Herstory

Throughout history, a hidden thread of women's voices interweaves between the dominate voice of males. At times the thread runs wide and brillant but more often, it is thin and disguished. Still, it is interesting to look at the voice of women from the past - perhaps voices you have never heard. Ruth A. Tucker writes a chapter in a new book I am reading, Discovering Biblical Equality. Her chapter is entitled The Changing Roles of Women in Ministy: The Early Church Thought Through the 18th Century. In this chapter, she traces the role of women from the begining of the New Testament church. From early Christian martyrs such as Perpetua and Felilcitas to medival women monasteries led by women such as Hildegard or Catherine of Siena, we see women taking forefront roles in the church. One of the most interesting stories told by Tucker is the role of Suzanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles as well as seventeen other children. Most of us have heard her lifted up as the godly influence of a mother on the development of men of God, however, Suzanna was a leader in her own right and even called a "preacher of righteousness" by her son Charles. In fact, Tucker recounts that when Suzanna preached in the pulpit, only standing room remained in the churches. Even in the early days of bible institutes such as Moody Bible Insitute, it was quite acceptable for women to occupy and be trained for pastors, evangelists, Bible teachers, and even ordained ministers. This all leads me to again question where and what caused the changes we observe in the last century that places women in subordinate roles in the church and family. At one time, women served side by side with men in full equality. It is this and other themes I will attempt to explore in coming days.