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Theology of Women and Men in Ministry and Marriage: Unpacking the Evangelical Spectrum in Position and Practice
November 10, 2023 @ 1:00 pm - November 12, 2023 @ 5:00 pm
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A guided, interactive workshop for brothers and sisters in Christ together.
Nov 10-12, 2023 (Fri, 1pm-6:30pm – Sat, 9:00am-6:30pm, Sun 9:00am – 5:00pm)
Meals included
Post Falls, Idaho at Ross Point Conference Center
Registration closes when full – limited space, so register soon
Presenter-Facilitators (scroll down for more about them*):
Heather Althoff – LifeWay Church, Assoc Missions Pastor
Trevor Gavin – pastor/teacher and church planter
Ron Pierce – Biola University/Talbot School of Theology, Professor
Wendy Wilson – MissioNexus, Advisor for Dev of Women; Women’s Development Track, Exec Dir
As evangelicals we believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and hold a high view of God’s written Word to us as the basis of our belief and practice And we all love and worship the Living Word, Jesus, our Redeemer, Savior, and God Almighty. So how can it be that evangelicals – whether serious academics, ministry leaders or other devoted disciples – have come to such a wide variety of conclusions about God’s design and heart for women in the Body of Christ? Who they are, what they can do or not do, how they relate to God and His purposes, how they relate to their brothers in Christ. (And so, this discussion is really about men and women both!) And how can it be that evangelicals who may hold the same position, actually practice it quite differently?
When it comes to texts that have greatly influenced modern evangelical thought, we are dealing with issues of interpretation of Scripture, for we are agreed on the inspiration of Scripture. And so we can expectantly and graciously engage together in an exploration of what the interpretive challenges actually are in those passages. And the interpretive decisions we all make that impact the way we walk out our faith in the area of men and women in Christ.
In this workshop we will look at the spectrum of thought, the different ways and why’s evangelical believers have come to different conclusions, all pursuing God’s heart and honoring His Word. We’ll consider closely some passages that are most often contested in this conversation: Genesis 1-3, Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3, Galatians, 1 Timothy 2, 1 Corinthians 7, 11 & 14. Come and dig in with us, in a respectful conversation, guided by Kingdom colleagues who are experienced in this rich discussion (and love it!) Our hope is to give you information and perspectives that encourage your own continuing journey in faith and practice.
Advance reading suggested:
Half the Church (Zondervan, 2015), by Carolyn Custis James
Neither Complementarian nor Egalitarian,(Baker Books, 2016), by Dr Michelle Lee-Barnewall
(After you read the book, listen to her 40-min podcast in an interview that highlights her journey into a more fruitful conversation.)
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Begin Friday, Nov 10, at 1pm. End Sunday evening, Nov 12, at 5pm.
Friday, Nov 10:
1pm Session 1: Overview of Evangelical Position and Practice
Hermeneutics, History, and Wider Themes
3:00 Session 2: Breaking it Down – Interpretive Challenges
Genesis 1-3
5:30 Dinner
Saturday, Nov 11:
9:00 Session 3: Breaking it Down – Interpretive Challenges
Galatians, 1 Cor 7
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Session 4: Breaking it Down – Interpretive Challenges
Eph 5: 21-33, 1 Pet 3: 1-9
5:30 Dinner
Sunday, Nov 12:
9:00 Session 5: Breaking it Down – Interpretive Challenges
1 Tim 2:8 – 3:2
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Session 6: Breaking it Down – Interpretive Challenges
1 Cor 11: 2-16 and 1 Cor 14: 26-40
3:30 Session 7: Overview from the Fall to the Church
5:00 END
COST: $150 – includes facilitation, meals and facility use ($100 for local participants)
We will be hosted for our sessions by the Ross Point Camp and Conference Center in Post Falls, ID, situated in a beautiful location on the Spokane River. The cost includes access to the beautiful grounds, facilitation and facilities, with dinner on Friday then lunch/dinner on Sat, and lunch on Sun, plus coffee breaks. Accommodations not included. (Because this is an event fee, it is not tax-deductible.)
REGISTRATION:
Register and pay through the link in the top right corner of this page. (Notation for NOV 10-12). If you prefer to send a check, mark the “pay later” option on the registration form then send your check made payable to Women’s Development Track PO Box 894 Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816
(Your place cannot be reserved until payment is received.)
ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES:
If you are flying from out of the area, our airport is Spokane, WA (GEG), just 30 minutes away.
ACCOMMODATIONS if you need them:
There are a wide variety of accommodations available in the Spokane/Coeur dAlene/Post Falls area. If you would like to stay at the Ross Point conference center, you can contact them directly at the number below, citing your participation in this workshop.
LOCATION:
Ross Point Camp and Conference Center
820 S Ross Point Rd
Post Falls, ID 83854
Tel: 208/773-1655 www.rosspoint.org
QUESTIONS about the experience?
Call or email Wendy Wilson, 208/665-2367, wendy@womensdevelopmenttrack.com
*More about your facilitators:
Heather Althoff currently serves as the Associate Pastor of Missions at LifeWay Church in Federal Way, WA. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Greek from Trinity University and a Master’s of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, Heather developed a deep love for studying and teaching theology. From 2008-2019, Heather served as the Community Life Pastor, leading the assimilation and discipleship efforts at LifeWay. In 2019, Heather brought these same passions to LifeWay’s missions efforts. In addition to teaching, she trains small group leaders and wrote discipleship curriculum and small group materials. She has a passion for encouraging, training, and resourcing people to develop their relationship with Jesus, know their theology, and live out their calling to share Jesus with others.
Ronald W. Pierce (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) has taught in the undergraduate division of the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University since 1976. Though his graduate studies were focused on the Old Testament, he became interested in the gender question in the late 1970s, and has studied and taught on the subject ever since. It has now become his primary area of research. Ron has authored numerous journal articles, co-edited Discovering Biblical Equality (2005, 2021), authored Partners in Marriage & Ministry (2011), and Daniel (Teach the Text series, 2015). Ron and his wife Pat have been married since 1969, and have two adult children and four grandchildren. They live in Fullerton, California and serve as active members of Whittier Area Community Church.
Trevor Gavin has been a church planter, pastor, and teacher for 15+ years. The majority of his focus has been spending time learning from friends and helping to develop a framework for life that makes Christianity compelling in a secular age. In addition to ministry efforts, Trevor has also started two fintech companies and has consulted businesses to create healthy cultures to grow and become sustainable. He is best known as husband to Julianne and Dad to Ali and Bear.
Wendy Wilson has served in various capacities in leadership training ministry and missions since 1984. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and a Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She brings years of experience in engaging the spectrum of views in the ongoing evangelical discussion about women in ministry and marriage. Wendy lived and travelled abroad with Entrust, a pastoral training ministry, for 28 years. Then in 2012 she was asked to serve as the Mission Advisor for Development of Women to the Missio Nexus network of 350 agencies. In 2015 she became founder and director of a collaborative project, Women’s Development Track, to help agencies and churches bring the full spectrum of gifts of women more fully to bear in accomplishing the Great Commission alongside their brothers – as the Blessed Alliance!
Register by: closes when full - limited places