Journal: Eikon
Volume: EIKON 04:2 (Fall 2022)
Article: Truth Be Told: Empirical Research Regarding Complementarian Institutional Vitality
Author: Linda Reed

Eikon 4.2 (Fall 2022) p. 92

Truth Be Told: Empirical Research Regarding Complementarian Institutional Vitality

Linda Reed

Dr. Linda Reed (Ed.D., SBTS) is an adjunct professor at Heritage College and Seminary in Cambridge, Ontario, where she also serves as Director of the Heritage Centre for Women in Ministry.

Introduction

Untangling truth from error was first required in the Garden of Eden, where Satan posed to Eve, “Did God actually say?” (Gen 3:1). The Psalmist noted living during a time when “there is nothing true in what they say. . .” (Ps 5:9). In our postmodern era, verifying truth is both essential and difficult. As Nel Noddings has observed “Most postmodern thinkers have abandoned the Enlightenment quest for absolute truth” accepting instead “local truth” often interpreted as “my truth” and “your truth.”1

Trust is derived from truth. The etymology of the English word “trust” is derived from the word “truth.” In our postmodern era, verifying truth is essential. The Scriptures assert: “truth is in Jesus” (Eph 4:21). Jesus said to those “who had believed Him, if you abide in my word . . . you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31–32).

Scholarly literature pertaining to scriptural teaching on the roles of women has provided a varying story line.2 Having traced the scholarly literature from seven decades, what began as a whisper in the 1950’s has become a roar in the 2020’s.3

Eikon 4.2 (Fall 2022) p. 93

After CBMW published the Danver’s Statement in Christianity Today in 1989, the organization received over 1,000 positive responses. As Wayne Grudem recalled, “People would write us saying: I wept when I saw your ad. I didn’t know that people held this anymore.”4 It had become normal to assume no authority distinctions, rather, only servant leadership in the church.5

The new “truths” have been assumed to such an extent that institutional leaders have been told: If you hold to a complementarian position, your organization will die.6 Among Christian higher educational institutions in particular, an egalitarian point of view has been assumed to be necessary to sustain st...