Cultural And Ideological Influences On The Role Of Women -- By: Frances F. Hiebert

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 12:3 (Summer 1998)
Article: Cultural And Ideological Influences On The Role Of Women
Author: Frances F. Hiebert


Cultural And Ideological Influences On The Role Of Women

Frances F. Hiebert

Frances F. Hiebert has been active on the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions/Services and served as Chair of the Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Committee on Women’s Concerns. Most recently she worked as international student coordinator at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She is a missiologist who has made frequent contributions to Priscilla Papers.

From ancient times and in almost every culture the role of women has been questioned, debated, and regulated. At present in the evangelical Christian church, much of the debate centers on theology as it defines the role of women in ministry. Actually, different biblical passages and different interpretations of the same passages give rise to quite different theologies. On the one hand, when the focus is on a few selected verses in the Bible that seem to restrict the ministry of women, a restrictive theology of ministry is the result. On the other hand, when the seemingly restrictive verses are put in their cultural and historical context and when the whole of Scripture is taken into account, a theology is revealed that supports women’s mutuality with men in all forms of Christian ministry according to the gifts of the Spirit.

Scripture, rightly understood of course, must always be the final court of appeal for Christians. But perhaps there are outside influences involved that have been overlooked by persons exploring the role of women. Some of these influences are explored here as having been significant factors in limiting women’s roles.

We Americans are poorer because of our neglect of history and Christians are no exception. But often it is by looking back that we begin to understand the worldly forces that have had a part in shaping us and our understanding of Scripture.1

By looking backward it is also possible to challenge the idea that the Judeo-Christian tradition at all times and places has supported the current “traditionalist” or “complementarian” position on the role of women. Traditionalists claim that support for their view comes from Scripture and church tradition, and charge that the current biblical feminist movement is motivated by secular feminism.

However, although there is some truth in the idea that the push for liberating women today is coming from the world outside the church, the current American feminist movement is, in part, historically rooted in the great missionary and revival movements of the last century2

The Influence Of Secular Culture

Rather than the traditionalist view originating i...

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