“I Permit Not A Woman...”

To Remain Shackled

Unless I am convicted either by Scripture or right reason... my conscience is a captive to the word of God. I neither can nor will recant anything, since it is neither right nor safe to act against conscience. I can do neither. God help me. Amen.

Martin Luther

To a large degree, we are all prisoners of our genes, family beliefs, mentors, experiences, traditions, and culture. Each represents a bar on the window of our prison cell. Our perception of what is true and eternal is colored by each bar. To deny this truth is not just to add another bar, but to add one which is stronger than the rest combined. Our only escape is through a never-ending quest for truth. Christian integrity in a setting of intellectual freedom demands that we never stop searching. The world and the church are better because men and women dare question that which has already been settled, if for no other reason than the personal confirmation of one's belief, rather than having one's faith simply passed on from generation to generation.

Error can be passed on as easily as truth. It can be defended with equal vigor. But when error is passed on and defended as truth, succeeding generations are imprisoned, and the church suffers.

Tragically, many prisoners grow accustomed to their prison cells, and need the security and safety they offer.

Contents

Acknowledgements and Dedication
Introduction

1. “Mind Control - Male and Female”
2. “Self-Examination”
3. “I Suffer Not a Woman….To Remain Shackled?”
4. “Teachings and Practices of the Churches of Christ”
5. “Public Versus Private Meetings”
6. “Our Practices in Christian Universities, Colleges, Journalism and Drama”
7. “Woman in the Apostolic Church”
8. “Equal But Unequal?”
9. “Praying and Prophesying”
10. “Spiritual Gifts”
11. “As Also Saith the Law”
12. “Other Women, Other Scriptures”
13. “Silent - Silence - Other Thoughts”
14. “Other Considerations - What?”
15. “Prayer, Quietness, Exercising Dominion”
16. “Applying Other Scriptures”
17. “From Then Until Now - Women in The Restoration Movement”
18. “Important Questions”
19. “Clear Conclusions”
20. “Epilogue”