Details for Women and Christian Ministry

Helen Reddy made headlines when her feminist anthem hit #1 on the Billboard Charts in 1972. Do you want to have the same empowering impact for women in your ministry context? This unit seeks to explore the place of women in Australasian society, both past and present, inside and outside of the church. Particularly it will examine what is the place of women in ministry by drawing on key examples, to provide tools for women (and their supporters) to be released and successful in their ministry today.

The unit Women and Christian Ministry is part of the subject area Ministry and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Bachelor of Applied Theology (Korean) (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)), Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This course unit examines the place and function of women in ministry, and the nature of ministry to women in Australasian society in general and Pentecostalism in particular from biblical, theological, historical, and cultural perspectives.

Subject Content

1. Women and Ordination in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney – as paradigm: Exploring the Debate, the Context and the Issues
2. The role of women in contemporary society
3. Feminism and Biblical Interpretation
4. Theological and Charismatic Perspectives on Women and Ministry
5. Women in the Formation and Growth of Australasian Pentecostalism
6. Perspectives on Women and Ministry in Australasian Pentecostalism
7. The Future of Women’s Ministry
8. Pentecostal Feminism?

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, discussion, pre-readings, interaction with practitioners

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Critical Book Review (30%, 1500 words); Interview Analysis (30%, 1500 words); Major Essay (40%, 2000 words)

Prescribed Text

Clifton, S. & Grey, J., (eds) Raising Women Leaders: Perspectives on Liberating Women in Pentecostal and Charismatic Contexts, APS Supplement 3, Sydney: APS, 2009.

Representative References

• Allen, P. The Concept of Woman. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
• Arlandson, J.M. Women, Class, and Society in Early Christianity. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.
• Belleville, L. L (ed.). Two Views on Women in Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.
• Blumhofer, E.L. Restoring the Faith. Urbana: UIP, 1993.
• De Vries-Evans, S. Pioneer Women, Pioneer Land. North Ryde, N.S.W.: Angus & Robertson, 1987.
• Duncan, J. L. and Hunt, S. Women's Ministry in the Local Church. Westchester, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2006.
• Grenz, S.J. Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry. Grand Rapids:
• InterVarsity Press, 1995.
• Hutchinson, M. and Campion, E. (eds.). Long, Patient Struggle. Sydney: CSAC, 1994.
• Lancaster, S.H. Women and the Authority of Scripture: A Narrative Approach. Harrisburg: Trinity, 2002.
• Northouse, P. (ed.), Leadership: Theory and Practice.4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006.