I happened across the video below of Dr. Douglas Groothuis speaking at Denver Seminary on the topic of “The Lament of a Biblical Egalitarian.” Since I am always on the lookout for post, videos, and books by those who identify as conservative Biblical egalitarians, I was pleased to find this.
Dr. Groothuis first introduces the concept of laments in the Scriptures and then explains how that carries over into the experiences he and his wife, Rebecca, have had as leaders in the egalitarian movement.
If you aren’t familiar with the Groothuises, Rebecca Morrill Groothuis wrote Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality and Women Caught in the Conflict: The Culture War between Traditionalism and Feminism. She was also an editor of Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy. Dr. Groothuis has taught, spoken, preached, and written extensively. You can learn more about him at his website.
They both hold firmly to the authority of the Scriptures. I laughed out loud near the end when he described their thinking about things being popular in culture since David and I are exactly the same way.
I hope you find this edifying.
Thank you for your great site, Sallie. I, too, am a conservative biblical egalitarian, and have experienced all that you have recounted. My husband and I have been married for 50 egalitarian years and have been wonderfully happy. We have never encountered a situation where a ‘tie-breaker’ has been necessary! However, it is extremely difficult in the USA to find a conservative church which is not bowed down by patriarchialism (complementariansm). Even the women seem to go with it. I am from the UK and these problems are not nearly so acute there. We were easily able to find theologically sound Baptist churches which had women in pastoral positions. The choice seems to be to attend a conservative church and keep quiet, or to look for a house group of like minded people.
The appalling behaviour of church leaders, consumed by power and lust, seems in great part to have its roots in their complementarian views. I would rather use the term ‘patriarchy’ as I would call myself a Biblical complementarian egalitarian. The desire for authority, power and reputation is just what the Lord God said would happen in His response to the fall recorded in Genesis. The ‘desire’ women have for their husbands is also foretold and, to their detriment as the Lord foreknows, women have succumbed to this desire to the extent that it has become unhealthy, leading them into subjection. Jesus came to set us free and show us a better way.
Hi Grainne!
I just realized I didn’t respond to your comment that was left in early June. I apologize! I’ve been so focused on a big project I have going on that I’ve had blinders on to a certain extent.
I love hearing stories of long, happy biblical egalitarian marriages. I know they are out there, but enough people don’t realize they exist.
I was thinking the other day that so many of the prominent Christians who give marriage advice and also push the complementarian agenda are people who are in difficult marriages or marriages they admit are filled with conflict due to sin or baggage they brought into the marriage. While there is a need for people to hear how to live in a challenging marriage, there is almost no one saying, “I have a happy, healthy marriage and this is how we did it and God did it.” If someone has a vision for and the experience of a happy marriage it’s almost like you aren’t worth being heard. And yet aren’t we the very people who should be sharing our experiences with young people to show them how it is possible?
Sallie
Sally, I didn’t know if you were aware, but Rebecca Groothuis passed away this morning.
Hi Sue,
I didn’t know. Thank you for taking the time to pass along that information. I will be praying for Dr. Groothuis.
I hope you are well!
Sallie
I read her book when it first came out and was so impressed. I was deeply saddened to hear of the devastating illness she suffered – it seemed all the more grievous because of her great intellect, her fidelity to Scripture and her courage in examining everything for herself. Well, she has gone to the Saviour. Dr Groothuis’ care for his wife is an example of Christian seervanthood. We will pray for him.