The New NIV

I baulked when my devotional reading a couple of days ago invited me to pray: 'let me be a "man of peace".'

OK, so she (it is a woman!) used inverted commas, but one of her texts is Psalm 37:37: 'Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace'' Has she never realised that there are more inclusive Bible versions?

Back in the bad old days I often used to challenge speakers or write to publishers to lament their lack of inclusion, with a variety of responses. A well-known evangelist went straight to the college book room to buy a new Bible; others were uncomprehending. But I may not have to get so exasperated for much longer. The new NIV has arrived!

Revising the NIV has been a difficult business. I can remember a meeting at Hodders back in the 1990s, which resulted in the 'NIVI' (1996) - the 'I' standing for 'inclusive' . It was intended as a revision, but became an addition to the 1984 NIV, because a conservative N American lobby was strongly opposed to it. Then in 2002/2005 we got the TNIV, again meant to be a revision, but becoming yet another addition to the 'original' NIV, which held its place in the popularity stakes and pew version.

Now, the 2011 NIV is the NIV! It's published this month, but is already available at http://www.biblegateway.com/

It's reassuring to read that the Committee on Bible Translation worked with Collins Dictionaries to look at changes in gender language. As a result, many of the gender language changes introduced in the TNIV were verified and retained, some revert back to the 1984 edition, and some have been handled differently.

To give some clues, plural is used to avoid use of 'he' or 'him'; 'mankind' is used, not 'humankind'; 'God and man' as a pair appears, but human beings collectively are 'people' , not 'men'; Junia is female and an apostle, and Phoebe a deacon.

So now scholars are eagerly assessing whether the new NIV is a success - and that will depend on one's starting point!

In a recent post for CBE, John Kohlenberger reckoned this is a major improvement to the 1978/1984 NIV. A review in Priscilla Papers is pleased too, though slightly worried that it could have been better. I think that in the current climate, the Committee have done well, and that we will be well served by this new edition of what has become such a popular translation in evangelical circles.

To look at test case passages try: Psalm 68:11; Romans 16:1-2; Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 11:2-12; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Timothy 2:11-12; 1 Timothy 3:11.

For more technical info go to BibleGateway for a link to the note from the Committee with more examples; or Robert Slowley has a site with full texts of the 1984 NIV, 2005 TNIV and 2011 NIV book by book and verse by verse.

How Jesus developed women as leaders

I don't really like blowing my own trumpet. But I was quite chuffed when the post delivered a book which includes one chapter by me: 'How did Jesus develop women as leaders?'

Depending on your perspective, that might seem like a really odd question. Or it may be that you've already read my article on it on the web - in which case you might like to read the new, more full version here.

The book is called Apostolic Women, Apostolic Authority: Transfiguring Leadership in Today's Church, edited by Martyn Percy and Christina Rees, published by Canterbury Press in December last year. The book was designed to collect up papers from a pre-Lambeth conference held at Cuddesdon in 2008, but these were supplemented by a number of other papers written (or edited) for the book, and mine is one of those.

I've just finished reading the book and it will be reviewed soon; there's plenty of varied material in it and I found many of the chapters very valuable. There is lots throughout about 'power'; a great chapter on women in the Bible and church history; a perspective from the US on the deployment of women, which raises issues I've been contemplating, about lack of women called to larger churches; Jane Hedges' research findings on whether women are up for senior posts; 'size matters', a piece of research on the lack of women leading larger churches; a good chapter on spirituality; and an excellent piece by Lis Goddard on the need to transfigure episcopal ministry into something more collegial and collaborative, and how this might also benefit women who currently feel marginalised.

My article - well, you can read it! It might not appear at first that there is anything to write about how Jesus developed women as leaders. But read the biblical text more closely and there's lots going on. The women who were 'with Jesus'. Mary and Martha, the woman at the well, Mary Magdalene, the women leaders emerging as leaders in the early church. And how women were included alongside men - not in the 'twelve', but very close to them, and certainly included in both learning experiences and commissions to ministry.

It's very apparent to me in the current climate, where some women are facing a backlash (?) of teaching that says we should not be leading in the Church, that we need to read what the Bible is actually saying rather than reaching for those old 'proof' texts (without looking at translation, context and recent interpretaion), and lobbing them over the parapet at women.

Funny too how men can lob stuff at women (why do they make up the rules?), but if we respond we're being over-sensitive, ambitious or 'aggressive'!

Yes you can

Leadership is hard work. There's no doubt about that. But good leadership can achieve amazing things.

I know we're now into 2011, but I was recently inspired by reading the story about one of the Woman of the Year awards 2010.

The Sainsbury's 'You Can' award was given to Shara Brice, who leads the Ascension Eagles, a cheerleading team which is now recognised as one of the best in the world.

Shara moved to the Ascension parish in East London in 1996. It was tough. But she decided to bring to the young people the skills of cheer leading, and gradually the group of young people, their confidence, and their acheivements, grew. The 130-strong team have won more than 250 trophies.

Through the Eagles, the young people experience positive role models and learn new life-skills and skills which will later help them to find employment.

Shara was awarded an MBE for her work, which has changed the lives of thousands of young people in east London. She's also an Arrow graduate.

Inspiring, or what?

New year, new women leaders

2011 is off to an interesting start, with news that Dilma Rousseff has been elected President of Brazil.

The 63-year-old is the first woman president of this huge country (200 million people), with its growing economy yet dramatic contrast between rich and poor.

I was particuarly intrigued that a woman could be elected to lead such a relatively macho country (or is that my prejudiced viewpoint?). Or is it true that women really are becoming more readily accepted as leaders?

Dilma 's background is as the former leader of a resistance movement, who then moved into mainstream politics. She held the position of energy minister, and then served as chief of staff of President Lula from 2005-2010. Apparently nine of her 37 ministers will be women, a record for Brazil.

So what of the Church? Unlike progress in politics, theological issues are primary (or should be) in the debate about whether women should be bishops. Who knows what will happen in the Church of England?

The next stage is for discussion and decision at local and diocesan level, and discussions continue as to what provision should be made for those who feel disenfranchised.

I was personally encouraged today to hear of a 15th woman archdeacon being appointed. Christine Froude, whom I've known for some years, and who has done a great job as an incumbent and as dean of women's ministry in Bristol diocese, has been appointed Archdeacon of Malmesbury.

What else will 2011 bring in terms of women's leadership?

Obeying the Spirit?

Why have denominations in the Holiness tradition been ordaining women for so much longer than in other Christian traditions?

That's a question asked in a recent article in the CBE journal, Priscilla Papers.

I was surprised to read that in the Church of the Nazarene (in the USA), in 1908 women made up 13% of ordained ministers. Yes, that's 13% of ordained ministers more than 100 years ago!

So how could this be? It was not because that denomination and others like it were being fashionable, or were influenced by feminism - a word which was not of course even invented then.

It was because denominations which emphasised the role of the Spirit in the Christian life took the Bible at face value when they read in Joel and Acts: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your..daughters will prophecy.'

This was an arguement made popular in the mid nineteenth century by Phoebe Palmer (who influenced Catherine Booth, among others). Palmer (pictured here) wrote a 400 page book, The Promise of the Father, which talked of how the sending of the Spirit at Pentecost inaugurated a new era, as the Spirit had been poured out equally on men and women.

According to the CBE article, 3 things made women's ordination more acceptable in the Holiness traditions: a preference for leadership based on prophetic authority, an encouragement for all people to give public testimony at church gatherings, and flexible church structures.

As I continue to hear about able women being told that women's leadership is 'not biblical' I'm intrigued by this different take on Scripture from these 'back to the New Testament' denominations. Apparently, if women did not testify to God in their worship, they were being disobedient to the Spirit and to Scripture! And as they gained experience, and their churches were open to women preaching the gospel, women could be 'called'. Ordination was then an affirmation of the Holy Spirit's choice.

Perhaps some denominations need a bit more obedience to the Spirit. Or is that too much of a radical thought!

Better Together

I'm always excited when Mutuality comes through my letter box.

Mutuality is the news magazine of CBE international. One of the first articles to catch my eye this time was the conference report from the CBE conference in Australia, 'Better Together'.

And it was interesting to read that the issues around in Australia are not that different from those in UK.

'We feel really concerned with the pressure that is being applied to folk - that if you do not accept male authority and leadership you do not accept the Bible', wrote Kevin Giles. I am currently involved in some conversations where one of the issues is that of accepting that evangelical women priests exist, and that to be an evangelical woman priest is not a contradiction in terms. As I see it, we have the same commitment to scripture, we just read it differently.

What really caught my eye was a section on how the conference had served as a place of healing.

'A female Anglican vicar said to me after the conference that she felt like a child whose father had presented her with a birth certificate to show that she was really part of the family, after believing all her life that she was adopted and did not really belong! This person is about to retire after years of successful ministry in Melbourne. It is amazing to think it took this conference to really affirm her ministry.'

I don't know whether to be sad or angry. Just reading the book I mentioned in my previous post, The 7 deadly sins of women in leadership. As women we may have negative self-perceptions, but how did those self-perceptions get there? Subtly, as sometimes we have had to overcome so many obstacles. I thank God that early in my own exploring of ministry I found people like Faith Forster and others who back in the 1980s were showing that there was more than one evangelical way to read scripture.

You can read more about the conference at www.cbeinternational.org/melbourne

Seven deadly sins

On Saturday I went to a book launch. Kate Coleman was launching her book 7 Deadly Sins of Women in Leadership.

In her book, Kate explores seven self-defeating behaviours in work and leadership, such as limiting self-perceptions, failure to draw the line, and inadequate personal vision.

The book is based on a programme of day events with the same title which Kate and others in Next Leadership have been running, and some of those who'd attended these testified to the life-transforming impact the days had had. It was quite an event; these testimonies, Kate herself talking about the book, some great worship led by Nicki and Pete Sims, and a magnificent lunch!

Elaine Storkey, who has written the Foreword to the book, writes: 'a must-read book for anyone in leadership, including those who wonder how they got there!... It's rare to find such careful research, gripping narrative and positive mentoring all in one book. I loved it!'

I would not normally recommend a book before reading it - and it will be reviewed in my CPAS review pages - but knowing Kate a little, and having heard her and others speak, I want to be an advocate already. And I think this book will complement my own, as it takes some of the issues for women which later chapters of my book mention, and helps women to develop as leaders in those areas.

I recognise some of Kate's '7 deadlies' in myself, so I'm sure it will help me!

For more on the book and how to buy it, go to http://www.nextleadership.org/. To listen to Nicky's song, 'Daughter of Destiny' which was sung at the book launch, go to the same page and scroll down for a link.