Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: How the Church Needs to Rediscover Her Purpose

In this strong critique of the male-centric evangelicalism, Byrd (No Little Women), cohost of the Mortification of Spin podcast, promotes the validity and importance of women’s involvement in church life. Patriarchy, she argues, has become so normative that it obscures evidence from the Bible and history that women are allowed, even called, to contribute, learn, and lead in the church. Complementarians (those who tout the complementary natures of men and women), Byrd argues, risk rendering complementarian theologies hollow (particularly to Christian women) by asserting male authority as part of God’s design. The movement’s narrow definition of “biblical manhood and womanhood,” she says, also uses a false doctrine to support its premise and obscures the true goal for every Christian—to become more like Jesus. She challenges church leaders to abandon the compulsion to define manhood and womanhood and rediscover practical and productive ways for women to contribute to their local congregations. This convincing work will appeal to ministers, both professional and volunteer, interested in the role of women in Christian communities. (June)