Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 02:5 (Dec 1997)
Article: Willow Creek Enforces Egalitarianism
Author: Wayne Grudem

Willow Creek Enforces Egalitarianism

Wayne Grudem

Policy Requires All Staff And New Members To Joyfully Affirm Egalitarian Views

We are thankful for the remarkable blessing of God on the evangelistic and discipleship work of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. But we regret to report that Willow Creek, one of the nation’s largest and most influential churches, has begun to require that all new members and all church staff agree with an egalitarian policy on women in ministry. Such policies will undoubtedly influence several hundred churches in the Willow Creek Association, and thousands of other churches around the world that look to Willow Creek for leadership and are influenced by its conferences. The arguments used by Willow Creek to defend its position are representative of egalitarian arguments in general. Therefore, if their case is found wanting in the light of Scripture, many similar positions would likewise topple.

The Willow Creek Position

Complementarians Excluded From Membership:

Regarding membership at Willow Creek, the church distributes a four-page handout, “The Elders’ Response to the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Membership at Willow Creek.” On page 3 it says: While we respect the right of individuals to hold a different position, we ask that Participating Members of Willow Creek minimally be able to affirm with integrity the following:

• that they can joyfully sit under the teaching of women teachers at Willow Creek
• that they can joyfully submit to the leadership of women in various leadership positions at Willow Creek
• that they will refrain from promoting personal views in ways that would be divisive or disruptive.

This means that members now have to hold an egalitarian position—not even hesitantly or with reservations, but strongly enough to be joyful in living out a commitment to it. If people held another view—for example, if they thought it was contrary to Scripture for women to teach or have authority over an entire church—then they would probably think it a violation of their consciences to “affirm with integrity” that they could “joyfully submit” to and support something they thought to be wrong.

As a detailed defense of this position, we can now examine an eight-page document, “Women and Men in Ministry at Willow Creek Community Church.” This is a draft document (dated 1/29/96) that has been “under consideration” for well over a year by people at various leadership levels of the church.

“Further Study” Includes Only One Position:

The position paper says the church is committed “to provide opportunity for ministry based on giftedness and character, without regard to gende...