"Gender Talk: Where are the Boundaries" is a series of conversations with

women from a variety of perspectives. Their expertise and forthrightness on

issues of women inequality are crucial for such a time as this. This second

4-part episode on a "Theological Vision for Gender Equality" include the

following leaders:

1. Ella Thompson is a sought after international speaker and teacher. She

is the Senior Pastor of Truth and Life Christian Church, the President of

the Institute for Leadership & Management Excellence and the founder of the

Women in Leadership Alliance. Committed to leadership development, she has

convened numerous conferences committed to equipping, empowering and

educating women who are called to or currently serve in business and

ministry leadership. She works extensively to revitalize theological

education and to educate administrators in seminaries and divinity schools

in the United States and Canada. She holds a B.A. from Virginia

Commonwealth University, dual M.A. degrees from Regent University USA, and

a Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies. Her research has been in an

interdisciplinary study in leadership studies from King’s College London,

England. Her dissertation, Female Propheticism in Early Christianity:

Sources and Development, examines prophecy and the prophetic leadership of

women within the first and second century church.

2. Valena Hoy is that Associate Pastor for Worship and Pastoral Care at the

First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk. Valena has enjoyed being in ministry

at FPC since 2000.  She loves Jesus and desires to create spaces and

experiences where people can encounter his grace and love.  A graduate of

Converse College in South Carolina, Valena earned a M.Div. and MA from

Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA and also has a Certificate in

Spiritual Direction.

Valena is married to James, a wonderful husband and Chaplain at Sentara

Norfolk General Hospital. They have a daughter, Abigail, who was placed in

their arms in China in 2006.  She has served the larger church through

mission work in Jamaica, Brazil, Central America, particularly: Guatemala

and Nicaragua, and most recently with Tree of Lives in Kenya.  She has a

great love for the Joy Village… it's like walking into the Kingdom of God…

3. Kimberly Ervin Alexander has served as Associate Professor of the

History of Christianity at Regent University School of Divinity since the

Fall of 2011. Before her move to Regent, she served as Associate Professor

of Historical Theology and Assistant Vice-President for Academics at the

Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, TN. She has over 25 years of

experience in parish ministry and worship leadership. In the School of

Divinity, Dr. Alexander teaches courses at both the Master’s and Ph.D.

levels particularly focusing on history and theology of the Early Modern

and Modern eras, including Pentecostal history.

Alexander is a past president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.  She

has also been a contributor to numerous ecumenical dialogues and

consultations. She is the author of Pentecostal Healing:  Models of

Theology and Practice, winner of the 2007 Foundations for Pentecostal

Scholarship Book of the Year award.  With R. Hollis Gause,  she co-authored

Women in Leadership:  A Pentecostal Perspective and with James P. Bowers, 

What Women Want:  Pentecostal Women Ministers Speak for Themselves.  She is

the author of numerous book chapters and articles.  She serves as editor of

the Emeth Press “The Study of World Christian Revitalization Movements in

Pentecostal & Charismatic Studies” series and on the editorial boards for

the Brill Academic Publishers “Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies”

series and Aldersgate Papers: Theological Journal of the Australasian

Centre for Wesleyan Research. Her research interests include early

Pentecostal spirituality and practice, spiritual experience and women in

Pentecostalism..