The Ministry of Women in the Church

Although there are points of theology I disagree with, the Authors heart and intent are felt strongly and sincerely, her conviction is beautifully worded and thought through, and the bits I do disagree with are by no means a deal breaker. I admit, as of writing this I am a protestant (in discernment) and so I was very pleasantly surprised by the ecumenical undertones. (though I don't feel they'd "turn off" anyone opposed to ecumenism). I strongly feel this book is important for women (and others) who are hurt, questioning, or just curious about the Ministry of Women in the Church, even outside of the Orthodox church. I'll be rereading it again, God willing.

Elisabeth Behr-Sigel's "The Ministry of Women in the Church" must be read by all Christians interested in the role and status of women in the Church today. This important book - written by a female Orthodox theologian - brilliantly analyses the role and status of women today in the Orthodox Church - within the context of the feminist movement that has transformed western society. Behr-Sigel correctly states that in spite of the challenges feminism has posed to contemporary society, as well as many western churches, the woman's issue has yet to be raised in the Orthodox Church, partly due to the indifference many men and women show towards the issue. Certainly many aspects of the womens' movement must be criticized by Orthodox Christians, but to ignore it is absolute 'folly'. The Orthodox Church, as Behr-Sigel points out, seems to believe that women are content with the role that both nature and Tradition has given them. But what nature is this, Behr-Sigel asks? Is it the broken and torn nature of the fall or the new creation in Christ? This question is at the heart of Behr-Sigels' argument.Behr-Sigel explains that when she first came into the Orthodox Church from her Protestant traditon, she was shocked by the fact that the Church still held Old Testament taboos on women. She saw contradiction and tension between the freedom women have in Christ and a patriarchal and clerical institution that has condemned women into silence.Although the feminist movement has challenged the traditional and misogynist attitude towards women, the Orthodox Church still avoids the issue by hiding behind the Virgin Mary as an example of why the Orthodox Church is not anti-feminist.Behr-Sigel courageously challenges and criticizes the Church's attempt to avoid the women's issue. She states that the veneration of Mary - as important as it is - has in fact been used to degrade women by associating women with Eve. Mary has become an almost 'goddess' like creature and is no longer a 'women' that Christian women can associate with.In spite of the priestly and prophetic role Mary had, the Church uses Mary to push women away and limit their role in the Church. Overall, Behr-Sigel argues that the Church's attitude towards women is contradictory and against the Gospel of Christ. The Church's attitude towards women is rooted in Genesis 3 and the misogynist exegesis that has surrounded the second creation story. Behr-Sigel states that the creation is that of the creation of the 'total man' which contains both the masculine and feminine. Although the Church Fathers taught that women were created in the image of God, it was the Genesis 2-3 creation story that has dominated male Christian consciousness, that is, that man was created first and hence superior to woman. Behr-Sigel however correctly states that the misogynist interpretation of Gensis 2-3 - so harmful to women - is in fact evident of the rupture between male and female that charact