization, Barb's ideal spiritual community embraces timeless Christian faith yet leaves room for mystery, paradox, and divergent views. Following many twists and turns Barb earned her Master of Divinity degree from Trinity School for Ministry. A popular speaker on spiritual formation topics, her articles on Jonah, Joel and Habakkuk were published in the Renovaré Life with God Bible, edited by Richard Foster (c) 2005. Now an Anglican priest, she is always happy to hear from fellow wayfarers and church refugees.

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