Here it is Friday and I am finally getting around to commenting on our first public service at Every Road Covenant Church. To say that life is busy at the moment is an understatement! Running a real estate practice and consulting essentially full time for a couple of other firms and being on the team of a church plant makes sleep a true luxury.

I was surpised at the psychological energy that was expended in helping set up, operate and then tear down the basics of a church service – in addition to the physical effort! I have a great deal more empathy for how my dad felt on Mondays after preaching twice and interacting with his congregation on Sundays – and I had no responsibility but to be there an help.

It was an experience that I am going to cherish for a long time. My team mates did an amazing job, Tess preached a great sermon on the expectations we have for Jesus based on the accounts of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and we had a good turn out…I am not sure anyone got an exact account but 50-55.

We look forward to the next Previews on May 3 & 7 and then on into the summer with an eye to going week to week in July.

As some friends who differ with me on the role of women in church leadership have engaged me on the topic, I am struck by their basic premise; that the permanent subordination of women is God’s ideal. I am indebted to Kevin Giles and the late David Scholer for much of my thought formation on this subject and they have certainly said it better that I ever well and some of their ideas and writing are excerpted below.

My friends tend to judge fellow evangelicals who disagree with them on this matter to be “theological liberals,” or at least implicit liberals. It seems that they cannot differentiate between the interpretation of Scripture and Scripture itself. For them, if I debate their interpretation of the key texts on which they base their case for the permanent subordination of women, then I am by definition rejecting the authority of Scripture.

As Giles says, “What this means is that the methodological challenge to interpret Scripture rightly in its given historical and cultural context and to apply what is said rightly in another historical and cultural context is solved by assuming and asserting that “my interpretation” tells you exactly what the Bible says. When (one) claims that one’s interpretation of God’s word is God’s word without any caveats, then, by implication, one is claiming to speak for God. (One) is asserting that what (one) says the Bible says is what God says, and, thus, if you disagree with him, you are disagreeing with God.”

The Roman Catholic Church has neatly solved the challenge of interpretation the same way. At the end of the day, it is the Pope who tells the faithful what the Bible is saying on any matter. In both the Protestant and the Catholic versions of this system, the inerrancy is not in the Scriptures, but in the interpretation given by someone claiming to speak for God.

As long as those who prefer the permanent subordination of women use this argument, there is really no way to find common ground on the question of the status and ministry of women. In order to have a beginning dialogue, we must agree that the issue is not the authority of Scripture, but how Scripture is to be interpreted and applied.

I don’t reject the authority of Scripture; but I do reject an interpretation of the Scriptures that supports and promulgates the concept that God’s unchanging ideal is the subordination of women.

I continue to hear two different ways of interpreting Scripture to prove the subordination of women. There has been a consistent historical interpretation of the biblical texts on women. For at least seventeen or eighteen centuries, most theologians and teacher said that the Bible taught that men were “superior,” women are “inferior,” and women were more prone to sin and error than men. For these reasons, women were the “weaker” and subordinated sex. In this historic position, men and women were differentiated not simply by their roles, but because God made them men and women. Women were seen as being second in rank or status because Eve was created second. That is, women are subordinated on the basis of the timeline of creation, not on the basis of a supposedly Creator-given, pre-fall hierarchical social order in which woman were subordinate to men.

To their credit, most contemporary evangelical hierarchists, as well as all evangelical egalitarians, reject this historic interpretation that women are ontologically inferior to men, even though it held sway for the better part of eighteen centuries and was adopted by some of the greatest theologians of the past.

Now as Giles points out, there is the novel post-1970s interpretation of a selected number of biblical texts on women that is now adopted almost word for word by all contemporary evangelical hierarchists and rejected by all egalitarians. This view point generally says men and women are equal, but role-differentiated, which, when simply said, means that women are permanently subordinated to male authority. Typically the hierarchists argue that women’s subordination is not a consequence of sin or a reflection of cultural values, but, rather, is predicated on a hierarchical social order established before the Genesis fall. They state (with solemn and grave faces, no less) that this is the ideal that is pleasing to God and, therefore, is unchangeable. Why this humanly devised theological construct should be judged the only true interpretation of Scripture is truly puzzling.

The Bible never suggests that men and women are role-differentiated, and actually says much to the contrary. Instead, we are differentiated in our very being as man and woman by God’s creative act as described in the first chapter of Genesis. Giles points out that the term “role” refers to the part a person plays. It belongs to the world of the theater and the study of humanistic sociology, not the Bible. At creation, man and woman were both bearers of the image of God and both were given authority to rule God’s world. The idea that there is a once-given, unchanging, unchangeable hierarchical social order established before the fall that permanently sets men over women is simply a figment of (largely) male imagination. It speaks more of the male will to hold power than of anything found in the Bible. The Bible makes the subordination of women a consequence of the fall (Gen. 3:16).

The gender equality of the two differentiated sexes, and marriage between them, are definitely Creator-given, but social ordering is not. Social ordering is always a human construct that human beings can change. History proves this point. “Created second” only speaks of chronological order, not social order or hierarchy. In addition, the whole Bible is predicated on a forward-looking eschatology where the “new creation” Christ inaugurates introduces something altogether new (2 Cor. 5:17). The perfection of creation lies in the future, when the new creation will be brought to its consummation on the last day. In the Garden of Eden, the Devil was present and sin possible. This will not be the case when the new creation is fully realized. Evangelical hierarchists may think they have the very highest view of Scripture, but, by making their theory the channel through which the Bible’s teaching on women is to be interpreted, they dishonor Scripture by not allowing Scripture to speak in its own terms.

Well, it looks like like Palm Sunday will be the first Preview meeting for Everuy Road Covenant Church. We’ve found a place to meet at The Plaza in Newhall and we are 7 weeks and counting!

Got the paperwork back from the sos.ca.gov so ERCC is officiallya legal person.  Irs.gov.us granted us a FEIN so wamu.com was willing to let us deposit our money.  Working through the 501(c)(3) paperwork for that official “non-profit” designation as well.

We are negotiating with a couple of local meeting halls for space so we can begin more public services as  we are definitely out growing the house.

Well, the church incorporation paperwork is off to the California Secretary of State for Every Road Church. We have had interesting conversations with the Evangelical Covenant Church planting management; and while we both wish to associate with each other and they are OK with us using “Covenant” in our name for common useage, we are not using it in a legal sense because we have not met all the criteria they require as far our organization goes – and we have not yet begun to meet as much more than a bible study (but we have been doing that for about a year)and we are ready to get out into the public. So for now, we will continue to operate as if we are a Covenant church without the formal designation or recognition.

Well, we are working towards a launch of our first public services in February or March of 2009! What an exciting, faith-testing and unnerving time.

We don’t have a place to meet (but we are working on it,) we don’t have an amazing worship team (but we are working on it,) we don’t have an entertaining, yet wonderfully meaningful and instructional childrens program (but we are working on it!)

What we do have is small knot of dedicated believing people who have been called by God to start a new and radically different ministry in the Santa Clarita Valley.

We are excited and thrilled and a little scared. Pray for us and His work here in the SCV.

Well, we continue to talk and invite and work towards a sustainable launch team who will help us launch Every Road Covenant Church (ERCC) in the Santa Clarita  Valley.  Our goal for the fall and winter are to add at least an additional 20 dedicated people who are willing to work on the church plant with a view towards starting once a month actual preview services in the first quarter of 2009.

This election cycle has had me thinking as I listen to all of the grand plans and positions of various politicians.  It seems to me that evangelical American Christians are seriously mis-portrayed by the media and perhaps misunderstood by much of the population in the country if not the world.   It seems to me as if it is generally thought that being conservative theologically, and having and open heart and care for the forgotten and hurting are seen as being mutually exclusive.

This is NOT the message and mission that Jesus charged us with.  He said that we should be known by our love.  He was always moved by the poor and hurting.  He said we should be known by our amazing love.  The Apostle Paul wrote that “true religion” was practiced by those who cared for the widows and the orphans.   Mercy, justice, and compassion are the fruits of a deeply spiritual life.  This does not mean that the Church needs to “water down” mankind’s need for salvation or to turn to a “social gospel” that only focuses on the needs of the less fortunate.  Instead we should combine both into the truly powerful message that Jesus gave us – they are both critcally important.

For example, when the evangelical church talks about being “pro-life” this should not only mean that we care about valuing our unborn sisters and brothers and saving them from the murder of  abortion – but it should also to extend to valuing the lives of those being killed in the multiple genocidal regimes around the world, it means that we should care about the starving multitudes in areas of the world that are currently unable to feed themselves, it means we should care about basic adequate health care for all mankind, it means we should get actively involved in helping solve the horror of the AIDS epidemic, it means we should protect those being abused and destroyed when they can not defend themselves in life threatening situations.  

This is not the government’s job.  It is the work of the Body of Christ.  We have abdicated our duties to secular governments who are ill-equipped to love, care and be merciful.

We must reach the world with the whole gospel; both the soul saving work of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, AND the fruit of living a life that exemplifies what experiencing that salvation does to us, in us and through us.

We are starting to zero in on the Mission and Core Values of our church.  With just a little editing, here is the latest posting from Pastor Tess.  This has not been finalized, but we are getting closer.

EVERY ROAD COVENANT CHURCH  

Key Verse:“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 

We Believe:  God intentionally draws humanity from every road of life to:  Turn from darkness and turn to light.  Turn from despair and turn to love. Turn from death and turn to life. 

Mission Statement:  We are an intentional people who are loved by God to: Express Love; Extend Mercy; Encourage Growth; Effect Change 

EVERY ROAD COVENANT CHURCH:  Rooted in God  - to express love to God and on behalf of God; Restored by God  - to extend mercy and forgiveness in community; Relying on God  - to encourage growth and effect change through His Word.

 Core Values:  Intentional in Loving – “Whatever it takes;”    Intentional in Living – “No matter what the circumstances;”    Intentional in Maturing – “We won’t give up;”  

Intentional in Loving – We are rooted in God’s Love through the power of His gift to the world, His Son, Jesus Christ.  “Whatever it takes” We are committed to love God and to be an expression of God’s love to others without bias, with acceptance, sacrificially, with patience, vulnerability, and going beyond.

Intentional in Living:  We have been restored by God’s Love through the power of the Holy Spirit.“No matter what the circumstances” We are confident of God’s presence in our lives to extend mercy and advocate justice through  exercising forgiveness, reconciling relationships, living in the moment, listening, and being in communion with God. 

Intentional in Maturing:  We look forward to reaching out to others through the power of God’s love, Scripture, and work of the Holy Spirit.  “We won’t give up” – We are a community willing to grow and mature in our faith in Jesus Christ by our obedience, reliability, partnership, encouragement, and willing to process the events of life with our companions in this journey.  

About Us – Every Road:  We have walked many different roads to come to a depth of understanding God’s unconditional and steadfast love – God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Through the different roads traveled, we have come to understand and confidently rely on God’s presence in our lives – through the power of the Holy Spirit who is present in our lives, no matter what our circumstances.  As we continue to travel our unique life roads by faith, our lives our encouraged together to grow in love and mature in our ability to walk by faith in Jesus Christ – through the power of the Scriptures that give us life.  Every Road that has been traveled has led us to the love of God through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.  Every Road we’ve traveled, we have learned and we have been drawn to God.  

 Intentional in Living:  Our prayer:  May we extend mercy and advocates of justice to those who God brings into our lives to serve in love. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). “…Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’  For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners” (Mt. 9:12-13). “…But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found” (Luke 15:11-32). “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Rom. 8:1-2). “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sister, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom. 12:1-2). “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.  For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 1:5-7).   

Intentional in Maturing:  Our prayer:  May we effect change in our community through our confidence in God’s Word to change every heart, soul, and mind. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:19-20). “…For I was hungry and you gave me food.  I wan thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me.  I was in prison and you visited me” (Mt. 25:35-36). “Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts. 2:14-21). “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts. 2:37-38). “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts. 2:42). “Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13). “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25).

The Rev left today for the Evangelical Covenant Midwinter Conference.   Since it is about 300 degrees below zero in Chicago, I felt led by the Lord to stay at work in Southern California – so it was with a “heavy” heart that I dropped her off at LAX this morning for her flight to Chi-Town. 

This should be interesting for her as she rubs shoulders with the leaders and pastors from this new denomination we have joined.  There will also be several church planting meetings, several breakout sessions on things like church finance and the unique challenges of men and women leading together in the church environment, etc.