About the Seminar

The following are the recordings from the seminar "The Other Side of the Story" which was held in Adelaide on the 7th of March 2009. There are six speakers who address the topic of the role and treatment of women in the 'church', also with question time at the end.

The videos are best viewed sequentially, and depending on the speed of your internet connection, we recommend downloading the smaller videos.

The Presentations

Part1 - The Greater Context
The issue of brothers’ and sisters’ service in the ecclesia cannot be severed from the fundamentals of the Gospel. How we know and experience Christ will greatly affect the mindset we bring to the topic and hence what we make of the biblical evidence.

Part2 - The Foundations
1 Tim 2:12-14 and 1 Cor 11:7-9 refer to Adam and Eve; the former in regard to teaching and authority, the latter in regard to head coverings. As an introduction to the above passages, this short study will consider the Genesis creation account in light of the foundation laid in Christ.

Part3 - Who is the Head?
We will consider New Testament references to husbands and wives, men and women, clarifying Bible teaching on who is the head in marriage and in the ecclesia. The unity of the body/bride may only be found when believers are not divided by gender, race or class.

Part4 - The Cultural Context
The first century ecclesia met in believers’ houses in Palestine, Europe and Asia Minor. These gatherings were spontaneous yet respectful. This seminar will look at the ownership of house churches, the format of gatherings that were held there, the people who were drawn to early Christianity and the cultures from whence they came.

Part5 - Women & Prohecy
This brief study reviews the women who prophesied in Old and New Testament times and considers the comment in 1 Cor 14:34-35 'silencing' women, in light of Paul's encouragement that all should earnestly desire to prophesy.

Part6 - The Difficult Passages
The New Testament case for limitations on sisters’ service is based on 1 Cor 14:34-35 “Let your women keep silence... for it is a shame for women to speak in the church” and 1 Tim 2:11-15 “I suffer not a woman to teach…but to be in silence”. Other relevant texts are 1 Cor 11:3-5 and Titus 2:3-5. Various translations, alternative interpretations and historical contexts will be presented for these passages.

Part7 - Question time
Questions submitted from the audience and addressed by the speakers include: 'Brethren' or 'brothers'?, 'Former and Latter rains...no prophecy now'?, 'The exception proves the rule'?, 'Husband of one wife'? and 'Does Gal 3:28 refer only to salvation'.