Mutuality Matters

In this episode of Mutuality Matters, Scott Arbeiter brings enormous wisdom to our conversation on the global impact of egalitarian theology and human flourishing. From Scott’s examination of theological and social obstacles to his critique of organizational leadership and Jesus-style methods of evangelism, he vividly presented the ways that patriarchal practices can be dismantled through the lens of human flourishing. He provided powerful examples of practices that foster human flourishing by beginning with valuing girls and women as God’s image bearers! Like the United Nations Concept Note: 2021 Room 5, Scott also embraces people of faith as essential advocates of women’s equality in creating a safer and more just world. In concluding, Scott addressed abuse among Christians, a topic he addresses in his foreword to Created to Thrive: Cultivating Abuse-Free Faith Communities. 

Trigger Warning: This episode mentions circumstances of abuse and infant death. 

Bio: Scott Arbeiter has served in some truly inspiring leadership positions, including seventeen years as a partner with Arthur Anderson to Lead Pastor Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and acted is the former president of World Relief, an international Christian nonprofit organization that empowers the local church to serve the most vulnerable. Scott has also served on World Relief’s board of directors for nearly a decade. In August 2021 he retired as World Relief’s president.  

Reading and Resources: 

Elizabeth Beyer, editor. Created to Thrive: Cultivating Abuse-Free Faith Communities. CBE International: 2021. 

Learn more about world relief at https://worldrelief.org/. 

Listen to the audio of Nell Green: “Advocating for Equality Among the Marginalized” 

On this episode of Mutuality Matters: Women & Men Leading Together, hosts Layla and Rob learn from Drs. Quentin and Cindy Kinnison. Listen as the Kinnisons share how they have overcome barriers on their journeys toward a conviction that power is meant to be shared between women and men. They give us a window into what flourishing mixed-gender ministry partnerships can look like in academia and cast a vision for living as the beloved community of God.  

Bio  

Dr. Quentin Kinnison is an Associate Professor of Christian Ministry & Leadership and the Program Director for Christian Ministry & Leadership at Fresno Pacific University 

Dr. Cynthia Kinnison is Adjunct Faculty and the Christian Ministry & Leadership Internship Supervisor at Fresno Pacific University 

Created for Community and Mutuality: Created for Community and Mutuality | CBE (cbeinternational.org) 

In this episode of Mutuality Matters, Angela visits with Dr. Christy Woodbury-Moore, assistant professor of spiritual formation at Memphis Theological Seminary, as they discuss the responsibility of those with a seat at the table to embrace and include others. They also discuss how embracing one's personal narrative further empowers one to stand in such places to be vehicles of justice, restoration, and wholeness. So, come have a seat at the table and listen in!

Bio: 

Rev. Dr. Christy S. Woodbury-Moore is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. She attended Tuskegee University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She also holds an MBA from the University of Minnesota-Carlson School of Management. Rev. Dr. Woodbury-Moore received a Master of Divinity degree and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia Union University with a focus on the unique experiences of African American women. She currently serves as the assistant professor of spiritual formation and the director of supervised ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary.  

Dr. Woodbury-Moore has a heart for African American women and the black community. Her dissertation, titled, “Give Me My Stuff: In Defense of Black Womanhood,” is a womanist exploration of the ways black women’s voices and experiences have been minimized in an effort to empower them to see the value in their own stories.  She also serves on the board of Equity for Women in the Church, an ecumenical organization advocating for the representation of women’s key leadership roles in the church. 

In his new book, How God Sees Women, author and pastor, Terran Williams gives an extensive guide to navigating complementarian arguments against the inclusion of women. In this episode, Blake and Erin give listeners a preview of why this complementarian-turned-mutualist pastor is a wonderful resource for how Scripture and Christ see and empower women. Listen as he shares how complementarianism deeply impacts women in his own context of South Africa and all over the world and why that needs to change. You can find his book here: https://www.amazon.com/How-God-Sees-Women-Patriarchy/dp/B09QF82C23 

Bio 

After a decade of leading the preaching team and sermon content creation of a vibrant church, as it grew into the thousands, Terran Williams has now taken full time to writing books and creating video journeys to serve the wider church and world. He authored Biblica’s Reach4Life youth bible—with a print of two million in 30 languages. A seasoned church planter, he also created an intensive two-year church planter course that rolled out in the US, the UK and South Africa. Avid surfer, father of five and coffee-lover, his other passion is, for skeptics and believers alike, building a bridge from God’s Word to your world.  

Other Reading: 

How God Sees Women by Terran Williams: https://www.amazon.com/How-God-Sees-Women-Patriarchy/dp/B09QF82C23 

Men and Women in Christ: Adjudicating the Complementarian-Egalitarian Debate by Andrew Bartlett: https://cbeinternational.christianbook.com/women-christ-adjudicating-complementarian-egalitarian-debate/andrew-bartlett/9781783599172/pd/599172?event=ESRCN|M 

Spoiling the Beautiful Difference by Ian Paul and Andrew Bartlett:  

Book Review on How God Sees Women: The End of Patriarchy: https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/book-review/how-god-sees-women-end-patriarchy 

This week on the Global Impact thread, hosts Mimi and Kim speak with Prabu Deepan, Tearfund’s Regional Director for Asia, who has over fourteen years of experience confronting Gender-Based Violence (GBV), HIV, and more. Listen as Prabu shares his own story of abuse as an ethnic minority youth and how his journey is bringing others to light. Learn about the statistical outcomes of decreasing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) throughout Asia and of the many stories of men and youth. Prabu has seen transformed through the model of Jesus Christ. Significantly for Prabu, what is most needed in upending GBV are leaders who model the transformation they teach as Jesus did! 

Guest Bio: Prabu Deepan is Tearfund's regional director for Asia, leading holistic relief and development across Asia. He has over fourteen years of experience on issues like HIV, gender, and Gender-Based Violence, especially with youth and community mobilization. Leading Tearfund’s gender and protection globally as a gender specialist, Prabu co-created their evidence-based transforming masculinities intervention in twelve countries with related resources in ten languages! Prabu has been part of a UN multi-country study on men and violence in Asia and the Pacific. Prabu addressed the impact of Christian patriarchy at a recent CBE Event. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:  

Other Resources:  

Created to Thrive: Cultivating Abuse-Free Faith Communities: https://www.cbeinternational.org/content/created-thrive 

Join hosts Layla and Rob as they speak with Matt and Bekah Meyer as they share about their partnership as a married couple on staff with InterVarsity Link serving in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Meyers invite us into the dynamics of working in a patriarchal, cross-cultural context while holding an egalitarian conviction. How do they make that work practically? Listen to find out! 

Bio 

Matt and Bekah Meyer have been partnering together in ministry as a married couple for more than 10 years. Currently, they serve with InterVarsity Link in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they are raising their two amazing daughters, Hannah and Junia. In addition, Matt is a second-year PhD student in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen. 

In this week’s episode, host Angela continues her visit with Rev. Michelle D. Williams, co-author of Diversity Playbook: Recommendations and Guidance for Christian Organizations. They discuss how the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion fits into God’s divine plan for reconciliation. Learn as Michelle shares practical insights on how to care for yourself in the midst of bridge-building. Rev. Williams can be reached at https://www.shalomconsultants.com/ or www.diversity-playbook.com. 

Bio 

Rev. Michelle D. Williams, MTS, CDE, is a writer, speaker, preacher, and entrepreneur. For over 20 years Rev. Williams has worked with people during some of the most formative and stressful seasons of life. Beginning as a social worker with at-risk populations; serving as a pastor walking through life's transitions; working as an advisor/mentor to undergraduate college students (Anderson University); navigating tumultuous racial/cultural conflicts, and most recently as a dean at a graduate seminary (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary). Having served in various pastoral ministry roles, Rev. Michelle appreciates the legacy of Godly women and men in her family that have richly impacted her life and ministry. Whether it is within a church setting or within the hallowed halls of academia, shepherding people, programs, and policies requires wisdom and grace. These two attributes are the cornerstone of Michelle’s leadership approach. Rev. Williams is co-author of "Diversity Playbook: Recommendations and Guidance for Christian Organizations." She is a Certified Diversity Executive and CEO of Shalom Consultants 

Speaking of Justice: 10 Terms Christian Gender Justice Advocates Should Know: Speaking of Justice: 10 Terms Christian Gender Justice Advocates Should Know | CBE (cbeinternational.org) 

On this week’s podcast, hosts Erin and Blake give a sneak peak of CBE’s upcoming conference, “Exploring the Fullness of Galatians 3:28”, and the summer issue of Mutuality Magazine. Listen as they give their initial thoughts on the issue that addresses topics such as, do egalitarians take Galatians 3:28 too far and cheapen the Gospel? How does Galatians 3:28 shape our identity as adopted children of God? And much more! 

Read the Issue Digitally at CBE’s Website: https://www.cbeinternational.org/publication/mutuality-blog-magazine/current-print-issue 

Conference Website: https://www.cbeinternational.org/content/cbes-2022-international-conference 

Keynotes and Workshops: https://www.cbeinternational.org/content/conference-speakers 

Conference Scholarships: https://www.cbeinternational.org/content/conference-scholarships 

Conference Sponsorships: https://www.cbeinternational.org/content/sponsors-and-exhibitors 

On this week’s podcast, hosts Mimi & Kim speak with Katherine Marshall, a distinguished humanitarian. Katherine’s vast humanitarian experience worldwide infuses wisdom into conversations on the complex puzzles of religion as it hinders or furthers women’s equality and human flourishing. Marshall cites personal stories and those from the field to illustrate, from her perspective, the ways humanitarians handle faith and faith actors in raising the status of women and girls which improves life for their entire community.

In this episode, hosts Layla and Rob talk with Rev. Liz Testa, coordinator for Women’s Transformation and Leadership with the Reformed Church of America (RCA), who shares her own experiences building mutual partnerships between women and men. She gives practical insight into the struggles churches currently face and offers biblical advice for how women and men in church leadership can move forward together towards unity. Listen as she casts an inspiring vision for churches welcoming everyone to the table and celebrating the diversity of gifts that God has placed in a community.  

Bio 

REV. ELIZABETH (LIZ) TESTA, M.DIV is a pastor, ministry executive, community builder and sister in Christ, who is passionate about biblical hospitality, multi-cultural worship arts and encouraging others to embrace their God-given gifts and callings. Since 2014, she has served the Reformed Church in America (RCA) as the visionary leader for Women’s Transformation and Leadership and Equity-Based Hospitality. Liz and her team encourage, equip, and empower women of all backgrounds and callings, and equip diverse faith communities to do the same and intentionally create healthy environments where mixed-gender ministry partnerships can flourish and thrive.  

Prior to joining the RCA, Rev. Testa spent 12 years on staff at Marble Collegiate Church in NYC. Her first career was as a professional actress and spokesperson, and she delights at how God uses those experiences to enhance her calling in ministry. Rev. Testa holds a BFA in Drama from Syracuse University and an M.Div from Drew Theological School in Madison, NJ.  She is on the Board of Trustees of New Brunswick Theological Seminary and the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. Raised bi-culturally in New York and Spain, Liz loves travel, international cuisines and culture, and is a natural bridge builder across diverse contexts. Her family includes her husband of 25 years, Nick, a NYC high school teacher and daughters Sofia, a psychology student at University of London, Goldsmith’s College and Juliette, a high school junior and softball player.  

For more info, contact [email protected] 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: 

Building God’s Church Together Bible Study: https://learn.faithward.org/courses/building-gods-church-together-bible-study 

As you’ll hear in the episode, Liz exhorts men to “do their work” on their gender brokenness and uncovering their unconscious biases. We’ll recommend these resources: 

• Man Enough by Nate Pyle 

• Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes du Mez