Other Books at Freedom's Ring

Chapter 17

From Then Until Now:

Women in the Restoration Movement

Prior to granting American women the right to vote, the prevailing attitude of American men, in and out of the church, was that women did not have the capacity to make informed decisions on matters of state. Moreover, they could vote through their husbands (their heads) and through their sons.

If women wanted to tell the story of the cross, it also could be done through their husbands and sons.

But thoughtful Christians argue that the church and the world would be better off if women were allowed to teach, preach and evangelize just as women in the New Testament period did. Most of the men of the church have not only argued such to be unscriptural, but have belittled such suggestions. They have even claimed that women were too weak to baptize and meet the rigors of the ministry. But history has proven them wrong.

Clare Hale Babcock challenged this concept and by her 75th birthday had baptized three hundred souls.

Sadie McCoy Crank established fifteen churches in Southwest Missouri, baptized over five thousand souls and conducted over one thousand funerals.

Various leaders among the disciples' wing of the Restoration Movement stood on both sides of the issues. Alexander Campbell, founder of Bethany College, allowed women to enroll, but the prevailing philosophy was that their training should be that which aided them to serve as wives and mothers. It was so argued on scriptural grounds.

Some schools would not allow women to attend Bible classes. They later changed, but allowed women to enter only after the young men were seated, and made them leave the classroom ahead of the young men.

David Lipscomb was so opposed to co-education that he declared that Southern girls who attended these institutions returned "prostitutes." He later recanted and allowed Nashville Bible School to admit women.

His answer to questions in the Gospel Advocate showed a gradual change of mind in his attitude on women's role in the church. Late in life, when asked about women speaking and teaching in the church, he replied by quoting I Corinthians 14:34-35, and referred the questioner to I Timothy 2:8-15. "Yet," he wrote, "Women have the right to teach those who know less than themselves; Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos (Acts 18:24-26). So, I am sure that a woman may teach the Bible to young and old, male and female, at the meeting house, at home, at a neighbor's house, on Sunday or Monday or any other day of the week, if they know less than she does, if she will do it in a quiet, modest, womanly way." He went on to say he had seen wrongs committed by women but that they still had the right to teach men. (Page 736, Questions Answered by David Lipscomb and Sewell.)

No doubt Lipscomb would have also admitted that he had seen many wrongs committed by men.

Lipscomb had come a long way, and I am also sure he would not have approved of a man teaching in a wrong way, but would have approved of his teaching with quietness, modesty and in a gentlemanly way, just as he expected ladies to do.

C. R. Nichol, a well-known preacher, debater, and Bible instructor in two of our Christian colleges, wrote a very enlightening book, God's Woman. It had little influence on the churches of Christ because the church was still steeped in the same traditions of most other churches. Culture, power structures, and the political pressure to defend and maintain the doctrinal status quo prevailed. The doctrines preached and defended by the more prominent and dominant preachers and editors held sway.

But now change is in the air, and I list some of the changes which have occurred that no one would have believed possible in 1930.

Velma West, wife of Dr. W. B. West, Chairman of the Pepperdine College Department of Bible, was employed by the Bible Department to teach New Testament Greek to preachers and aspiring preachers. She finished her career at Harding College. Hundreds of preachers learned the Bible in its original language from this Christian woman.

Single Christian women have gone to Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and the islands of the seas as fully supported missionaries. They evangelized, built churches, and established camps to instruct and train men and women.

The number of women who were added to the faculties of Christian colleges has increased. Many chair departments with men in submission to them.

In the early 80's, Faulkner University (formerly Alabama Christian College) in Montgomery, employed Dr. Linda Brook as Academic Dean. From 1983 to 1988 all teachers, male and female, were subject to her.

Columbia Christian College appointed Dr. June Breninger as Dean of Students. She exercised authority over all students, male and female, while serving in that role.

Dr. Joyce Harding has served as the Associate Academic Dean for three years at Lubbock Christian University and has exercised authority over all faculty members, male and female.

Pepperdine University appointed D'Esta Guild Love to be Dean of Students and all students are subject to her supervision.

Oklahoma Christian University appointed Barbara Tucker to be Dean of Students in 1990. All students, male and female, are subject to her.

These institutions have charged these Christian women to supervise men, to enforce the campus rules of Christian conduct, and to discipline students who misbehave.

JoAnne North, wife of Dr. Stafford North, Oklahoma Christian University's Executive Vice President, has been teaching a Bible course in "Religious Education for Children" for years. Both men and women take the course.

In 1988, a well-known evangelist and his teenage daughter addressed the combined adult Bible classes at the College Church of Christ, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday night. Many reported it to be one of the most memorable and beneficial prayer meetings in their lifetime.

Joy McMillon served as managing editor of the Christian Chronicle from 1983-1989. She and her husband Lynn, who is a professor of Bible at Oklahoma Christian University, appear on seminars together as team teachers.

They, along with Carl Brecheen and Deanna Beauchamp, Randy and Camilla Becton, Ed and Jane Coates, Tom and Sandra Milholland, Bruce and Charlotte Davis, Royce and Pam Money, Steve Hare and Jeri Pfeifer, all appeared on the National Family Conference in Dallas, in September of 1990. This conference was sponsored by the Highland Church of Christ, in Abilene, Texas. These church leaders did team-teach to mixed audiences. During last year's conference, one woman addressed the entire assembly.

Such teaching on the Christian home by both men and women to both men and women apparently was accepted by such brotherhood figures as Paul Faulkner, Harold Hazelip, Glenn Owen, James Cail, Mike Armour, and Jim Mankin.

Cynthia Rowland McClure has spoken in chapel at most of our Christian colleges and universities, at some three or four times.

Michelle Thompson was not only the president of the student body at Oklahoma Christian University, but she gave a baccalaureate address for her senior class.

Irma Lee Batey, Marcie Lee Bircher, Patricia Burk McNicol, and Peggy Spoonts West, all serve on the "Great Songs of the Church" hymnal committee and help determine which songs will be included or excluded from the book which many churches will use for worship. Serving with these Christian ladies are other brotherhood leaders like Bill Teague, Tony Ash, Loyd A. Deal, R. Stafford North, Thomas Olbricht, and Ken Davis, Jr.

A score or more of women serve on the boards of trustees of our colleges and universities. Helen Young is probably the most prominent one. Helen has been an effective church leader through her writings, lectures and board memberships. She is a senior editor of a daily devotional guide, Power for Today, and consulting editor of the Twentieth Century Christian magazine. Tens of thousands of people are led in devotions and are instructed by these two publications. She was one of those who paid tribute to Helen Pepperdine and Howard White at their funerals in 1990. Mrs. Pepperdine gave the commencement address at Pepperdine University at least once, and was a life member of its Board of Regents.

The Christian Chronicle carried a feature story in July 1990 about Sister Fanny Lewis, of Cleveland, who took the leadership in her community as a councilwoman and citizen and cleaned it up.

Erin Gammon, of Dallas, Texas, writes a column for Action each month. Her "Tips for Teachers" articles instruct both men and women.

Sammie Guild has been writing an article for The Challenge of Africa for years. It is a combination of information, inspiration and encouragement in missions.

The Brookline, Massachusetts, Church employed Micki Pulley as a minister, perhaps the first one in any Church of Christ. The church has had many visitors, and she says no one ever walked out on one of her sermons.

The Bering Drive congregation, in Houston, has approved the appointment of women as deacons serving in most acts of worship, including ushering, greeting visitors, receiving the offering, reading scriptures, leading prayers, leading singing, and serving communion.

The Dayspring Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma, uses an entire family unit to wait on the table and serve communion, and women read scriptures in worship.

Tom and Sandra Milholland co-taught a class on Christian Counseling at Oklahoma Christian's Annual Lectureship in 1989. It was attended by elders, preachers, other men, and wives.

The Woodmont Hills Church in Nashville has eighteen ministries in which women work and, in some cases, head.

The Vandelia Church of Christ in Lubbock has a number of husband-wife teams heading committees and teaching.

In San Jacinto, California, Elizabeth Turner oversees the visitation program among other leadership roles.

Two ladies serves as treasurers of the Springfield, Arkansas, Church of Christ.

Jan Butcher often leads singing in Newport, Oregon.

Charlotte Greeson directs the family singer choral group at the Richland Hills Church in Fort Worth.

The Preston Road Church of Christ in Dallas appointed Beverly Williams to plan and coordinate a family retreat.

Pam Money is a full-time Christian counselor at the Highland Church in Abilene, Texas.

Peggy Blanton is a marriage/family counselor at the Central Church in Amarillo, Texas.

At the Biblical Studies Institute in Austin, Texas, Melinda Wurley is a Bible scholar and instructor.

It was reported via a half-page ad in the April 1990 Christian Chronicle that on June 24, 1990 there would be an international youth rally broadcast over CSN networks. It was to originate in Berlin and be broadcast to the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth and the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. Program moderators were to be Jeff Walling and Jay Utley. Audience interviewers were to be Deborah Brewer, of CBS, and Jan Elkins, of ABC. These women were involved in an international youth rally, where singing, prayer, and talking about faith would be broadcast across the nation. Thousands were expected to participate.

On May 19, 1990 a similar broadcast covered eight hours of a seminar on Christian solutions to family problems. Centers were used in Tulsa, Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, and Columbus, Ohio. Four women participated in the Christian broadcast, instructing men and women on Christian family relations. They were Sandra Milholland, Pam Money, Grace Napier, and Patty C. Rowley.

In the August 1990 Christian Chronicle it was reported that two couples, the Pete Brazles and Curtis Shumards, were leaving for Honduras to work in medical missions there. They would join eight women who had been on the field for years. These eight women have been leading and serving the Honduran Church in a program named Predisan, a Spanish word meaning "to preach and heal" (Luke 9:25).

These women included Doris Clark, Amanda Madrid, June Hendricks, Debbie Dabbs, Katherine Deams, Celia Lett, Paula Haught and Sandra Warner Mesia. These Christian women are surely fulfilling the Lord's command to preach and heal.

Jule and Judy Miller conduct soul winning workshops for churches across the nation.

Calina Petruna Koval, a Soviet citizen, broadcasts, interprets, and announces from the World Christian Broadcasting studios in Franklin, Tennessee. In fact, she preaches to the USSR in the Russian language. Ed Baily, vice-president of WCBS, says, "Calina is a dedicated individual who has a growing sense of ministry and mission."

Dr. June Breninger, Ed.D, of Columbia Christian College, and Dr. Lucia Carpenter, M.D., participated in a CSN broadcast on what the scriptures say about AIDS and the church's response to the problem. They joined Dr. J. P. Sanders, Prentice Meador, Larry Jones, television personality Marsha Haney and others. The program was broadcast September 1990 on a cable channel nation-wide.

Dr. Jerilyn Pfeifer is the director of Academic Services at Abilene Christian University.

Jane McMullin is Assistant to the Dean of the Graduate School at Abilene Christian University.

Hundreds of Christian women stand in front of congregations signing for the deaf. Others translate into the language of visitors. These women are teaching men and women publicly. I have had sermons translated to English by women in a dozen countries around the globe, from other languages.

Christian College Boards

Many of our Christian Colleges have Christian women serving as trustees. These women were selected because they were competent as Christian leaders, or because they had money, or both.

Would honorable male trustees select women to serve with them as trustees only because they were big donors or potentially big donors? Or because they had the leadership skills and experience to help direct the college or university? Whichever motive causes the male directors to add female directors to those boards, these women are given great power to exercise in the Kingdom of God through their positions.

The following is just a portion of the power they exert when their votes help make decisions of profound significance:

They have the power to hire and fire presidents, deans, business managers, department heads, faculty and staff members.

The power of their vote can determine who may teach Bible on the campus, who will head the Bible Department, who will speak on its lectureships and even who may speak in chapel.

They determine what doctrines may or may not be taught on campus.

They have the power to fire employees who write books on such subjects as "evolution" or even "the women's role in the church."

They vote on school rules, dress codes, tenure and promotions. The list goes on.

Yet, the same men who select women to ostensibly direct the affairs of an institution with millions of dollars in budgets, thousands of students, and hundreds of employees, teach on Sunday that they must be subject to men and cannot even teach a baptized twelve-year-old boy in a Bible class. These ladies are not in subjection to men; they help men rule giant Christian institutions through their votes. Do these women exercise their power and privilege to speak up, or do they defer their voting decisions to the superior men on the board? If they defer, then their judgment is not desired and their membership is based on the lowest common denominator - money.

In a situation where the male board members are divided on an issue, one female trustee would have the power to determine the outcomes of all of the above decisions.

Isn't it strange that those same board members would argue in Sunday School that the Bible requires women to be silent and in subjection and to exercise no authority over men? It is even more strange that a woman could vote on a multi-million dollar budget, hire and fire faculty members, help make decisions which affect the lives of hundreds of faculty members and thousands of students, but that she could not lead a prayer to God in the presence of any of those men or even teach a twelve-year-old baptized boy?

Most likely, not one among us would dare to suggest that the Christian college has less impact upon the Kingdom of God than does one congregation of the church or a dozen congregations. Yet, we have women voting on issues which greatly affect the total Kingdom. However, the same women could not vote in most local churches on whether to use "store-bought" or "home-made" loaves for communion.

Thoughtful and wise Christians surely find such reasoning ludicrous. Either the Bible approves of these Christian women having this power and the right to exercise authority, or their membership on these boards is an act of hypocrisy, unbecoming of forthright decent Christians. If they do not have the Biblical right to make decisions and to exercise authority over personnel, curriculum, rules, budgets, etc., this becomes the worst kind of exploitation of women and Bible teaching imaginable, i.e., they violate the scripture and their money is what puts them on the board. If they do have such power and do exercise such authority, it violates everything we claim I Corinthians 11 and I Timothy 2 teach. And, it is perpetuated and endorsed by some of the richest, most powerful and most influential men in our brotherhood. Can all these men be wrong? Is the word of God elastic enough to include or exclude any practice which will enable us to accommodate any violation of the silence and submission rules, as long as money comes in to support these institutions?

The Bible departments and administrations of these institutions of higher learning are committed to perpetuating the traditional interpretations and applications of the three short proof texts, while their boards violate them in selecting rich or powerful women to serve as directors of their institutions.

Surely we are smarter and more honorable than to even attempt to perpetuate such illogical and inconsistent practices.