CHURCHES

Churches of Christ practice congregational autonomy. In other words, each congregation enjoys the privilege and responsibility of listening for and responding to God’s call at the local level. As a result, significant diversity exists between churches. The following are links to the web sites of churches that have, in our judgment, made significant progress in the matter of gender justice. Belief and practice on gender among these churches is by no means uniform. Nor do we intend to imply that these churches necessarily share our precise vision of gender justice. Where possible, the links below will take you to the church’s own statement on gender.

Bayside Church of Christ (Wynnum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)

Bering Drive Church of Christ (Houston, TX)

Brookline Church of Christ (Boston, MA)

Cahaba Valley Church, An Ecumenical Church of Christ (Birmingham, AL)

Cahaba Valley Church companion site (includes audio of recent sermons)

Central Dallas Church (Dallas, TX)

Culver Palms Church of Christ (Los Angeles, CA)

Malibu Church of Christ (Malibu, CA)

Manhattan Church of Christ (New York, NY)

Michigan Avenue Church of Christ (Chicago, IL)

Southwest Central Church of Christ (Houston, TX)

Stamford Church of Christ (Stamford, CT)

Stoney Creek Church of Christ (Stoney Creek, Ontario)

Troy Church of Christ (Troy, MI)

West Islip Church of Christ (Long Island, NY)

RESOURCES

A Community without Barriers Study Guide summarizes a study on gender justice by Thomas Robinson at the Manhattan Church of Christ, Spring 2002. The guide is available as a PDF download as is the sermon by the same title. You can also view the sermon in your web browser here.

A Study Document on the Role of Women, the result of deliberations at the Cahaba Valley Church (Birmingham, AL) in 1988-9.

Baptist Women in Ministry, an Evangelical web site created by moderate Baptists who were dissatisfied with the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention by conservative extremists.

Christians for Biblical Equality, an evangelical group committed to gender justice. Check the “Free Articles” section for sample essays from the The Priscilla Papers, their (highly recommended) quarterly journal.

Diotima: Materials for the Study of Women and Gender in the Ancient World, an educational site devoted to historical resources on all aspects of women in the ancient Mediterranean world, including women in early Christianity and Judaism.

Egalitarian Christian Alliance, another evangelical group closely aligned with CBE. The link provided is to a list of articles available at the ECA site.

Women, Gifts, and the Body of Christ, a three-part lecture series by Mike Cope and Sara Barton delivered at the 2002 Zoe Conference. (Free registration required.)

Women in Ministry, a site sponsored by the Assemblies of God providing resources for women in ministry.

Women in Ministry Network, an e-mail discussion group for women practicing or preparing for professional ministry in Churches of Christ.

Women in the Restoration Movement, Christopher R. Hutson and Hans Rollmann, editors. Includes annotated historical documents about the (sometimes surprising) role of women in Restoration Movement churches in the 19th century.

Women’s Ordination: Catholic Internet Library, a Roman Catholic site developed by John Wijngaards, which includes extensive resources on history, theology, and Scripture interpretation.