Embracing Complementarianism

Gary Millar

This is a book I have been waiting for! Graham Beynon and Jane Tooher have done a beautiful job in explaining what complementarianism is (and isn’t!), showing how it is rooted in the Bible and describing what it might look like in action. This gracious introduction to a controversial and potentially divisive issue is eirenic, thoughtful and stimulating. I think this will be so helpful in all kinds of contexts as together we work out what biblical faithfulness looks like in the life of the local church and beyond.

Kanishka Raffel

Embracing Complementarianism paints an engaging and persuasive picture of what complementarianism might look like in the local church. It is neither dismissive of alternative views nor prescriptive of the conclusions reached by the authors. Rather, it raises some vitally important questions about men and women serving together in ministry, and encourages pastors and churches to reflect deeply on their convictions about Scripture’s teaching in this area, and the way they are, or are not, put into practice. It’s a book to make use of, not merely to read and keep on the shelf. This is the book on complementarianism we’ve been waiting for!

A wise and irenic work

Is there a more contentious topic for church life than the matter of how men and women are to relate and partner in ministry? Conversations about this topic aren’t new, but they aren’t getting easier either. For this reason, I’m very glad for the rich resource of Embracing Complementarianism: Turning Biblical Convictions into Positive Church Culture.... continue reading

“Helpful and humble”

This is a helpful book to thoughtfully consider how to put into practice the Biblical conviction of complementarianism. Without telling the readers exactly what to do, the authors give clear Scripture support and application for how men and women should work alongside each other in ministry. They graciously cover a sensitive topic with an outpouring of Scripture and an obvious humility. Each chapter ends with reflective questions and group questions to dig in further. This would be a great book for church leaders to read and discuss together as they carefully consider how to put complementarianism into practice in a God-honoring and faithful way.

“Great”

Love opening w positivity

“A Great Introduction to a Big Topic”

Having seen myself as potentially a complementarian but without really thinking a huge amount about the theological arguments for each theological interpretation, this was a really helpful introduction to the subject before reading some more detailed, academic volumes.
The authors set out a clear scriptural case for complementarianism and, unlike many books on the topic that I've read recently, they also move from the theological discussion to a good wrestle with the application, particularly in the areas of church leadership, preaching, staff teams and similar areas of common questions. This will be really useful to think through with our staff team, whatever they think about complementarianism, so as to clarify our thoughts and study scripture together with some key questions at the end of each chapter. A bold book which will serve many congregations in the years to come.

“Very helpful”

This book was written for people like me: we believe in the authority of Scripture, we trust God even when He says things we find hard, countercultural or inexplicable. I've long been convinced of the complementarian interpretation of the Scriptures - that men and women are equal sharers in the image and glory of God and at the same time they have assymetric but complementing callings in God's church. However I have often felt embarrassed and confused by it in the egalitarian world in which we live.

Unfortunately, all too often complementation teaching goes no further than presenting a list of the things that women can and cannot do - especially focusing on the latter. However, this book wants to help us as individuals and church communities to strive to live into the positive and glorious opportunities opened up by the Scriptures.

In essence it challenges us to see that what God has said is good news and needs to be embraced and worked out in positive ways that release the gifts of women and opportunities to be fulfilled in God's service.

As I read many of the questions that have lurked under the surface in my mind were anticipated and answered. They also engage sensitively with the spectrum of thinking within the complementarian camp that was illuminating.

So compelling was the read that I finished the book in one evening! The practical appendices were also very helpful and reassuring that the way our church approaches these things is on the right track, even as we have more distance to travel along it. I will be preaching 1 Timothy 2:8-15 in a week's time and intend to advertise this book as a helpful resource for those interested in thinking more.

I received a copy of this book from The Good Book Company in exchange for an honest review.

“We need to do the hard work”

The point I appreciate most about this book will likely be the most contentious: it provides very few hard and fast instructions, instead pushing the reader to make up their own mind. What Beynon & Tooher recognize is that proper expression of male and female roles within the church cannot be divorced from their unique contexts. Certain roles which women perform without issue in some complementarian churches may appear to be a usurpation of male headship in others depending on a variety of factors. What this book does then, is help the reader process and work through those factors so that their complementarian expression can grow fuller, avoiding unbiblical restrictions on women 'just in case' or 'because it's simpler this way'. If you're willing to think hard, dive into this book.