Women in Ministry and the Writings of Paul
From the beginnings of Judeo-Christian history, women have performed significant ministries in the life of the Church. In Women in Ministry and the Writings of Paul, author Karen M. Elliott, inspired particularly by the experiences and writings of the Apostle Paul, reflects on historical and contemporary issues of ministry within the Christian community. Paul implored the early Christian communities to reject insularity, to eliminate divisions that impeded their faith, and to focus instead on their oneness in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote: "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27-28).Writes Elliott, "I invite you, whatever your religious background or belief, to encounter here the witness of women of faith throughout the ages, and to encounter Paul, the passionate disciple of Jesus Christ who urged the early Christian communities to focus on oneness in Christ Jesus rather than on that which separates and divides."