Ontario hosts first symposium on Women in Ministry Leadership

“The hermeneutical task is like crossing a suspension bridge, sometimes rocked by the more adventurous, always upsetting the cautious,” said Walter Unger, chair of the Canadian Board of Faith and Life, at the Symposium on Women in Ministry Leadership, May 14–15 in Glencairn MB Church, Kitchener, Ont. Calling this undertaking a two-way crossing from the culture of Jesus to our own culture, he said it is best done, not alone, but in a community of faith.

Round table discussion

The symposium, presented by the Canadian and Ontario Conference Boards of Faith and Life, is the first of several to be held across Canada to study Bible texts about women in ministry leadership (see Herald, Apr. 9).

Doug Heidebrecht

Presenter Doug Heidebrecht, academic dean of Bethany College, Hepburn, Sask., led the group in an intensive study of two passages: Galatians 3:26–28 and 1 Timothy 2:8–15. He guided the 55 participants through an approach to hermeneutics, stressing the importance of developing listening skills so we can hear both God and each other. We need to be aware of a tendency to proof-text, he said, and in all humility recognize the role of the hermeneutical community, which involves the Church, the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures.

Heidebrecht presented five different models of women in ministry in Canada, comparing evangelical churches that have observed equality of women in all areas of church life since the 19th century with those who practise gender-specific leadership. He then turned to the MB denomination. He took the group through MB resolutions on the topic, beginning with one from 1878 that required head coverings and ending with the 2003 Manitoba Conference resolution calling for actively blessing women in all areas of church life.

Heidebrecht posed the question: “Is it appropriate to draw a line between women and the rest of the leadership in the church?” He began with the exegetical difficulties of the texts and the role played by first-century culture. He then pointed to the diversity within Scripture itself and suggested that Jesus be the interpretive key for the New Testament. Using the definitions of “head” and “headship,” he helped the group explore the relationship between home and church in these texts. He provided a theological framework with these definitions in mind. Heidebrecht emphasized the fact that cultural influence plays an important part in the hermeneutical process and that it is necessary to distinguish between what is cultural and what is transcultural in Scripture.

At the Saturday morning session Heidebrecht presented an outline of 1 Timothy. He emphasized that it is false teachings in the church and Paul’s response to these false teachings that lie at the heart of the passage in 1 Timothy 2:8–15. We do not find a generic call to authority here, he said, but a call to godliness for all believers. With the help of parallel passages, Heidebrecht illustrated that Eve in the Old Testament and women in the early church serve as examples in the context of false teaching.

The symposium involved study in small groups, as well as open discussion. Groups also practised the hermeneutical process on Acts 11:1–8 and Acts 15:1–31.

In response to questions raised in open discussion, Heidebrecht clarified that both males and females reflect God’s creation. The differences are not negated, but do not count when it comes to “being in Christ.” In their life with the Lord, men and women are interdependent. This needs to be reflected in all of their relationships. The instructions to be mutually submissive in the home reflect the primary target, which is mutual submission in the church.

Sharon and Mark Johnson, Adult Ministry director of the Canadian MB Conference and Ontario MB Conference minister respectively, presented a female and male perspective on how the issue of women in ministry is perceived in MB churches. Mark closed by asking, “We have one denomination with one Confession of Faith. What do we do with all this diversity?”

During the discussion periods throughout both days, a quiet hum of voices was heard. One could sense an atmosphere of intense interest and a readiness to learn. Summaries of the table discussions indicated a consensus that Paul wrote the Timothy passage with an emphasis on false teaching, not on restricting women. Someone asked if the misreading of the Timothy text has led to the present dilemma over women in ministry leadership.

Suggestions raised in discussion included continuing reciprocal relations with our sister Congo MB Conference which has ordained women for ministry, and creating positions in the church for women who have been trained in counselling and spiritual direction. It was also urged that more publicity be done for the next provincial symposium; although there was room in Ontario for at least 220 people, only 55 registered. (These included 33 women and represented 13 of 32 Ontario churches.)

One person commented that men should emphasize this issue in their churches. Ideas for creating environments where the discussion can continue included having Heidebrecht’s teaching on video for local church use; more emphasis on talking and walking together, so as not to polarize into “us” and “them”; and confession and asking forgiveness of those who have been hurt over this issue.

Wally Unger answered the question “Where do we go from here?” by stating that it had been a year-long process for the BFL to discern this movement and that it is going slowly because churches are not ready. Canadian Conference Executive Director David Wiebe said community hermeneutics needs to be practised in order to learn to handle diversity. At Gathering 2004 in July there will be a one-hour discussion of the topic. It was strongly recommended that people attend and participate in the dialogue.

—Elfrieda Neufeld Schroeder