Submitted by:
Jeff Ondrey, CBGE member

I was greatly blessed by having the fortune of attending the CBE International Conference held in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, July 26-28, 2013. Given that it was only a 3 hour drive from my home and the fact that I had family living in the area and a weekend free of the usual busy-ness, it made perfect sense that I should attend.  The following is a very minimalist list of the top ten takeaways from this conference for me.  This list does not do full justice to the fullness of all that I learned and the inspiration that I now have to learn even more: Continue Reading »

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The following post is from a woman I met while attending the CBE International Conference in Pittsburgh.  Ruby is a member of Crossroads Covenant Church in Greeley, Colorado and joined the Covenant in 2002. What a pleasant surprise to sit down at dinner and run into a fellow Covenanter Ruby Lindblad and her family.

Submitted by:
Ruby Lindblad

I recently attended a Christians for Biblical Equality conference in Pittsburgh, PA July 26-28. Every time I attend a CBE conference I experience an array of emotions and this conference was definitely not an exception. I experienced joy, love, thankfulness, excitement, anger, sadness, and even depression. It’s hard to deal with this many emotions in such a few days and I felt the effects of it on my whole being the week following.

I was joyful and thankful during worship times feeling the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit who gave me encouragement that I can do what God has called me to even though I am a woman. “I can do this through Christ who gives me strength.” Continue Reading »

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Submitted by:
Pastor Gricel Medina (OWS)
BGE Chairperson

The other day, I was reminded of the many times God sends the wind. As I came out of a restaurant with friends,  we were suddenly welcomed with a night wind. It was a special delight to me since I had been out and about driving in the Texas sun.

Windy days come in every season. During the winter they propel us to move briskly forward. In the autumn they make us reflect on the changes that are about to come. The spring  winds empower us to enjoy the beauty of growth and new developments. They also compel us to replenish and plant.It is the summer winds that refresh us the most. They revive us from the hot, humid and sometimes unbearable sun. The summer winds alleviate the weariest of travelers.  Summer is not just for vacations. It can be a time of reflection and setting visions into motion. Continue Reading »

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Written by Cindy Wu

I started dreaming about my wedding day long before I was even interested in boys. As a little girl, I started imagining my wedding dress, picking out my wedding ring, choosing my bridesmaids, and planning the ceremony. As I grew older and started attending friends’ weddings, I made mental edits: change the entrance song, hire a live band instead of a DJ, cross Susie off the bridesmaids list.

By the time my actual wedding day arrived, none of my choices matched my childhood designs but by then it didn’t matter—part of the fun was in the dreaming. Dreaming about one’s wedding day is a natural inclination. A wedding is a sacred day, the beginning of a new journey, and worthy of great attention. Continue Reading »

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Written by Rev. Gricel Medina (OWS)
BGE Chairperson

Recently I was curious of how exactly do stones become smooth. Weather and erosion are just some of the causes and effects. However, it is the tumbling around other rocks that causes the stones to become smooth on all sides. I love how God gives us such vibrant visual life lessons.

We all have stories to tell of seasons that have tumbled us. Dealing with difficulties in life is about making quick adjustments. David in the Bible was a tumbler. His encounter with Goliath is a story many children learn in church.  It is not just about defeating a great big giant. David was overlooked many times. FYI…especially during his formidable years by his own family. He overcame great adversities. Continue Reading »

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Here is a link to a recent post in the weekly newsletter of Christian’s for Biblical Equality, Arise.  This article by Rev. Mark Whitlock, Jr. was originally published in the Los Angeles Sentinel.  It is short and simple and a good reminder to all of us that we must pray for God to end discrimination in our pulpits, board rooms and pews throughout the world.

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Sometimes the direct approach is the best.  In his blog, Preston Yancey (an author, painter, and baker soon to be doing doctoral work at St. Andrews in Scotland) forcefully challenges the church to “put a woman behind the pulpit”, so we can see the whole picture of what God intends and God is doing.  You can access Preston’s blog by clicking here.

Submitted by
Brian Wiele, CBGE member

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By Rev. Gricel Medina (OWS)
CBGE Chairperson

Entitlement comes in many forms. It is often so ingrained that we can be so oblivious to its offensive odor. Jesus went through various forms of discrimination, so why are we so surprised in the church when issues of race and gender come up? The reality is that when people are excluded from the table of decision by omission it is a form of discrimination. Ignorance does not exonerate us. I have encountered people who are deliriously mesmerized with self importance. They hold on for dear life to positions and advocate for the exclusion of others out of fear.

Making the mistake of not including others because of gender, race or any personal bias from the mission of the church, can be costly. Unfortunately, I have experienced the pain of listening to sermons that are eloquent, yet carelessly use language that is gender and/or racially disrespectful. Continue Reading »

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To say many women are in a place of transition is an understatement. I heard this week of several gifted women who cannot find placement in churches as lead pastors due to this unspoken code of women in authority. It angered me to be reminded that this still goes on.

As a former church planter, my ministry life has been a series of deserts, valleys, storms and mountain views. Writing has been a great source of healing and spiritual directives. I am constantly reflecting on what to discard and what to preserve.

In the midst of it all I have had many doors of opportunity. Doors that have brought out a creative and innovative part of me into visibility. My heart is overwhelmed with the faithfulness of God. Doors have opened in the secular school system and corporate businesses in my community. My passion for evangelism has found many outlets in these marketplaces. It has been a time of seed planting and harvest. Continue Reading »

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