Study #9: Considering Outstanding Questions and Next Steps Together

Information relating to our gathering on November 1st, 2022 (7-9 pm)
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To prepare for our next gathering on Tuesday, November 1, write out answers to the following:

1. Based on your present understanding of what we have studied together, do you believe that being male is a qualification for elders/overseers of a local church today?
  • Summarize how you have reached this understanding through the study of God's Word.
  • How do the various conclusions that we've reached together along our journey help give you even greater clarity/confidence to your answer to #1? Are there any conclusions that we've reached together which seem to conflict with your answer to question #1?
2. Have your beliefs, assumptions or positions changed in any way since the start of this Theology Study Group? How?

3. Which questions (see our list of "Not Yet Conclusive" ideas) stand out to you as most important to revisit and seek greater clarity?
Please take the time to write out your answers to the questions above in such a way that you would be comfortable sharing what you've written with others who may even disagree with you.
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Instruction for this Gathering

There is no instruction from this gathering. 
The question that (essentially) initiated this study of gender and church leadership is whether or not being male is a biblical qualification for those who serve as elders/overseers (i.e. Ministry Council).

Table Conversation

What is your present understanding on this question based on our study of God’s Word?
You might consider sharing with your table:
  • How the various conclusions that we've reached together along our journey help give you even greater clarity/confidence
  • How your beliefs, assumptions or position(s) have changed

Table Project

  • Based on what we’ve studied together, what are the best biblical arguments for both the egalitarian and complementarian perspectives on our question of eldership in the local church?
  • Discuss around tables and be prepared to share as a table with the rest of the group

Our Best Articulation of the Major Perspectives of our TSG

Based on what we've studied together, we listed the best biblical arguments for both the egalitarian and complementarity perspectives on our question of leadership in the local church. Pastor Thomas took these arguments and organized them into four conversation categories:

1. Hermeneutical Considerations
2. Biblical Examples
3. Teaching
4. Biblical Pattern of the Relationships Between Men and Women

We recognized a need to create a venue for the group to be able to summarize our learning to give our group a space to share what the Lord has revealed to us, in the hope that it might encourage mutual understanding, even when disagreement continues. It is like a worksheet where the contributions written might help us discern further by listening to one another. 

You can find this collection through the link below. We invite all TSG participants to look at and engage with the document. Please comment on the Google Doc, suggest changes or edits, provide scholarly references where we are missing them, etc.  Please ensure that you do not do so anonymously.  

We anticipate engaging with this document will be the focal point of our bonus gathering. 
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Next Gathering:

January 10th, 7pm to 9pm
Bonus Gathering for Continued Consideration and Dialogue


Between Now & January 10th

1. Pray daily...
  •  ...that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Eph 1:18)
  •  ...that we would “be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.” (1 Cor 1:10)
  • ...that “the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, [would] rule your hearts. And [that we would] be thankful.” (Col 3:15)
2. TBA