Are there Impediments to Women's Full Participation in Christian Leadership?

Impediments		Possible Solutions
A Static World View		Social Systems Change over Time
Christ's Maleness is deemed central		Christ's humanity is deemed central
Christ viewed in a masculine context		Restore Jesus's association with women
Biblical stories present women as sinful		Less literalist view of Bible
Tendency of leadership to obey authority		Churches that have less hierarchical structure
Jesus did not choose women as apostles		Recognition of exclusion of Mary Magdalene
Language of divinity is masculine		Restore female divine images such as Sophia
Local tradition continues to exclude women		Concerted efforts by leaders to change attitudes
Images of Jesus as ruling the world		Images of Jesus as empowering the weak
Christian churches have stood outside the social arguments over women's, black, and gay rights		Christian churches should engage with contemporary society
Men have more trouble imagining women in full leadership positions than women do		Recognize women's historical roles as martyrs, saints, visionaries and leaders
Cultural factors have been more important than religious ones		Recognition of culture's impact on Christianity