Women in church leadership is not a new idea; it's a biblical one. The record is full of women leading, prophesying, teaching, and apostling. The church just worked very hard to make you forget them.

In this episode, we go directly into the text: Deborah, judge and military commander. Huldah, the prophet, the king sent his priests to. Junia, the apostle whose name was changed to erase her. Phoebe, the minister, and leader Paul celebrated. Mary, whose Magnificat is not a lullaby, it's a liberation text.

We also address the passages used to silence women, 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2, and read them in their full context. We take on the teaching vs. preaching distinction, the complementarianism vs. egalitarianism debate, and the theological architecture of patriarchy from Genesis to Galatians.

And we ask: what has the church lost by silencing women's voices? We spend time with Pauli Murray, Anna Julia Cooper, and Ida B. Wells, women who prophesied to the church even when it wouldn't let them in the door.

This is a longer episode. Theologically heavy. Worth every minute.

This episode covers:

• The biblical record of women as leaders, prophets, apostles, and theologians
• 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 in full context
• The teaching vs. preaching distinction, where it came from, and why it doesn't hold
• Patriarchy as a consequence of the fall, not God's design
• The cost of silencing women theologically, pastorally, and prophetically
• Pauli Murray, Anna Julia Cooper, Ida B. Wells, and Fannie Lou Hamer
• What Re-Imagining the church looks like when women lead

Episodes referenced: Ep. 17 (Mary Magdalene), Ep. 10 (Fannie Lou Hamer), Ep. 4 (Black theology), Ep. 6 (White Christian nationalism)

For women who stayed small and called it faithfulness : a reading list to start finding your way back. Get it here!

If this episode was meaningful for you, the best way to help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend who might need it
• Leave a 5-star rating and review
• Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes
• Wrestling with faith and justice and not sure where to start?
• Grab my free theological reading list, Beyond Faith as Usual, HERE!

Here’s to a faith that tells the truth, refuses silence in the face of harm, and follows Jesus all the way into healing and justice.

RESOURCES:

www.kristenabrock.com

Holy Disruption: Reclaiming a Justice-Rooted Faith course info and interest list

Justice Coaching options!

"Find your justice mindset" quiz!