Ken welcomes author and advocate Liz Cooledge Jenkins to talk about her new book: Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women’s Humanity from Evangelicalism. When Liz went off to Stanford University, she connected with a group of "Jesus Followers" who were part of an evangelical global campus ministry. In time, she believed she was "called" to pastoral ministry. After graduation, she joined the staff of "Faith Bible"* Church working with college students. But when she was considered for a promotion from full-time intern to candidate for permanent "director" role, she was thoroughly quizzed in the interview about her views on both women in ministry and LGBTQ+. Her questions and evolving beliefs, in the minds of the decision-makers, made her "ineligible" for the job. Patriarchy clearly emerged as the church's policy. She enrolled in seminary to pursue those questions from a biblical, theological, social and cultural perspective, earning an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary. Her conclusions form the content of this compelling book which Ken read in its entirety. As a recovering white evangelical republican male (The Beached White Male), Ken fully recommends Liz's book and this conversation. It is both a challenge to churches and Christians who remain doggedly committed to patriarchy and exclusion as "biblical" and an encouragement to the many who, like Ken and Liz, are in recovery from the toxicity of a religion that robs people of their dignity and value.
*NOTE: "Faith Bible" is not the name of the church. In her book, Liz employs pseudonyms for the individuals, churches, and institutions she references. Her story is not meant to dehumanize or demonize anyone - but to bring to light the damage and wounding inflicted by toxic beliefs and policies that rob communities of faith of the contribution that would otherwise bring energy, life, and a wider perspective.
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