Irving Bible Church (Dallas, TX) produces a monthly bulletin called Chatter. it’s well done every time - good art, pertinent articles, and mature writing. the May 2008 issue exemplifies this.

IBC journeyed through a 2-year dialogue regarding "women’s role in the church." they studied, prayed, wrestled, and ultimately published a 24-page statement that’s downloadable as a pdf from their site. kudos, IBC, for doing the hard work of thinking.

they selected the theme of "Unleashing God’s People." I guarantee that every letter in that phrase is intentional. you see, when our gifted women are "unleashed" to serve with freedom, joy, and excellence in the Spirit, everyone else benefits. everyone. we’re all unleashed.

they arrived at 5 core concepts on the topic:

1. The accounts of creation and the fall (Genesis 1-3) reveal a fundamental equality between men and women.

2. Women exercised significant ministry roles of teaching and leading with God’s blessing in both Old and New Testaments.

3. Though the role of women was historically limited, the progress of revelation indicates an ethic in progress leading to full freedom for women to exercise their giftedness in the local church.

4. Key New Testament passages restricting women’s roles were culturally and historically specific, not universal principles for all time and places.

5. Though women are free to use all of their giftedness in teaching and leading in the church, the role of elder seems to be biblically relegated to men.

care to scoot up a chair and join the conversation? go ahead, the table is open. speak.