Annotated Bibliography for Gender-Related Books in 2001
Rob Lister and Todd L. Miles
Here is our profile of gender related books from the year 2001. As always, this list is not comprehensive, but we do hope that it is helpful. Once again, we begin with a brief explanation of what we intend by the following four headings.
By Complementarian, we intend to classify those authors/books who uphold the full equality of male and female personhood while also recognizing a God-given ordering of roles in the home and church. By Egalitarian, we intend to classify evangelicals who do not see male headship in the church or the home taught in Scripture. Under the Non-Evangelical heading, we have classified important secular works as well as books that broach the subject of biblical gender issues from a non-evangelical point of view. Once again, though many in this category deny complementarity, we feel that it would be a misrepresentation to classify them alongside evangelical feminists. Finally, under the Undeclared heading, we have listed those volumes that do not give sufficient indication of their fundamental stance for us to classify them more specifically.
Complementarian Authors/Books
Beck, James R. and Craig L. Blomberg, eds. Two Views on Women in Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.
This book includes essays by complementarians Thomas R. Schreiner and Ann L. Bowman and egalitarians Craig S. Keener and Linda L. Belleville. This volume was summarized in JBMW 6/1 (Fall 2001). Also in JBMW 6/1 is a response essay written by Schreiner, responding to the essays of the other contributors.
Clarke, Greg and Amelia Clarke. One Flesh: A Practical Guide to Honeymoon Sex and Beyond. Kingsford, Australia: Matthias Media, 2001.
The Clarkes provide a very capable and thoughtful discussion of sanctified sexuality. They honor sex as God's good gift within the restraints that God has intended. They base their advice and practical counsel on a solid theology of sex that is laid out in the early chapters of their book. Christians newly, and not so newly wed, will benefit from this book.
Cutrer, William and Sandra Glahn. Sexual Intimacy in Marriage. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001.
Cutrer and Glahn provide thoughtful and tasteful treatment of one of the greatest joys of married life. Discussing everything from biology to romantic tips, the authors engage in a treatment that acknowledges sex as God's good gift to married partners. In so doing, they answer a host of questions, and honor sex the way God (not contemporary society) intended.
Davies, Bob and Lela Gilbert. Portraits of Freedom: 14 People Who Came Out of Homosexuality. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
In this book, Davies and Gilbert chronicle the work of the Lord in the lives of 14 people who came out of homosexuality. Compassionately written and eminently readable, each narrative offers a different story that explores the complicated causes of homosexuality, the struggles of those seeking to leave the lifestyle, and a testimony of victory that is a credit to the Lord who saves. The book does not offer simple formulas, but it does provide a wealth of information and a Christ-centered hope that change is possible.
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh. Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free. Chicago: Moody Press, 2001.
DeMoss takes on the current cultural trends that are poisoning the lives of women by exposing the falsity of the prevailing ethos. In all, DeMoss places forty statements that the modern feminist movement would have women believe under the scrutiny of Scripture and finds them wanting, deceptive, and destructive. Grouped under the major headings of Lies about God, Lies about Themselves, Lies about Sin, Lies about Priorities, Lies about Marriage, Lies about Children, Lies about Emotion, and Lies about Circumstances, DeMoss concludes with a section on the transformative power of walking in the truth. Each chapter includes a very helpful summary of the lie juxtaposed with the biblical truth that exposes and defeats it.
Dobson, James. Bringing Up Boys. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 2001.
Dobson brings his characteristic wisdom to bear on the challenging issue of raising boys in the contemporary atmosphere. With his long appreciated parental insight, Dobson treats the range of concerns from discipline to homosexuality to single-parent tactics. Loaded with practical examples and juicy tidbits, every parent of sons will benefit from Dobson's advice.
Doriani, Dan. The Life of a God-Made Man: Becoming A Man After God's Heart. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001.
Doriani writes this book from the conviction that the best way to promote godly manhood is not by a list of techniques but via a consideration of man's character in his godward relation. His concern is the way of godliness from the inside out. Thus his exhortations start with the gospel and move towards practical and concrete applications in the lives of men.
Farrar, Steve. Gettin' There: How a Man Finds His Way on the Trail of Life. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001.
Steve Farrar believes that the Psalms offer a marked trail through life. The Psalms contain guidance necessary for successfully navigating the paths and enduring the trials of life, particularly for men. This readable book provides excellent teaching and advice for men with chapters on the sovereignty of God, divine guidance, forgiveness, male headship in marriage, sacrificial living, and leading a family. The book also contains a study guide.
Hughes, Barbara. Disciplines of a Godly Woman. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001.
A companion volume to her husband's Disciplines of a Godly Man, Barbara Hughes applies the concerns of spiritual discipline specifically to women. Throughout, she is concerned to demonstrate the posture of submission as it applies in various public and private arenas. Scripturally centered, Hughes' volume will provide a rich blessing to those women longing to grow in grace.
Hughes, R. Kent. Disciplines of a Godly Man. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001.
In this revised Tenth Anniversary Edition of Kent Hughes' classic, Hughes re-issues his clarion call to men to pursue the disciplines of godliness with vigor. Rightly distinguishing between legalism and spiritual discipline, Hughes reminds Christian men that such discipline is manifestly not a constraint but a liberation to fulfill our created design. On that basis, he then moves into a discussion of discipline applied variously to both the private and corporate dimensions of life. This then, is a "manly" book for those who would seek to be truly "manly" in the biblical sense.
Impson, Beth. Called to Womanhood: The Biblical View for Today's World. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001.
Impson demonstrates the confusion left in the wake of feminism. What's more though, she goes on to point out that evangelical feminists, while perhaps well-intended nevertheless "primarily offer the same answers as the world's feminists, with a scriptural veneer" (22). The scriptural mandate is manifestly different. Impson argues that God's created design simultaneously points to personal equality and functional differences. With that in mind, Impson is then able to point to a renewed appreciation of the vital task of motherhood and distinctive avenues of ministry within the life of the church.
Inrig, Elizabeth. Release Your Potential: Using Your Gifts in a Thriving Women's Ministry. Chicago: Moody Press, 2001.
Inrig lays out a fairly comprehensive vision for a flourishing women's ministry. Her vision is carefully thought out and set against the backdrop both the home and the church. Scripturally saturated throughout, Inrig's book offers great insights and will be of substantial benefit in cultivating the "Titus 2" atmosphere in our churches.
Jamison, Heather. Reclaiming Intimacy: Overcoming the Consequences of Premarital Relationships. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001.
Jamison provides a frank discussion of the consequences of premarital sex by revealing the story of her (and her future husband's) own failure. Yet, as strong as this feature stands out, this is also a book of grace. For Jamison readily points to the cross and the way of free grace and restoration. As such, its value extends to all sinners.
Köstenberger, Andreas J. Studies on John and Gender: A Decade of Scholarship. New York: Peter Lang, 2001.
This volume reprints essays by Köstenberger over the past decade in two major divisions. The first half of the book treats various studies in the Gospel of John. Of primary interest to the present review is the second half of the volume where Köstenberger's contributions to the gender debate unfold. Primarily these essays treat different aspects of interpreting 1 Timothy 2:9-15, and several of them are drawn or adapted from Women in the Church: A Fresh Analysis of 1 Timothy 2:9-15. Here, we again benefit from some of the finest and most thorough scholarship on this pivotal passage.
LaHaye, Beverly and Janice Shaw Crouse. A Different Kind of Strength: Rediscovering the Power of Being a Woman. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2001.
LaHaye and Crouse use the lives of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary to teach women how to face the complications of life and grow into a godly woman of strength. Narratives, loosely based upon the lives of the five biblical women, are written to illustrate the author's points.
Mather, Cotton. A Family Well-Ordered. Edited by Don Kistler. Morgan: PA: Soli Deo Gloria, 2001.
Initially printed in 1699, this updating of Mather's classic provides a wonderful glimpse of Puritan family life. Divided into sections regarding the duties of parents to children, Mather provides a host of valuable insights and strong exhortations with respect of both sets of duties. 21st century families would do well to read and heed the advice of their Puritan forbear.
Rogers, Joyce. Becoming a Woman of Wisdom. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2001.
Writing from a strong complementarian perspective, Rogers writes a practical book for women on the theme of wisdom. Included are sections on wisdom, being under authority, motherhood, and ministering as a woman. Rogers draws substantially from Scripture as well as her own experiences as a wife, homemaker, and mother which she sprinkles throughout the book.
Saucy, Robert L. and Judith K. TenElshof. Women and Men in Ministry: A Complementary Perspective. Chicago: Moody Press, 2001.
Born out of a class on women and ministry at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, the volume is written by faculty from Talbot. It strives to answer the questions surrounding gender and ministry, seeking to strike a middle ground between the one extreme of eliminating all gender distinctions in the roles of men and women in the church and the other extreme of entirely denying women the opportunity to utilize their gifts in the ministry of the church. The book includes sections on Old Testament teaching, New Testament teaching, femininity and masculinity, gender in human history, and gender in church ministry.
Sproul Jr., R. C., ed. Family Practice:
God's Prescription for a Healthy Home. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2001.
In short form and popular style the contributors of this volume provide a biblically astute glimpse of what the home should look like. Focusing, in turn, on fathers, mothers, children, and finally pastors, this work offers a host of insights into the God-centered home. Families, at any stage, will benefit from a consideration of their counsel.
Wilson, Douglas. Future Men. Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 2001.
Doug Wilson believes that raising masculine sons requires faith. He writes that parents are to believe God for their sons. To that end Wilson has written sections devoted to the general nature of masculinity, the commitment in the home necessary to raise future men, the inner trials that war against future men, and the interpersonal training that a boy needs to grow to be a godly man. Although some of his applications may cause disagreement, the book has strong coverage, practical insight and is well written.
Egalitarian Authors/Books
Brouwer, Douglas J. Beyond "I Do": What Christians Believe about Marriage. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.
Brouwer offers a series of pastoral reflections on marriage. As such, his book is filled with personal anecdotes and illustrations. Some of Brouwer's observations are both accurate and helpful. But in some cases, he is given to reading his theology of marriage off of contemporary culture as opposed to the scriptures themselves. This leads him, for instance, to jettison any notion of role differentiation on the basis of the vast differences in culture between our day and biblical days.
Grenz, Stanley J. The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Image Dei. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2001.
It is not Grenz's intention in this volume to interact primarily with the question of gender in relation to ministry and the home. He has done that elsewhere. Here, however, he does interact with some prominent feminist thought as well as various interpretations of Imago Dei that do have bearing on the "gender debate." In the end, while he does not spell out his stance in the book, it is not difficult to see how his egalitarianism would coalesce with his unique interpretation of Imago Dei.
Kroeger, Catherine Clark and Nancy Nason-Clark. No Place for Abuse: Biblical and Practical Resources to Counteract Domestic Violence. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2001.
This book condemns domestic violence by blending the sociological analysis of Nason-Clark with the exegesis of Kroeger. While we would disagree with the authors' egalitarian presuppositions (that do raise their heads from time to time), we too repudiate domestic violence of any sort and readily condemn it as a sinful abuse of authority.
Storkey, Elaine. Origins of Difference: The Gender Debate Revisited. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2001.
Storkey examines the history of gender differences in culture by looking at society's attitudes toward gender and its construction of gender-in-theology in the premodern, modern, and post-modern eras. In particular, she seeks to uncover the presuppositions and assumptions that act as a foundation for gender issues in society and the church. Storkey's critique of the epistemologies in the aforementioned eras is sometimes helpful and her commentary on the foundations of feminist ideology is insightful. She rightly concludes that proper understanding of the human male-female relationship must start with the Bible, rather than the premodern, modern, or postmodern position. Unfortunately, Storkey dismisses complementarian exegesis of the biblical texts without argument, providing an egalitarian understanding. In a confused finish, apparently unable to completely shake the postmodern influence, Storkey recommends that the Church need not fear deconstruction, positing Jesus as the model deconstructionist of gender relationships, presumably because he bucked societal trends in many of his interactions with women.
Thompson, John L. Writing the Wrongs: Women of the Old Testament Among Biblical Commentators from Philo Through the Reformation. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Feminists have long decried the biblical narratives that tell of the maltreatment of women. For them, this is positive proof that the Bible overtly teaches a patriarchalism that has been damaging to women since the writing of the narratives. Feminists also point to the lack of condemnation by the ancient commentators as further proof of the church's indifference toward women. Thompson, however, analyzes dozens of commentaries from the time of Philo up to the Reformation on Hagar, Jephthah, the Levite's wife and Lot's daughters and finds that the church has not ignored the maltreatment of women in these texts. In this strong critique of modern feminist biblical commentary, Thompson finds that some commentators of the past fulfilled the stereo-type of feminists, while most certainly did not. He concludes that "precritical commentators were not necessarily uncritical in their handling of biblical texts, nor in their consideration of narratives filled with actions and actors that are morally suspect, to say the least."
Webb, William J. Slaves, Women, & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2001.
Webb proposes a "redemptive-movement hermeneutic" as the interpretive tool for determining what in Scripture is transcultural and what is not. The key is to look for the redemptive trajectory of the biblical text which then enables the biblical interpreter to discern what is applicable today. The "redemptive-movement hermeneutic" is contrasted with a static hermeneutic which fails to take into consideration the redemptive movement within and surrounding the text. Webb explains that a static hermeneutic could be used to justify some forms of slavery endorsed in the Bible. Clearly, such justification is not promoted by the godly exegete who recognizes the redemptive trajectory of the text. Webb argues that the redemptive-movement hermeneutic can not be used to justify acceptance of homosexuality, but that the hermeneuitic, properly applied, should lead to the rejection of the "patriarchy" promoted by the complementarian position. Complementarians would agree that redemptive history is critical to rightly interpreting the biblical text, but it is questionable that Webb utilizes redemptive history correctly to establish his hermeneutic. In particular, Webb seems to advocate a trajectory that not only moves from its historical grounding but is completely untethered from it. Such was not the appeal to history that Paul made in his teaching on women's ministry roles in 1 Timothy and 1 Corinthians. A full review and critique by Thomas R. Schreiner as published in JBMW 7/1 (Spring 2002) 41-51.
Non-Evangelical Authors/Books
Biezeveld, Kune and Anne-Claire Mulder, eds. Towards a Different Transcendence: Feminist Findings on Subjectivity, Religion and Values. Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 2001.
The contributors to this volume are proposing a way (or ways) to wed feminist and postmodern insights. The central theme of the book is a discussion of the proposal that women need a new and different transcendence (different from the older "patriarchal" model that is) in order to be authentic female subjects. Part of this mandate is fleshed out through a proposal of renaming this transcendence in feminist terms and imagery with a view to cultivating a distinctively feminine "house of language."
Comstock, Gary David. A Whosoever Church: Welcoming Lesbians and Gay Men into African American Congregations. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.
Comstock interviews twenty Black religious leaders who "welcome and affirm lesbians and gay men." The purpose is to provide an atmosphere of "listening" to the issues concerning the troubles Black gay men and lesbians are experiencing in becoming included in Black churches. Comstock believes that the "Black" church is at least a generation "behind" the white church in their acceptance of homosexuals into the church. The book is written in dialogue form and contains virtually no interaction with the relevant biblical texts. Rather, the book assumes the legitimacy of homosexuality and the religious leaders discuss their struggles in coming to terms with the "necessary" inclusion of Black lesbians and gay men into the church.
Essex, Barbara J. Women In The Bible. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2001.
This Bible study for women analyzes the lives of 15 biblical women divided into the six areas of wives and mothers, widows, victims, prophets, harlots, and royal women. A brief study is presented with reflection questions following the major sections. The lengthiest portion of the book is the introductory chapter where Essex's theological method and hermeneutical strategy are broadly explicated. Essex has a very low view of the inspiration of Scripture and has accepted the conclusions of literary and redaction criticism. She is also very sympathetic to feminist criticism of Scripture and uses its conclusions to explain away what she considers to be problematic and troubling passages.
Fiorenza, Elizabeth Schussler. Jesus and the Politics of Interpretation. New York: Continuum, 2001.
Fiorenza critiques the politics of Historical Jesus scholarship, noting that in their attempts to gain an accurate picture of Jesus (albeit behind the text), they too exhibit "elitist, anti-Jewish, colonialist, racist, and anti-feminist tendencies" (14). This concern for objectivity and facticity is ultimately a concern for authority, which she sees as in league with the fundamentalists at that point. Ultimately then, she is concerned to judge the value of a theology on the basis of whether or not it ushers in liberation.
Hilkert, Mary Catherine. Speaking with Authority: Catherine of Siena and the Voices of Women Today. New York: Paulist Press, 2001.
Written from a strong Catholic perspective, Hilkert argues that the life and ministry of Catherine of Siena should inspire women to exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit in places "where they have not been expected or welcome in the past - in pulpits, in schools of theology," etc. The emphasis of the book is that Catherine of Siena received a special "charism of wisdom" that granted authority to Catherine to speak in in special settings to special situations. It is taken for granted that the Holy Spirit would gift and anoint an individual for a ministry that the Bible (written under the inspiration of the same Spirit) restricts to other individuals.
Jung, Patricia Beattie and Joseph Andrew Coray. Sexual Diversity and Catholicism: Toward the Development of Moral Theology. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2001.
In this collection of essays, the topic of the legitimacy of "heterosexism" is addressed under the rubric of the Roman Catholic authority structure. Citing postmodern hermeneutical theory, Roman Catholic natural theology, and the necessity of the Catholic church to mediate scriptural teaching in dialogue with science and culture, a series of articles are presented covering church dogma, biblical interpretation, secular disciplines, and human experience. The result is a collection of essays emphasizing emotional argumentation, social construction, and homosexual advocacy that are weak in biblical exegesis. For example, in an essay entitled "The New Testament and Homosexuality?", Bruce J. Malina concludes that the apparent NT condemnation of homosexuality can be explained by prohibitions on idolatry, a desire for ethnic purity, and a concern that Israelite seed would be wasted in the homosexual sex act.
Keefe, Alice A. Woman's Body and the Social Body in Hosea. New York: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001.
Feminists have long attacked Hosea for promoting patriarchal and misogynist attitudes that have shaped Christianity and religion in the West. The reason is that Hosea advances a metaphor that parallels God with male and sinful humanity with female. Keefe suggests that in Hosea's writing, female sexuality, personified in Gomer, is not analogous to theological prostitution in the Canaanite fertility religions, but is actually representative of the profaning of the sacred manifested in the relationship between the people and their land - "the materiality of their existence." Therefore, female sexuality should not symoblize the profane, but the essential materiality of human existence - which Hosea lamented as being lost.
Loades, Ann. Feminist Theology: Voices from the Past. Cambridge: Polity, 2001.
Loades explores the value of Mary Wollstonecraft, Josephine Butler, and Dorothy Sayers for the feminist movement. She suggests that it was their religious convictions that set these women apart. While acknowledging that it would be anachronistic to identify any of these ladies as feminist, Loades maintains that their respective work and insights maintain value for contemporary feminists. While still contending for a feminist vision, Loades' volume is generally more judicious and less venomous than the standard feminist fare.
Mace, Nancy. In the Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.
Interesting and even amusing at times, this book is the autobiographical account of Nancy Mace's stint at The Citadel. Mace was the first female graduate of the formerly all male military college in South Carolina. Some of her reminisces are humorous. Some are a bit more vulgar. And others appear concerned to have the last word. In the end, however, it is not the interesting nature of some of the accounts that sticks with the reader. Rather, the prevailing assumption that evidences itself throughout is the misguided modern notion that the equality of the sexes entails (or even necessitates) identicality in every respect. And in this case, it led to a denial of the value of single-gender education.
Maguire, Daniel C. Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.
Maguire surveys ten world religions in an effort to defend his thesis about the viability and indeed the necessity of family planning. As such, he suggests that each of these religions offer a solidly pro-choice stance. Thus in his view, to restrict the right to an abortion is a violation of religious freedom.
Malone, Mary T. Women and Christianity: The First Thousand Years. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis, 2001.
A self-identified Catholic feminist, Malone is undeniably bitter about the portrayal (or lack thereof) of women in church history and the scriptures as well. She goes so far as to state that "the Bible was rooted in a patriarchal context and was androcentric and sexist in its attitudes toward women" (61). In response, she affirms the privileging of a canon within the canon, namely the more "inclusive vision of Jesus" as a sort of hermeneutical key for reading the unduly masculine scriptures. The fruit of Malone's exegetical gymnastics is a historical revisionism that plays fast and loose with the evidence.
McClintock, Karen A. Sexual Shame: An Urgent Call to Healing. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2001.
McClintock's thesis is that the church is suffering the effects of a long reigning sexual repression. She goes on to suggest that the church will experience healing if we allow ourselves to get over these repressive tendencies. In many respects, according to McClintock, this unhealthy repression stems from the deeply ingrained attitude of the church and even from the Scriptures themselves. In her view, the apostle Paul is one of the prime offenders, though she suggests that in spite of all the harm Paul did, he is at least more understandable when he is "seen as a man struggling with his own sexuality . . . " (64). Although McClintock states that we should not abandon sexual boundaries altogether, she goes on to affirm that it would be wrong to impose our own sexual values onto others. In the end, her approach is heavily psychologized, values are relativized, and spirituality is rampantly sexualized.
Morse, Jennifer Roback. Love and Economics: Why the Laissez-Faire Family Doesn't Work. Dallas: Spence, 2001.
Morse, an economist, provides a fascinating account of why the laissez-faire approach to family life (though useful in economic theory) is ineffective. More than just recognizing that children, in their helplessness, need to be guided into maturity, Morse also argues that families are uniquely suited to this task. In the end, the kind of society we have hinges on the kind of job that families do; so much so that the argument comes down to this: "Without loving families, no society can long govern itself" (5). What this necessitates then is the kind of love from spouses and parents that is committed to the ultimate good of the other individuals-a kind of love that cannot be replicated by the government or even childcare.
Stein, Arlene. The Stranger Next Door: The Story of a Small Community's Battle Over Sex, Faith, and Civil Rights. Boston: Beacon Press, 2001.
"The Stranger Next Door" attempts to tell the story of "Timbertown," the pseudonym for a rural Oregon town embroiled in a political battle over homosexual rights. Stein, a lesbian university sociology professor, presented herself as a neutral sociologist in order to gain access to evangelical Christians involved in the political struggle. (In a telling statement at the beginning of the book, Stein confesses that she had never talked to an evangelical prior to the book project.) She presents her interviews, findings and opinions in a somewhat interesting narrative, but too often lapses into condescending caricature mixed with an insufferable and smug moral and intellectual elitism.
Stone, Ken. Queer Commentary and the Hebrew Bible. New York: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001.
Queer Commentary and the Hebrew Bible is a collection of essays that employ "queer reading strategies." What follows are interpretations that use the text of Scripture as a platform for commenting on sexual practices and sexual identities. This is not an apologetic effort to legitimize homosexuality by arguing against the biblical prohibitions on homosexual activity. Rather, finding textual meaning, not in the intent of the biblical author, but centered in the reader, the essayists draw from their personal experiences to produce works that are both offensive and blasphemous. This is a deeply troubling book.
Swan, Laura. The Forgotten Desert Mothers. New York: Paulist Press, 2001.
Swan recounts the stories of numerous desert mothers (aka ammas) from the third century forward. One motivating factor for her is the desire to re-present the spirituality of these ammas as an encouragement to her readers to emulate them and retreat to the inner recesses within. Another motivating factor for Swan, however, is a clear egalitarian impulse. She claims that women were leaders of the early church (e.g. presbyters), but that as the church grew increasingly institutionalized, the men grew increasingly power hungry and thus relegated female leadership and spirituality to the margins. According to Swan, many of these women then headed to the desert so as not to endure these cultural restrictions. To that end, Swan dabbles in some revisionist claims.
Tigert, Leanne McCall and Timothy Brown. Coming Out Young and Faithful. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2001.
Coming Out Young and Faithful is meant to offer encouragement to youth and their parents as they struggle with their sexual identity as Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered persons. The two authors share their personal testimonies in "coming out" and finding a place in the religious community. The majority of the book is composed of twenty-one essays written by young people who are struggling with homosexuality. Biblical teaching that condemns homosexual behavior is dismissed as legalistic interpretation. Although the authors raise some valid concerns about hate crimes, they illegitimately conflate teaching the biblical condemnation of homosexuality with those same hate crimes. This book shows no regard for the biblical testimony and assumes that whatever is with regard to sexual orientation, is necessarily right and good.
Undeclared Authors/Books
Gagnon, Robert A. J. The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2001.
The Bible and Homosexual Practice is a clear and extensive argument for the conservative position on homosexual practice. Gagnon provides an excellent blend of biblical exegesis and historico-cultural analysis combined with an understanding of both modern philosophical and hermeneutical movements and the current arguments put forward by those who seek to move homosexual practice into the mainstream with religious acceptance. Gagnon covers the Old Testament, early Judaism, the teaching of Christ, and the New Testament. He concludes with an excellent chapter on the arguments put forward by pro-homosexual forces which he counters with reasoned analysis and a manifest understanding of the hermeneutical, philosophical, social, medical, and scientific issues at hand.
Keane, Christopher. What Some of You Were: Stories About Christians and Homosexuality. Kingsford, Australia: Matthias Media, 2001.
This fascinating little book-the winner of the Australian Christian Book of the Year Award-is composed of two parts. The first is an array of personal testimonials presented by those who have struggled against homosexual desires or by those close to them. Some of these stories are painful. Some of them offer good insights into how the church can better minister to those who struggle with homosexual desires. Though they do not possess equivalent theological sophistication, all of them are worth reading. The second part of the volume (presented in four appendices) presents the theological, scriptural, biological, and cultural diagnoses of the homosexual debate. Each of these chapters offers an even handed and capable assessment of homosexuality from its stated perspective.
Kearney, R. Timothy. Caring for Sexually Abused Children: A Handbook for Families and Churches. Grand Rapids: Intervarsity Press, 2001.
This short book provides information on how churches and Sunday school teams should respond in the nature that a sexual abuse situation is made known. Kearney includes a variety of short case studies to explicate the material. He covers the necessary response from the establishment of the facts all the way through to long-term follow up.
Kimel Jr., Alvin F., ed. This is My Name Forever: The Trinity and Gender Language for God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001.
Several authors collaborate in this volume to get at the question of whether or not the masculine language and imagery of God in the Scriptures ultimately misrepresents God and alienates women. The book does not purport to give a unified answer to this question. Clearly, some of the authors would disagree with some of their fellow contributors. Additionally, some are less conclusive in their own minds than others. Some of the chapters offer valuable insights. The biggest weakness of the book, however, is its overall inconclusiveness that leaves the reader with the impression that while these issues may be interesting to discuss they are nevertheless ambiguous enough that a strong stand in defense of God's self-revelation is either unwarranted or unachievable.
Mohney, Nell W. From Eve to Esther: Letting the Old Testament Women Speak to Us. Nashville: Dimensions for Living, 2001.
Written at a popular level as a Bible Study for women, Mohney provides narratives based on the life of individual women from the Old Testament. She then draws applications from those narratives. Applications include such things as "Running ahead of God is never a good idea" from the life of Sarah and "Don't play the blame game" from the life of Eve. The principles in general are fine, although it is questionable whether they flow from the biblical text. Mohney's narratives (from which she draws the principles) are only loosely based on the biblical text. The chapters on Jochebed, Zipporah, and Keturah are based almost entirely upon conjecture and Mohney's imagination, which apparently the author considers to be as authoritative as Scripture itself.
O'Grady, Ron.The Hidden Shame of the Church: Sexual Abuse of Children and the Church. Geneva: WCC Publications, 2001.
This short book chronicles the world-wide problem of deliberate sexual abuse by religious clergy. Written prior to the recent revelations of rampant sexual abuse in the Catholic Church by clergy, O'Grady's work is technical, brief, but thorough. He provides statistics coupled with both hard and anecdotal evidence. It also offers some very general guidelines that churches can follow to establish protocols for an accusation or suspicion of child abuse.
Svendsen, Eric D. Who is My Mother: The Role and Status of the Mother of Jesus in the New Testament and Roman Catholicism. Amityville, New York: Calvary Press, 2001.
Svendsen provides the definitive treatment on the question of the role and status of Mary, Jesus' mother. His effort combines the best of exegetical and historical examination. Careful and thorough, Svendsen has meticulously examined the data and established his case. He thus honors the true biblical portrait of Mary as an honored but redeemed disciple, while honoring Jesus as uniquely our redeemer.
Whitley, Katerina Katsarka. Seeing for Ourselves: Biblical Women Who Met Jesus. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2001.
Whitley writes a series of imaginative monologues, told from the perspectives of New Testament women. The subjects range from the Samaritan woman at the well to Prisca. The monologues are highly speculative, but are not meant to teach as much as to provide a dramatic recounting of what happened to women when they met Jesus, "told in the manner of women."
Zahl, Paul F. M. Five Women of the English Reformation. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.
Zahl is concerned to present these five women (Anne Boleyn, Anne Askew, Katharine Parr, Jane Grey, and Catherine Willoughby) in an entirely new light. Specifically, he attempts to show that they were astute Reformational lay theologians. Indeed, he concludes that they "were the mothers of the English Reformation" (97). Without calling into question the intelligence and even courageousness of these women, one suspects that Zahl may be overclaiming in order to make his point.
