This article first appeared in Christians for Biblical Equality’s Mutuality magazine in May 2017. Who translated the version of the English Bible that you use? Google the answer, and there’s a strong likelihood you’ll find that all or most of the translators were men, even of very recent translations. Remarkably, two translations from the mid-nineteenth and… Continue reading A Tale of Two Translators: The Lives and Legacies of Julia E. Smith & Helen Barrett Montgomery
Category: ministry
The Transformative Gospel – Sermon on John 4
What does it look like to live a life transformed by the Gospel? The story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4 gives us a glimpse of some of the ways in which this woman’s life was transformed by meeting Jesus. If you’ve ever wondered “but what happened next in her… Continue reading The Transformative Gospel – Sermon on John 4
Who’s Who in Paul’s Greetings in Romans 16 (Part 1)
Okay, confession time: do your eyes glaze over when you read that long list of greetings in Romans 16? Maybe, like me, you’ve been part of a Bible study that looked at each chapter of Romans week by week, only to come to an abrupt halt after chapter 15, because it was considered that there… Continue reading Who’s Who in Paul’s Greetings in Romans 16 (Part 1)
Women’s Ordination in the Lutheran Church of Australia: A Prayerful Reflection
Yesterday, the Lutheran Church of Australia voted on the ordination of women once again, returning a vote of 240 in favour to 161 against. The vote failed to reach the required two-thirds majority. Many of our Lutheran brothers and sisters are mourning today as the impact of this decision sinks in, and as Paul encouraged… Continue reading Women’s Ordination in the Lutheran Church of Australia: A Prayerful Reflection
Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?
This question was asked in an online group I am a member of, by a person who describes herself as a “healthy sceptic” about religion. This is a somewhat expanded and edited version of my answer to her question in that forum. Q: Bronwen, after reading the Bible (King James version) please explain how it… Continue reading Q&A: Is a Feminist Reading of the Bible Possible?
Change is Difficult – Reflections on Galatians 3:28
Here’s a confession – I’m not always too fond of change. Not too long ago, I bought a new drink bottle that caused me a bit of trouble to start with. It sucks the water up through a straw. It took me a while to get it into my head that I had to hold… Continue reading Change is Difficult – Reflections on Galatians 3:28
Q&A: Do Egalitarians Bend to Culture?
Q: Bronwen, when I tell my Christian friends that I believe in the equality of men and women, they say that egalitarians are just bending to culture, rather than being shaped by Scripture. Is this true? A: In my previous Q&A post, I looked at whether egalitarians twist Scripture to ignore or change the passages… Continue reading Q&A: Do Egalitarians Bend to Culture?
Q&A: Do egalitarians use convoluted arguments to interpret the Bible?
Q: Bronwen, when I try to explain my egalitarian views to my Christian friends, some of them say we are just turning clear and simple biblical texts into something unnecessarily convoluted. Is there any truth to this, and how do I respond to this objection to my views on the equality of men and women… Continue reading Q&A: Do egalitarians use convoluted arguments to interpret the Bible?
Q&A: What’s with women having to be silent in church in 1 Corinthians 14?
This article was originally presented as a brief talk at the Christians for Biblical Equality Perth chapter gathering on 2 September, 2017. One thing that is commonly claimed by complementarians is that they simply follow the “clear meaning of the text” (with the inference that egalitarians are making up difficulties that distract from the text’s… Continue reading Q&A: What’s with women having to be silent in church in 1 Corinthians 14?
Many-Coloured Coats
I love reading with my eight-year-old son before bedtime. I especially love to read beautifully written books that share God’s story with him. One book we have enjoyed recently is Geraldine McCaughrean’s The Jesse Tree – the story of a grumpy old man who is carving a Jesse tree (an ancient tradition which tells… Continue reading Many-Coloured Coats
God's Design - Perth 