Short change?

NO LITTLE WOMEN:
Equipping All Women in the Household of God
By Aimee Byrd
P&R Publishing. 288 pages. £11.03
ISBN 978 1 629 952 567

What does women’s ministry look like in your church? Tea making? Coffee mornings? Bible studies? And if it is Bible studies, what goes on in them?

Aimee Byrd’s argument in No Little Women is that women are often being short-changed in our churches by a lack of depth and rigour in ministries and books which are increasingly being provided for them. Fluffy pink covers often hide poor and potentially dangerous theology; they are like the false teachers mentioned in 2 Timothy who ensnare ‘weak women’. This, she says, is a matter not just for women to be concerned about, but also men and especially pastors. The whole church is weakened when women are neglected.

High view

As well as diagnosing the problem, Byrd offers some answers. A high view of Scripture should lead to a high view of women, so get your women into the Bible and theology. Equip them to be great partners in the gospel.

She roots her argument firmly in Scripture with a really convincing exploration of Genesis 2 and 3, as well as excursions in the Gospels and Epistles. Along the way there are a few anecdotes, examples from church history and some hard-hitting questions. Some of her ideas might be a little contentious, but they are always stimulating. How do the elders of the church listen to the views of women in the congregation? Should we even use the term ministry to describe what women do? What about ‘biblical womanhood’, is it even a thing?

No Little Women is more chunky and challenging than lots of books being produced by women at the moment. It ranges quite widely and in addition to asking daring questions it gives practical directions. There are ideas for how preachers can make sermons more resonant for women, tips for how to read critically, and excerpts from offending books to ‘test discernment skills’.

While written in a US Presbyterian context, it is a book we really need here too, especially as over the last decade women’s ministries have proliferated and as extreme versions of complementarianism have emerged. It is a book which church leaders and women’s workers should read, perhaps together. Even if you think you’re doing well you’ll be provoked and stirred and learn.