Gender and Ministry in Early Christianity and the Church Today

In certain Christian religions, especially Roman Catholicism, there is an undeniable link between the male gender and the exercise of particular ministry roles. The Catholic Church has reserved ordination to the priesthood for men only, thereby making the female gender incompatible with priesthood. The Anglican Church, on the other hand, creates equal access for both genders by eradicating this line of separation. Here, we see two churches, two biblical interpretations, and two approaches to ministry. In the light of this apparent contradiction, Gender and Ministry in Early Christianity and the Church Today examines to what degree Paul and the early church accepted the ministry of women. Ultimately, the book argues that the presentation of the Christian God as interested in gender and ministry is a standard case of anthropomorphism. The overwhelming pieces of evidence examined in this work do not support any sexist approach to ministry; rather, the book concludes that women should not be excluded from any aspect of the ministry of the Christian church.