My longtime friend, Felicity Dale, has just released a new book that takes a fresh look at the subject of women in ministry.
The book is a barn-burner, a gully-washer, lightning in a box, freedom in 280 pages.
It’s called The Black Swan Effect: A Response to Gender Hierarchy in the Church
While Felicity is the main mind behind this work, it includes chapters by Jon Zens, Alan Hirsch, Julie Ross, Michael Frost, Katie Driver, yours truly, and others.
I caught up with Felicity recently to interview her about the book. If you enjoy it, please share the post using the share buttons at the very bottom).
The book will set many women free, inspiring them to serve the Lord unhindered. It will also educate many men to understand how the Lord views our sisters in His service.
The Black Swan Effect is a curious title. What’s its significance?
Felicity: Here’s the back-story:
In 16th century Europe, nobody had ever seen a black swan, and so it was assumed that all swans were white. The term, “black swan” meant something non-existent. Then a Dutch explorer went to Australia and discovered a whole species of black swans. So the term came to mean something that was previously thought to have been impossible, but discovered to be real and commonplace. All it took was one black swan to change people’s minds forever.
Why then, does much of the church world dismiss biblical examples like Deborah, the prophetess/judge who presided over Israel for 40 years? Why is it considered an anomaly that a church met in Lydia’s home, Junia was an apostle, a group of women were the first to see and announce that Jesus had risen from the dead, or that Queen Esther saved her people?
These remarkable women are often relegated to the sidelines by commentators who say they were exceptions, not normative, or not the standard God has for women. But all it takes is one example—one black swan—to know, by the grace of God, a thing exists. And if there is one, there could be many.
Frank: Very often, when a book comes out about women in ministry, many men conclude that the book is for women only. What do you say? Is this a book just for women?
Felicity: Definitely not!
The conversation about gender is rapidly gaining traction in church circles. It’s as though the Holy Spirit is firing up interest right across the church spectrum.
Many Christians—both men and women—have come to the conclusion that there is no better way to increase the size of God’s missions workforce than to fully deploy women to use their spiritual gifts and God-given capacities.
Others are asking theological questions. They are investigating how the Bible portrays women, especially women leaders. Were the New Testament writers—in particular, the apostle Paul—misogynists? Are there alternative interpretations for some of the really difficult passages of Scripture?
Still others who enter this discussion are drawn to it because of issues related to justice and human dignity. They want to know why Christians are not engaging more with issues such as sex trafficking and global female infanticide. As they study Scripture, they are assured that God creates all men and women in his image, and they can’t even imagine a God who would discriminate against women.
Frank: Every book has a story behind it. Can you share the story behind the writing of this book?
Felicity: Several years ago, recognizing my own need for peer fellowship, I pulled together, via conference call, a small group of women leaders from around the country. Each has an apostolic or prophetic influence that extends far beyond their local fellowship. Our conversations varied widely, but we frequently came back to the topic of the role of women in the church.
As we discussed what we could do to encourage women to achieve their full potential in the Kingdom, the Lord showed us clearly that we were not to do this alone—that if we did, we would be perceived as feminists with an agenda. But if men stood with us, like Barak stood with Deborah in the Old Testament story, there was the potential for a Kingdom movement.
Frank: Well, I was honored to be involved in the project along with many of our mutual friends. Consequently, the book is written by multiple authors, both men and women. How did you choose the contributors?
Felicity: When we eventually decided to write a book, our team of women looked for men who we knew from both their writings and their practice, do everything they can to encourage women. Thankfully they all, including you, Frank, agreed. Your teaching on how Jesus related to women has impacted me for years. Especially your articles God’s View of a Woman and Rethinking Women in Ministry.
So there are now 14 co-authors from various different church traditions and even theological persuasions. Between us we’ve written more than 50 books. Each writes into his or her area of passion, interest and expertise. The whole is woven together to create a narrative that addresses the role of women in the Kingdom and how both genders can contribute to women being released into everything God has for them. Each chapter also has a vignette telling the stirring story of a woman who is currently doing wonderful things in the Kingdom.
Frank: What would you say is the book’s main message?
Felicity: For far too long, many women in the church have been relegated to the sidelines, limited because of their gender. Currently there is a move of the Holy Spirit afoot that is encouraging men to welcome women to work with them as co-equals in the Kingdom. God is releasing women to fulfill his calling on their lives.
God used women for his purposes throughout the Bible. In a society that viewed women as mere possessions, Jesus related to women as equals. Paul valued women as his co-workers. And today, we see Galatians 3:28 coming to pass— There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Men and women are setting aside centuries of church tradition to partner together for the sake of the Gospel.
Frank: What do you hope to accomplish through the book?
Felicity: Let me illustrate with a story: Tony, my husband, and I used to have a dog called Sugar—a faithful companion although of dubious parentage and limited intelligence. Sugar loved to wander. We have a fenced yard with an electric gate, and she would lie in wait until a car drove in, and when the gate was almost closed again would make her bid for freedom. Because we live near a busy road, we decided to end her adventures. So we installed an invisible fence across our driveway. After a couple of shocking experiences, Sugar learned to live within boundaries. In fact, long after the battery in her collar died, she would sit, gazing wistfully out of an open gate. She had become conditioned to live within boundaries.
Many women have learned to live within boundaries.
While some men instinctively recognize that there is injustice towards women in church circles, because of centuries of tradition and a few Scriptures, they don’t feel able to do anything about it.
This book seeks to equip the whole body of Christ in the conversation about gender. We encourage men to open doors for women, championing them as they boldly break through the barriers of tradition. We inspire women to see that in Christ, there are no gender-based limitations. They are free to initiate Kingdom ventures, plant churches, follow Jesus into the harvest—however the Holy Spirit leads them.
Frank: There are other books coming out on this topic all the time. In what ways is your book is unique?
Felicity: There are some great books on this topic out there. I believe the increasing conversation is one of the signs the Holy Spirit is doing something of significance. Our book does a couple of things that are different. It presents the topic from both the male and female viewpoint, seeking ways that the genders can partner together for the sake of the Kingdom. It’s also the only one I’m aware of that examines the missional impact of fully including women in church planting and in church leadership.
Frank: Thanks for taking the time to talk about the book on the blog, Felicity. Yours is a voice that needs to be heard in our time.
Felicity: I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly say thank you to you, Frank, for the stance you have taken on women over the years. You serve as a great example of how men can be “Baraks,” championing women by standing up for them.
Click here to order copies of The Black Swan Effect: A Response to Gender Hierarchy in the Church
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