Men and Women in the Church: Building Consensus on Christian Leadership
"I have felt deep need for someone to enter the discussion of gender and leadership in the church and provide some fresh perspectives and new approaches. Dr. Sumner has listened well. Her work is done in the context both of careful scholarship and of personal experience within the evangelical community. And, I believe, she provides an important contribution to the life of the church." (Gregory Waybright, Ph.D., President, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)"Sarah Sumner's practical approach to Scripture offers the church new hope for unity and growth." (Pat Verbal, Founder, Ministry to Today's Child)"Dr. Sumner's book is like a fresh breeze from the New Testament, moving clouds of bias and freeing us to look again at the valuable ministry for women in the kingdom of God." (Dr. Barry McMurtrie, Senior Pastor, Crossroads Christian Church, Corona, California, and Chairman, Londen Institute for World Evangelism)"Every once in a while someone enters into a theological skirmish and lifts it to a level where rays of biblical sunshine reveal a whole new way of looking at the issue. Honest male readers will repent--at least, I did--of some thoughts. So will honest female readers. And we'll humbly and joyfully explore the new dimension Sarah has helped us see." (Jim Garlow, Senior Pastor, Skyline Wesleyan Church)"Sarah's solid biblical approach clarified several issues for me personally.Men & Women in the Churchis the 'talking point' book on this subject for this generation." (Jim Burns, Ph.D., President, YouthBuilders)"This book is a tribute to Sarah Sumner's academic devotion and puts to good use her theological training. Her analysis is fresh and much on the mark. Helga and I are praying that her ministry will have a great and holy impact." (Carl F. H. Henry, Founding Editor of Christianity Today, and author of the 6-volume God, Revelation and Authority)"Sarah Sumner's book has the promise to break the divisive deadlock between egalitarians and complementarians that continues to hinder the effectiveness of the church. Sumner's clear, carefully argued message challenges all of us regardless of our position. A must-read for Christian leaders and potential leaders." (Lilian Calles Barger, President of the Damaris Project)"This landmark book by theologian Dr. Sarah Sumner is long overdue. I predict this book will engender helpful discussions among concerned Christian leaders for decades to come." (Ted Engstrom, President Emeritus of World Vision International and former President of Youth for Christ International)"I've met with hundreds of female students, youth workers and pastors desperate for a balanced biblical view on women in leadership. Finally, we have one." (Kara Powell, Ph.D., Coordinator of Women's Youth Network)"Dr. Sumner'sMen & Women in the Churchis one of the most carefully and sensitively written and argued works available on a topic of vital concern for the churches, their leaders and their people in this new millennium. Even among readers who have already taken definite stands, egalitarians can learn modesty, complementarians moderation." (Harold O. J. Brown, John R. Richardson Professor of Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte campus)"With courage and honesty, Dr. Sumner explores the biblical and cultural assumptions behind evangelicals' disagreements over gender and leadership. This book cuts to the heart of Christian anxieties about sexuality and the church. It gives new hope to women and men who have felt torn between their support for women's ministries and their adherence to scriptural norms. I recommend it very highly." (Dana L. Robert, Truman Collins Professor of World Mission, Boston University)"This is a deep and important book, with a significance far beyond what the title alone would suggest. . . . I strongly encourage anyone who is concerned about the conduct of visible church life to study this book carefully. It provides a rich discussion of all the major issues concerning gender and leadership in the church, and often brilliantly engages the major voices already on the field." (Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy)