Different by Design: Ligon Duncan

[Courtney Tarter is a former member of Bethlehem Baptist Church and prepared the following blog summary at the request of Desiring God Ministries.  In addition to contributing to Genderblog, she also posts at In View of God's Mercy. - David Kotter]

The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood held a Different by Design pre-conference on February 4, 2007 prior to the start of the Desiring God Conference for Pastors. Dr. J. Ligon Duncan and Mrs. Susan Hunt spoke on their book Women's Ministry in the Local Church to a packed room of pastor's, pastor's wives, church leaders, and women's ministry leaders. Dr. Duncan is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi and the chairman of the board for CBMW. Mrs. Hunt is a pastor's wife and the Women in the Church Consultant for the Presbyterian Church in America.

Dr. Duncan spoke first about the biblical and theological foundation of women's ministry in a local church and how that relates to the pastoral ministry of the church. He offered four biblical truths as a foundation for doing women's ministry in the local church:

1. Our understanding of biblical manhood and womanhood must be rooted in the created order. Genesis is our starting point for understanding biblical manhood and womanhood (Genesis 1:26-27). The distinction in the created order is what gives us the distinctions in the church.
2. Our ministry to men and women must be rooted in a proper understanding of the doctrine of God. Being created in his image means ministry must carry the different distinctions between equal persons of the Trinity.
3. Biblical manhood and womanhood must be rooted in the doctrine of the work and person of Christ. Therefore all women's ministry in the local church must rely on the doctrine of Christ. Jesus is the example of perfect submission. The work and submission of Christ radically reorients Christian service for Christian women because it is following in the footsteps of our Savior.
4. Our understanding of biblical manhood and womanhood must be rooted in the doctrine of the church (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Paul is not simply stating an opinion; he is telling Timothy how it should be done in every church. If egalitarianism were true then this passage would be the perfect opportunity to commend it, but Paul does not.

Susan Hunt followed this presentation with practical applications for women's ministry in the local church, and the summary of insights will appear tomorrow in Genderblog.

Listen to Dr. Duncan's message along with a host of other free resources for your edification and the building of the local church.