Woman, Thou art Loosed! Now Get ye Self to ETS!

I have just noticed that there are about 700 hundred papers being delivered at ETS this year and only eight of them will be delivered by women. What is more, I think I actually know half of the women presenters. Now maybe there are more, I looked up the index in the ETS book and some names like “Leslie” can be unisex, and I don’t know the gender of most Asian names. But even give or take a few, this would mean that women presenters make up only 1% of the papers at ETS. This is not satisfactory.

Now I know that ETS is theologically and culturally conservative in ethos, but ETS has no official position on the gender inclusion issue concerning women in ministry and the academy. In fact, full and frank discussion between complementarians and egalitarians takes place very year, it’s one of the highlights. So there is no reason why female scholars and female grad students in theology/biblical studies cannot come. So where the heck are they and why aren’t they there?

As long as ETS is representative of the evangelical church, then we should expect a strong cohort of female scholars to attend, but they are absent. There are probably several reasons for this. Demographically, many evangelicals are complementarians and don’t permit female scholars (you don’t have to like it or agree, but it is a contributing factor). What is more, I think it is safe to say that some women do not think ETS is a “safe” place to go. Some tell me, anecdotally, that they get sick of being asked “Where does yourhusband teach?”. Or else, they fear being ignored or looked down upon by male peers just for being there.

But let me give five reasons why women should go to ETS!

1. Not everyone at ETS is a “hard” complementarian who prohibit women from teaching ministries in church and academy (I don’t mean “hard” as “mean,” rather as conservative in conviction on the gender debate). Some complementarians are “soft” in the sense that they permit women to have pastoral and didactic roles in the church except that of senior pastor/bishop/big kahuna etc. Many complementarians, I think for instance of Craig Blomberg, encourage women to pursue academic ministries. So don’t think the presence of complementarians means ETS is closed to women. Also, many egalitarians attend and Christians for Biblical Equality even have a booth. So on gender issues the membership of ETS is rather broad in spectrum rather than monolithic on the gender issue.
2. Women voices are appreciated by many ETS members and we would like to see more women attend.
3. If you are a female evangelical scholars/student who believes that you have something to contribute to the church and to the academy, then this is a great place to make such a contribution.
4. If you don’t speak out for women’s issues among evangelicals, then who will? Not count on me, I’m male, and I’ll be too busy going to the various receptions and browsing the book exhibits, so it’ll have to be you girlfriend!
5. Look on the bright side, ETS means no big ques for the bathroom!

Let me ask this: What else can we do or needs to be done to bring more women to ETS?

http://twitter.com/JeremiahBailey Jeremiah Bailey

While not strictly true, generally speaking inerrantists tend to also be complementarians. Maybe the number of egalitarian inerrantists is higher among academics, but in the wild, so to speak, I rarely come across them.
http://twitter.com/JeremiahBailey Jeremiah Bailey

While not strictly true, generally speaking inerrantists tend to also be complementarians. Maybe the number of egalitarian inerrantists is higher among academics, but in the wild, so to speak, I rarely come across them.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1513149313 Steve Walton

You might like to note that Craig Blomberg is not a complementarian – your note makes it appear as though he is.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Bird/1814624096 Michael Bird

Steve, no, I think he is a compl. based on his writings on Paul and gender issues.

Eric Weiss

Per his chapter in the 2005 Revised Edition of Two Views On Women in Ministry (Zondervan, Counterpoints Series), Craig Blomberg is Complementarian:

See Table of Contents http://www.zondervan.com/media/samples/pdf/031025437X_samptxt.pdf

His chapter is titled 2. WOMEN IN MINISTRY: A COMPLEMENTARIAN PERSPECTIVE CRAIG L. BLOMBERG

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1513149313 Steve Walton

You might like to note that Craig Blomberg is not a complementarian – your note makes it appear as though he is.

http://profiles.google.com/rosatcollege Ros Clarke

I can’t speak for Craig Blomberg but I’m definitely a ‘hard’ complementarian who thinks that the academy is distinct from the church and that there is a very important place for female biblical scholars. I’d go to ETS except I hate travelling and have neither the time nor the money to spare.
http://profiles.google.com/rosatcollege Ros Clarke

I can’t speak for Craig Blomberg but I’m definitely a ‘hard’ complementarian who thinks that the academy is distinct from the church and that there is a very important place for female biblical scholars. I’d go to ETS except I hate travelling and have neither the time nor the money to spare.
Carl Mosser

I’ve just scanned the index and count 20 female presenters out of 571 total presenters. Given unisex names, there may be a handful more female presenters. That is still a very small proportion (3.5%), but more than twice the number you came up with.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Bird/1814624096 Michael Bird

Carl, I took a minimal view because some names are unisex like “Leslie”, but even if I’m out by a few, let’s agree that 3.5% is not exactly a great number to aim for!

Carl Mosser

I’ve just scanned the index and count 20 female presenters out of 571 total presenters. Given unisex names, there may be a handful more female presenters. That is still a very small proportion (3.5%), but more than twice the number you came up with.

Deane Galbraith

Ah – I thought you were a minimalist!

Leslie Keeney

I had to comment because (1) I am a female grad student going to ETS for the first time this year and (2) my name is Leslie. I have been a little apprehensive about going because I assumed that it was going to feel weird being the only woman at table full of men. It did not dawn on until now, however, that people may assume that I’m someone’s spouse. So now I have to be worried that people will assume that I’m married to whatever man I’m sitting next to? Should I be even MORE worried than I already am?

http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Bird/1814624096 Michael Bird

Don’t worry Leslie, people might “assume” that you’re with someone, but they probably won’t actually ask you “where does your husband teach?”

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Yvonne Wilber

I am a seminary student and a librarian in a Bible college. This is my second year attending ETS. I was discouraged by the number of women presenting, but encouraged as I spoke to two of the women who did present. I was also very encouraged by the young male scholars I met who affirmed my desire to learn and eventually teach. It is telling that our conversations were in pubs over glasses of ale, and they all got their PhDs in the U.K. Oh, and hey, Joel, it was nice to meet you.
http://remnantofgiants.wordpress.com Remnant of Giants

Congratulations! This post was included in the November 2011 Biblical Studies Carnival. This is quite an achievement. My word, yes.