The Importance of Women

One of the themes that I want to explore over the next while is the role of women in church and society. Let me be upfront about this highly charged and confrontational subject: I am a major proponent of increasing the role of women in all aspects of our lives (especially leadership). I will be the first to say that this was not always the case with me, but the more I think, read and discuss the subject, the more I am convinced that we need a greater and more varied presence of women across our society. Inside the church, we can argue biblical interpretation about women leading, but for every one verse against, there is one or more for. Jesus showed clearly that he valued women when he invested so much of his life in Mary, Martha and a whole host of other women who proved to be faithful disciples that ministered to Jesus even after death. Additionally, who did Jesus first appear to? Who was the first to utter "Jesus is alive"? Yes, you guessed it, a woman. If Jesus entrusted a woman with the important task of carrying the good news of his resurrection, we perhaps could also do the same. But I don't want to stop at the church walls, I would like to carry this conversation beyond the church and explore it in a fuller context. More later...