Mutuality Matters

In this episode of Mutuality Matters Grace Al-Zoughbi celebrates how God inspired her calling as a theologian not only by the support she received from her loving Christian parents, but also through her church community and via her husband’s affirmation. She describes the living faith of her Christian community in Palestine, one that stands in continuity with the early Christians. As a theologian and professor, Grace has a deep passion to recover and celebrate the contributions of Christian women leaders throughout history, particularly in her region of the world. Moreover, Grace has a profound commitment for women students from the Arab world in whom she sees enormous strength of character, vision, and promise—God's gifts for a better future for the church and region. Working to see their gifts welcomed not only the church, but also the academy, Grace serves her community with joy, irenic engagement, and a deep commitment to serve Christian women through church life and academic leadership. We give thanks for Grace and her powerful life of faith and passion for Christian women. 

Grace Al-Zoughbi earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Bethlehem Bible College; an M.A. (with Merit) in Theology from the London School of Theology. Grace is completing a PhD with the London School of Theology with a concentration on the theological education and leadership of Arab women in the Middle East. Grace is the first woman to serve as a Lecturer in Theological Education at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. Married to Rev. Michael Arteen, together they share a passion and calling to advance the work of Christ in the Middle East, having served in different capacities in the US, England, Europe and Asia. Grace will speak at CBE’s August 5-7, 2022 Conference in Atlanta as together we Explore the Fullness of Gal 3:28. 

In this episode of Women and Men Leading Together: Stories from the Field, Rob and Layla sit down with Tim Bushra, InterVarsity campus staff in Santa Barbara, CA. Listen as Tim brings a prophetic word about how Gen Z is thinking about women and men in ministry partnerships! 

Further Reading through CBE: 

How to Teach Mutuality to the Next Generation https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/mutuality-blog-magazine/how-teach-mutuality-next-generation 

Seven Egalitarian Leaders Reflect on the Movement’s Past, Present, and Future 

https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/mutuality-blog-magazine/seven-egalitarian-leaders-reflect-movements-past-present 

This week on the Intersectionality thread, host Angela interviews Dr. Kwok Pui Lan on her co-authored book with Joerg Rieger, Occupy Religion: Theology of the Multitude. Kwok discusses the occupy movement and how the multitude refers to the 99%. She emphasizes how the Bible heavily discusses the poor, those in poverty, and how this is central to biblical teaching. Other topics included economic inequity in the world today, holistic restoration, restorative justice, and post-colonialism. 

Other Reading: 

Occupy Religion: Theology of the Multitude: https://www.amazon.com/Occupy-Religion-Theology-Multitude-Modern/dp/1442217928 

This week on the New Voices thread, hosts Erin and Blake interview Dr. Diane Langberg on her new book, Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church. They discuss how power is a gift from God that should not be exploited, misused, or used for personal benefit. Power from God was given to us “to be like (God) and to produce fruit that looks like him.” Dr. Langberg discusses the work she does with trauma victims, how it is an invitation to the sufferings of Christ, and how we need to examine ourselves regarding deceptive power. 

Other Reading: 

Are We Continuing to Sideline Women in Conversations About Abuse? https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/mutuality-blog-magazine/are-we-continuing-sideline-women-conversations-about-abuse 

The Psalm of Vengeance, the God Who Listens, and How I Learned to Forgive My Mother’s Abuser 

https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/priscilla-papers-academic-journal/psalm-vengeance-god-who-listens-and-how-i 

Women’s Equality and How Churches Respond to Abuse 

https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/mutuality-blog-magazine/womens-equality-and-how-churches-respond-abuse 

Her Twitter account: @dianelangberg 

Her website: https://www.dianelangberg.com/ 

Links to her books 

• Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church: https://cbeinternational.christianbook.com/redeeming-power-understanding-authority-abuse-church/diane-langberg/9781587434389/pd/43438X?event=ESRCN 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Suffering-Heart-God-Destroys-Restores/dp/1942572026#:~:text=Her%20answer%20carefully%20explained%20in%20Suffering%20and%20the,their%20traumatic%20suffering%20through%20talking%2C%20tears%2C%20and%20time. 

• On the Threshold of Hope: Opening the Door to Healing for Survivors of Sexual Abuse  

https://www.amazon.com.au/Threshold-Hope-Opening-Healing-Survivors/dp/0842343628/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QVR2DT2WL99R&keywords=On+the+Threshold+of+Hope%3A+Opening+the+Door+to+Healing+for+Survivors+of+Sexual+Abuse&qid=1644525107&s=books&sprefix=on+the+threshold+of+hope+opening+the+door+to+healing+for+survivors+of+sexual+abuse+%2Cstripbooks%2C76&sr=1-1 

• Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Counseling-Survivors-Sexual-Abuse-Langberg/dp/0842304878/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2C6FFZARC8VD2&keywords=Counseling+Survivors+of+Sexual+Abuse&qid=1644525241&s=books&sprefix=counseling+survivors+of+sexual+abuse+%2Cstripbooks%2C79&sr=1-2 

• Counsel for Pastors’ Wives 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Counsel-Pastors-Wives-Diane-Langberg-ebook/dp/B004M18LWC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1TQ8Z6YV9IYBW&keywords=Counsel+for+Pastors%E2%80%99+Wives&qid=1644525284&s=books&sprefix=counsel+for+pastors+wives+%2Cstripbooks%2C80&sr=1-1 

This week on the Global Impact thread, hosts Mimi and Kim interview Dr. Beatrice Ambauen-Berger about her work in fistula repair in rural Bangladesh. They discuss how the neglect and low status of women leads to birthing disasters and disease, and more specifically fistulas. This disease is marked by ongoing incontinence, causing women further neglect as they are ostracized from community and family. Join us in hearing Beatrice and her team’s work to bring redemptive healing that shouts of Jesus’ countercultural approach to healing such women.   

To learn more about her work, see: 

Dr. Beatrice explains fistulas on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpyqzkCJQL4 

Aljazeera documentary featuring Dr. Beatrice: https://www.aljazeera.com/program/101-east/2016/1/17/too-young-to-wed-child-marriage-in-bangladesh 

Follow the work of Lamb Hospital in Bangladesh at: LAMBproject.org 

Reach the main donor for fistulas: womenshope.ch  

Reach Dr. Beatrice Ambuen-Berger at: [email protected] 

This week on the Women & Men thread, hosts Rob and Layla talk with Pastors Neely McQueen and Pat Swanson about their co-leadership, mixed-gender model for a healthy ministry partnership. Neely and Pat discuss how they came to agreement to co-apply for their church’s Lead Pastor position, and how they dreamed and planned together for their new partnership. They share how their co-leadership model is a gift to their congregation and how having a woman and a man serving together in co-leadership roles brings healing and causes restorative, redemptive work within the church. 

Other topics included the different challenges Neely and Pat had to overcome as they entered their new partnership. They gave tips on how to be successful with their leadership model and provided their dreams for the future of the church and women and men working together in ministry.

This week on the Intersectionality thread, host Angela talks with Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown about sounding the certain trumpet in the key of F—for female. She shares that prophetic preaching is based in God’s great love for all humanity and calls us all into right relationship with each other. It is not a black thing or a white thing but a love thing. She also shares from her book, Delivering the Sermon: Voice, Body and Animation in Proclamation. 

 Other topics included the need for soul care and time with God in prayer and self-examination for every preacher as part of their preparation and delivering of the Word of God in an impactful transformative manner. 

This week on the New Voices thread, hosts Blake and Erin speak with Tiffany Bluhm about her book Prey Tell: Why We Silence Women Who Tell the Truth and How Everyone Can Speak Up. The conversation ranges from discussing cultures that perpetuate the silencing of women, Tiffany’s own experiences, and how we can move towards healthier spaces. 

To keep up with Tiffany’s work, make sure to follow her on Twitter and Instagram @tiffanybluhm, listen to her podcast Why Tho and pick up a copy of Prey Tell. 

Related Reading: 

“Are We Continuing to Sideline Women in Conversations about Abuse?” 

“Men Still Need to Talk about the Difficulties Women Still Face”  

This week on the Global Impact thread of Mutuality Matters, hosts Mimi and Kim interview Amanda Jackson, director of the Women’s Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and recipient of CBE’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award. In this candid conversation, Amanda offers Christian women leaders strategies for facing hurdles preventing them from using their gifts based in her own experience, she shares stories of faith and expertise in reading Scripture in with new insights that support women’s leadership, she suggests very practical ways men can serve as allies to women, and finally, Amanda offers us strategies for preventing violence and abuse. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from Amanda’s numerous and varied experiences and expertise!  

Things mentioned in this episode: 

Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an exercise in Hope by Dr. Esau McCaulley, IVP 2020  (book) 

Women’s Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) (organization) 

RISE in Strength (organization) 

A news article about the christian network to end abuse (news article) 

Learn more about CBE and the work we do!  

In this episode of Women and Men Leading Together: Stories from the Field, hosts Layla and Rob sit down with Lisa Rodriguez-Watson, National Director of Missio Alliance. You won’t find a more honest and real assessment of the challenges and benefits of pursuing mixed-gender ministry partnerships, and Lisa’s passion for partnership should not be missed! 

To continue learning from Lisa, find her on Twitter and Instagram @LRodWatson, and for more on the ministry of Missio Alliance, see www.missioalliance.org. 

Read CBE articles published in partnership with Missio Alliance: 

Biblical Equality and the Letters of Paul 

9 Ridiculously Practical Ways for Male Leaders to Empower Female Leaders in the Church