Gender

• In the New Testament, women had early authority within the church (55CE)
• Early Christian author Tertullian argued that Eve was to blame for Eve's first sin which has extended to all women (155-240CE)
• Augustine argued that if God has made another man instead of Eve, he would've been more helpful (354-430CE)
• Church councils forbade the ordination of women as deacons (5th century - 600CE)
• Celibacy within Christian monasticism for men and women was equal (5th century - 600Ce)
• Martin Luther agreed with Aristotle's ideas that women have a weaker nature than men (1483-1546)
• The 19th century saw the start of the movement for women's rights, and many women became accepted in professions such as medicine. However, married women were still seen as 'property' to their husbands
• During the First World War, women filled up the jobs that men had left, and the Suffrgette movement was successful in getting the vote for women
• In the UK today, it is illegal to discriminate against women in terms of employment, education and public services. The equality act was passed in 2010, but the equal pay act and sex discrimination act was originally passed in the 1970's.
• Roman Catholic women can still not be ordained, but the first Priest in the Church of England was appointed in 2015.
• The status of womens rights today depends country to country, and organisations such as the Taliban in Afghanistan have banned girls from going to school. Approximately 62 million girls worldwide are denied education.
• The Amish today still have different gender roles, and women are expected to cover their hair, honour their husbands and take care of the family and the home
• In the New Testament, some women held positions of authority e.g. Phoebe, Lydia and Junia. However, the New Testament also contains passages that are regarded as sexist
• People such as Tertullian, St Jerome and Augustine of Hippo saw the world as dammed because of the actions of Eve
• By the fifth century, women were playing a significant role in the church
• Despite Jesus' treatment of women as equal, Church authorities saw these women as a threat and forbade the ordination of women as deacons
• Celebacy in Christian monasticism offered equal opportunities, and Convents acted as an escape for women to escape motherhood
• Following the reformation, major social changes influenced how women saw themselves within the Church.
• After the reformation, single women started to work in the services, and there were many changing ideas about education. In 1848, Bedford College was founded to train women as teachers, and in 1870, the Education Act provided primary education for both boys and girls.
• Women in the church before the 19th century


  As Christianity was expanding in the OT, there was an increasing number of women in positions of authority. In St Pauls letter to the Romans he refers to a 'deacon and patron of many' called Phoebe. However, there are also writings in the Bible that are sexist, and between the 2nd and 5th century a sexist view became more pronounced
• Women in the church before the 19th century


  By the fifth century, women played a significant role in the church. Some Church authorities saw this as a threat. This resulted in several churches banning the ordination of women as deacons.
• Women in the nineteenth century

  For centuries men and women were doing traditional roles. In the 19th century, things started to change. However, this didn't lead to equality as women were seen as physically weaker than men, and this meant the view was that women should still focus on the home.
• Women in the nineteenth century

  Education for women started to increase, colleges were set up to train women and the 1970 Education Act provided education for both boys and girls. Women's right movements began and feminism spread. Women began to be accepted into medicine but still few women could vote in elections. Women were becoming more educated, but men still dominated society
• The development of Biblical criticism

  The Reformation in the 16th century made the translated Bible easier to read. During the 19th century, there was a development of liberal theology. This attempted to relate religious ideas to modern life. Liberal Christians argued that the Bible studied like any other specific document. The intention of Biblical criticism was to find the real truth expressed in scripture
• Challenges of Biblical criticism

  Liberal biblical criticism is widely accepted as a tool for theologians. Barth - It's wrong to use human reason to judge scripture. This is an evangelical view
• Biblical criticism in relation to women in the Church

  Since the early church, the role of women has been a problem. Biblical criticism can both support and undermine gender equality. Women do play a significant part in the NT. For example, Mary plays an important part and so do the women who were the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus. Some key texts on the debate of gender and sexuality are found in letters.
• Biblical passages supporting gender equality

  Romans 1:16 - 'I commend to you, your sister Phoebe' - Priscilla, Aqulia and Mary all worked alongside Phoebe too

  Galatians 3:28 says that all humans are equal in the eyes of God meaning anyone can be part of the church
• Bible passages against gender equality

  Ephesians 5:22-23 - 'Wives submit yourself to your own husbands as you do the Lord' - Ephesians however does also contain a verse which tells slaves to submit to their masters

  1 Corinthians 14:34-35 - 'Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak [...] for it us a disgrace for women to speak in the church'
• Biblical passages against gender equality 


  1 Timothy 2:9-15 - 'I want women to dress modestly [...] A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet [...] but women will be saved through childbearing'
• 2 broad responses to the issues of gender in the Bible

  Christian egalitarians - Men and women should be treated as equal when it comes to roles in the Church

  Christian complementarians - Men and women have equal importance in the eyes of God, but the have different roles in marriage, family life, society, and in the Church
• Catholic view on gender

  Catholics hold a complementarian views on gender. Natural Law says that men and women have different natures and therefore have different roles in life. This does not mean one is more valuable than the other however. Jesus appointed men as his Apostles, therefore men can only follow on the succession (Apostolic succession).
• The protestant view of issues on gender

  All are viewed as equal before God. All Christians can serve God due to the fact that they hold a belief that there is no need for God's grace to be medicated through a priest. Protestant churches today have varying views on the ministry of women, but these are more focused on whether women should have a leadership role rather than the Catholic view
• The social and legal status of women today 


  Varies around the world, based on culture, religion, economical situation. In the UK it is illegal to discriminate against a woman in terms of employment. Legally and socially, men and women should be treated equally.
• The ordination of women to the priests

  The 1920 Lambert conference was the first attempt to discuss the ordination of women. In Japan, in 1941, women were ordained as there was a desperate shortage of male priests. This was temporary, however, in 1971 two women were ordained in Hong Kong. In 1978, the General Synod agreed that women could now be ordinated, but it was blocked by the House of Clergy. In 1985, women could now be ordained as deacons. In 1992, women could now be priests. 1994 saw 32 women ordained as priests
• The consecration of women as Bishops

  Traditionalists regard the ordination or conformation of people by a woman as invalid as it would go against Apostolic succession. Some disagreed with female bishops and do not accept female Bishops. Arrangements were made for Churches to be ruled by 'flying Bishops' - despite these arrangements, some clergy moved to the Catholic Church
• The ongoing debate 


  The Church of England overall accepts women priests and Bishops today. However, the Church of England provides an 'alternative episcopal oversight' meaning if a Church does not accept the ordination of a woman, then they are placed under the authority of a Bishop who shares the same views. As the number of female priests has risen, the position of Bishops against the ordination of women has come under criticism
• Feminist theology


  The belief that Christian theology is patriarchal and opresses women
• Three strands of Feminist theology

  Liberal stand - presents the patriarchal system as illogical, denying women with the fundamental right to equality with men

  Biblical strand - Looks at God as loving and caring, qualities associated with women. Also highlights the importance of women in Jesus' life

  Radical strand - Moved beyond Christianity, seeks to find ways to speak of God that are gender inclusive
• Daphne Hampson


  A 'post-Christian' - Christians accept the patriarchal imagery in 1st century Palestine, which effects people consciously and subconsciously. Patriarchal "baggage"
• Rosemary Radford Ruether 


  Catholic feminist. Argues Christianity should be reinstated in feminist terms.