The Church And The World Are Better When Women And Men Serve Together -- By: Eva Burrows

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 27:1 (Winter 2013)
Article: The Church And The World Are Better When Women And Men Serve Together
Author: Eva Burrows


The Church And The World Are Better When Women And Men Serve Together

Eva Burrows

Eva Burrows is only the second woman to become world leader of The Salvation Army. She served in that position from 1986 to 1993, administering The Salvation Army’s work in 100 countries. She has addressed meetings and preached in more than seventy countries and continues to do so in retirement from her home in Melbourne, Australia. This article was originally presented at CBE’s 2010 conference, Equal to Serve, in Melbourne.

When I speak on the topic of biblical equality, I look out at the audience and wonder why each person has chosen to come. Some may be women who feel restricted in their church circles and not given opportunity to use their gifts, who hope to find help. Some may be men who want to understand more clearly the biblical basis for God’s view on gender and who need help in being able to give an answer to the many who hold a gender bias. Others may be women seeking guidance on how to juggle home, family, and marriage responsibilities more effectively with their church or business leadership positions.

I can imagine many reasons. For myself, I am happy to be connected with the movement and with Christians for Biblical Equality. As a Christian denomination, The Salvation Army (TSA) has been on the front line of gender equality with a strong biblical foundation for our position. It is still an active issue and continually developing.

I am a retired general of TSA. The general, and there is only one at a time, is the world leader and administrator of this global church and humanitarian agency. Succinctly, I had three roles: (1) spiritual head of a denomination of the Christian church, giving spiritual oversight, ensuring that the Army remain true to its foundational principles, theology, and doctrines; preaching the gospel and teaching the faith worldwide; and being responsible for the deployment of spiritual leaders around the whole world; (2) the responsible director of a vast humanitarian organization, including its administration, programs, and financial integrity, centered at our international headquarters in London, England, where TSA first began; and (3) head of the international family of TSA, which has strong bonds of love and loyalty that cross national and cultural boundaries. Hence, I traveled constantly around the world to spend time with our people of every color, race, and language. As a South American Salvationist said, “I think of you as the ‘holy mother’ of The SA!” I preferred the comment of an African Salvationist, who said in a little speech to thank me for my visit: “Dear General, you are our global parent.”

Actually, to be elected to the generalship is something similar to the Roman Catholic Col...

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