Book Reviewed
by Elizabeth and Darold Morgan
Richardson, TX
Putting Women In Their Place: The Baptist Debate Over Female Equality
Audra E. and Joe E. Trull, Editors and Contributors,
Smyth & Helwys, Macon, GA, 2003, $17.
The Trulls have done thinking Christians everywhere a genuine service in this fine book which brings a balanced and necessary approach to a timely and sensitive subject. The peculiar creedalism, obvious in officials actions of the Southern Baptist Convention, has declared that women are subservient to men, and that women pastors are forbidden in Southern Baptist pulpits. These mandates have emerged from the restatements of The Baptist Faith and Message in 1998 and 2000.
Despite the statistics which conclude overwhelmingly that woman pastors in SBC churches are all but non-existent, here is a theme which has become a major noise in hyper-conservative circles, resulting in division and misunderstanding. With churches and denominations facing such massive challenges as nuclear proliferation, world-wide terrorism, economic injustices, environmental stewardship, pornography, legalized gambling, the crisis in medical care, just to mention few of these burning issues, it is genuinely disturbing to wonder why the "Baptist Debate over Female Equality" is on the front burner.
Regardless of where you are theologically with reference to the subject of women and ministry, you will profit from reading carefully this timely book. Read it with an open mind. Read it with the hope you will get some fresh and stimulating insights about a very important aspect of Christian ministry today.
What the Trulls have done is put together some excellently written essays from both women and men, all of whom possess exceptional qualifications to write about the subject. Granted there will be some wide divergences today on this subject, but it will not go away despite one-sided votes in denominational actions. Here is a book that eloquently testifies to the rationality of continued and balanced debate.
To the reviewers, some of the highlights included Fisher Humphrey`s essay on "Women in Christian Ministry." It is replete with an effective view of Scripture and logic that is both convincing and helpful. William Hull`s overview of "Women and the SBC," likewise frames this entire issue in such a way that its importance and seriousness comes through sensibly with some strong guidelines of permanent value.
The reader will take away some permanent memories from this primer. Gladys Lewis and her pilgrimage in Colorado and Oklahoma, Julie Pennington-Russell and her pastoral challenges, and biblical insights from Ruth Ann Foster, Catherine Clark Kroeger, Sheri Adams, Karen Murray, all collectively bring some urgently needed insights to the table. They need to be heard. These are not radical feminists, but genuine, balanced, experienced women whose opinions will help individuals who are searching for guidance in this troubled field of thought.
The Trulls` contribution to this book is timely and helpful. They bring not only editorial skills, but both are also to be commended for their research and writing. What a price they paid for daring to write positively about women in ministry. Peculiarly pressured into early retirement, their experiences testify to the absolute necessity of strong biblical thinking and application in this area.
One inevitably concludes, not just from the Trulls` book nor alone from the Bible, that God goes on calling women into ministry. In spite of all this confusion, remarkable things are happening to and for women in Christian service, business administration, political advancement, and personal fulfillment.
Personally, the reviewers wish the publishers had come up with a better title and a more attractive book cover. One of the sub-titles, "The Baptist Debate Over Female Equality" is more to the point, even though perhaps inadequate. Don`t let these minor flaws, however, deter you from looking seriously at this meaty material that abundantly aids in this on-going debate.
