Faith and Gender

I had the privilege of spending part of the weekend in Seattle attending Quest Church's "Faith and Gender" conference. Author, speaker, professor, amazing person,...Lauren Winner was an excellent person to, with Quest's lead pastor, Eugene Cho, begin a conversation on the role of women in the church, in society, even in home and family relationships. Friday night's presentation of the importance of mutuality, humility and respect in relationships as exampled by the three Persons of the Trinity was thought provoking and soul stirring. Saturday's discussion focused on "Lessons from Dead Women." (Lauren, admittedly, is still working on the title of her forth-coming book.) Looking at the lives of Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary and Martha, the Desert Mothers (completely new to me), and others, we are able to acknowledge again the value that God places on women throughout history.

Being a woman who has heard (and responded to) God's call to ministry, I appreciate the opportunity to hear affirming words from the body of Christ. As Leah (another of Quest's pastors) shared on Saturday morning, as a woman, one may question whether God "got the wrong number" when we hear His call on our lives. But God does call women to serve Him and minister to a broken, hurting world in ways that only He can gift us to do.

It was an excellent conference and what I hope is only the beginning of some wonderful conversations both inside and outside of the church...