By Stan Friedman<\/p>\n
CHICAGO, IL (January 31, 2008) – Long before the modern feminist movement, the four basic tenets of evangelicalism led its adherents to heighten the role of women in the church and society because of the movement\u2019s commitment to converting individuals and unjust social norms, Mimi Haddad told the annual breakfast gathering at the Evangelical Covenant Church\u2019s Midwinter Pastors Conference today.
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\nHaddad currently serves as president of Christians for Biblical Equality and as an adjunct professor at North Park Theological Seminary.<\/p>\n
The traditional four basic tenets of evangelicalism, Haddad, said are commitments to personal conversion, activism resulting from a person\u2019s conversion, emphasizing the correct reading of scripture, and life rooted in the cross.<\/p>\n
Numerous women – including many who were graduates of conservative Bible institutes – led people around the world to become followers of Christ, Haddad said. Having experienced God\u2019s love, converts knew that they were called to improve the living conditions of others.<\/p>\n
Haddad drew from examples of women such as freed slaves Sojourner Truth and Amanda Smith as well as Salvation Army co-founder Catherine Booth. Newspapers took notice of their work that brought about justice for a wide range of people, including the most downtrodden and slaves.<\/p>\n
The desire to justify the ministry of women led evangelicals to examine the scriptures closely, Haddad said. \u201cThey were biblicists of the highest order.\u201d They rejected the \u201cplain reading\u201d of scripture and emphasized understanding what was culturally conditioned and what was timeless truth. That resulted in a theology based on Paul\u2019s call for ministry to be based on gifts and not gender or ethnicity.<\/p>\n
It was the work of Christ on the cross that was even more foundational. \u201c(Evangelicals) endlessly preached on the cross and basically drove people crazy,\u201d Haddad quipped. A favorite verse preached repeatedly was Galatians 2:20 – \u201cI have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Evangelicals also have advocated for the role of women in ministry because of the cross, which formed a new community, as Paul noted in Galatians 3:28 – \u201cThere is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cross brings the distinctives together in a way that strengthens everyone,\u201d Haddad said.<\/p>\n