Three Tough Topics
As I read through the assigned readings, I found it difficult to simply do an inspectional reading. All three texts gave much to ponder regarding racial injustice, women in leadership, and the great polarizing effect of church and politics.
I will start with the books written by Brett E. Fuller. I must admit, I come to the table with much bias since we know the Fuller family well. Our daughters became best friends in high school. Brooke was recently my daughter’s maid of honor, and Kristi will be Brooke’s maid of honor in October. Our churches weathered the 2020 racial riots together by praying daily together in the parking lot of Brett’s church. I can truly say that Brett and Cynthia live out their faith in every aspect of life and ministry. So, with that caveat, I give my inspectional reviews.
High Ceilings: Women in Leadership by Brett E. Fuller
I am a female in ministerial leadership so I was very interested to see how Brett would unpack this controversial topic. To preface, it is important to note, that the book serves as somewhat of an informative white paper for his church above all. In the introduction Brett prefaces that his goal is to add his “perspective of Scripture to the corporate ideological discussion and thereby enhance the wealth of knowledge previously gained by generations of theologians who exceed (his) intellectual capacity.”[1] This helps the reader understand that the book is not the ‘end all’, but a humble ‘adding to the conversation.’ As pastors, giving Scriptural reasons for how to form opinions are important and teach parishioners to do the same. I appreciate Brett’s diligent work in this area. The book’s introduction gives a helpful overview of the varying arenas of thought regarding female and male interactions: 1) Complementarian, 2) Egalitarian, 3) Complementary-Egalitarian, and 4) Suppressionist.
Brett, unashamedly, lands in the “Complementary-Egalitarian” camp and invites the reader into his study room to see how he came to his theological conclusion. He develops his thesis by viewing the male and female origins, judgements and marital order in Scripture, then gives his understanding of Scripture when it comes to women in leadership.
Questions for Brett E. Fuller:
- Since your view is complimentary-egalitarian and you note that both man and woman are “different styles of imperfect,” could you explain how a woman can practically inspire a man to take authority when he refuses to do so especially with children in the mix?
- How did the women in your congregation react to your stance as written in this book?
Dreaming in Black and White by Brett E. Fuller
This book highlight’s Brett’s personal story of navigating life in black and white. As the long-standing pastor of a thriving multi-ethnic church, chaplain for the Washington Football Team, and member of President George W. Bush’s advisory board regarding Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Brett brings an articulate, yet heart-wrenching narrative as a black man in modern day America. His story adds to the ongoing narrative that begs for a different future. A future that acknowledges the painful past and has young black men rise as “mighty warriors against the spiritual forces that reinforce the natural forces of racism and hate…with an agape love that changes hearts.[2]
The agape love that Brett speaks about can be put into action with three simple phrases: “I feel your pain. I’m sorry. How can I help?”[3] He also calls the reader to choose reconciliation: “Ethnic reconciliation fulfills the hope for which generations of abolitionists, enslaved Africans, civil rights activists, and good citizens strove for…It will heal us, not just bandage us.”[4]
This is a powerful book that gives, us, as the white population, an understanding of what many black families in America, have faced for years and years and that we have often missed, dismissed, or ignored.
Questions for Brett E. Fuller:
- What other ways can we, as white leaders, offer hope and encouragement to upcoming young black men and women in our congregations?
- How do you view the current racial situation, now 4 years later after you wrote this book?
God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It by Jim Wallis
Sad to say, I have not read any of Jim Wallis’s books, but certainly plan to. As I looked at his bio, I saw that he has quite an interesting background: Public theologian, Evangelical preacher, activist, author, etc. Activist seemed to rise to the top as I look through the web. He’s been described as a justice advocate, a political activist, and a social justice prophet.[5]
I had not heard the term justice prophet before but saw that it described prophets throughout scripture due to their stance on the justice needed in their time. The idea of prophecy comes to light in chapter 6 where Wallis discusses prophetic politics. His definition of prophecy is “not future telling, but articulating moral truth.”[6]
Wallis’s premise in writing the book is to uncover the values of politics that affect moral truth.[7] Values that are currently missing in politics. Wallis addresses that our values do differ and seeks to address two questions: “Where is the real debate in the moral values conversation,” and “where can we find common ground?”[8] The book covers much ground in the dissecting values through a spiritual lens as Wallis sees it. Wallis addresses international relations, economic justice, social issues, and social change and gives his views on how we could bridge the divides within each. His overall premise is to offer hope in merging social change with spiritual values to bring a “genuinely prophetic spirituality to the urgent need for social justice.”[9]
Questions for Jim Wallis:
What are some practical ways that pastors can encourage discussion among varying views in their congregations?
You have been termed a social justice prophet. How would you summarize prophetically, how the current state in which we live as a nation may impact our future?
[1] Brett E. Fuller, High Ceilings (Self-published, n.d.). 1.
[2] Brett Fuller, Dreaming in Black and White (Self-published, 2021). 161.
[3] Brett Fuller. 144.
[4] Brett Fuller. 160.
[5] Laurie Britt-Smith, “Faith, Politics, and Paradox: Jim Wallis as Social Justice Prophet,” The International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Society 1, no. 4 (2012): 149–58, https://doi.org/10.18848/2154-8633/CGP/v01i04/51180.
[6] Jim Wallis, God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It (HarperCollins Publisher, 2005). 72
[7] Jim Wallis. xviii.
[8] Jim Wallis. xxi.
[9] Jim Wallis. xxvi.
About the Author
Esther Edwards
Esther has served in ministry leadership for over 35 years. She is an ordained minister, an ICF and CCLC certified coach, and licensed coach trainer. Her and her husband have launched their own coaching practice, Enjoy the Journey Leadership Coaching and seek to train ministry leaders in the powerful skill of coaching. Esther loves hiking, reading, and experiencing new coffee shops with friends and family. She enjoys the journey with her husband, Keith, their four daughters, sons-in-law, and their five beautiful grandchildren.9 responses to “Three Tough Topics”
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Esther, that is wonderful to hear about your connections to the Fuller family!
You ask the question: “What other ways can we, as white leaders, offer hope and encouragement to upcoming young black men and women in our congregations?” Your question makes me think of a somewhat unrelated but important question that I (and others in my network) are beginning to ask due to the dearth of leaders and upcoming church planters in our tribe (including among those NOT in the majority culture). Your question makes me want to ask how we can offer hope and encouragement AND how can we come alongside and develop pathways for those who might have an interest in pursuing pastoral ministry?
That would be a valuable question to process through with those from non-white constituencies. Because we often don’t know what is useful or helpful without their input. My learning from all the racial tensions that were brought into greater light in 2020 was that so many of us just assumed things were ok with our own pastors in our network. When we avidly began asking how how they felt and how we could help, the floodgates opened of what they were experiencing (past and present) but did not have safety to share. And we need to continue asking. When things simmer down, we tend to simply revert back to old ways.
Esther~
I really appreciate the way you formed your summaries of Fuller’s books and that you know the family so well! That makes our time with him extra special. I agree with you (even if it’s just intuitively) that Fuller seemed to be writing his book for a specific audience or as you say, “to join the conversation.” I am always surprised to see where people land on this; however, what I would like to say is I don’t believe a man or a woman should take verbal authority over each other. I may be misunderstanding his writing on that part.
How would you describe how your daughters view this issue? I ask a mother of three married daughters who very much value the joy of being married, treated as equals, but have no tolerance for extreme feminism.
I am looking forward to seeing you next week!
Pam,
I actually did ask my daughter to read it. She is a deep thinker and, like your daughters, don’t buy into the total feministic thought but yet believe in equality of genders. She said there needed to be more unpacking of what some of the scenerios actually meant if played out. As others have mentioned in their blogs, if a woman is a lead pastor, then how does that work? What does the head of the house look like in practical terms? Is there really a way to give scenerious and not create a totalitarian response? So her ending response was, “I respect his opinion, but for the woman it seems incomplete and confusing.”
Hi Esther,
Living in Virginia I imagine you have an almost front row seat to the goings on in DC. How has living so near the nation’s capitol and serving a multi-national church impacted your awareness and perceptions of the racial and political divisions during this current political season and election year?
I look forward to seeing you in a few days!
Jenny,
Our church is made up of mostly immigrants so they often don’t have very strong outward opinions. They are often thankful to be here for their educations and the opportunities and have been, like you shared in your answer to me in your post, under different forms of governments. However, my husband has tried to make it clear that we will honor and respect each other’s opinions. We also have never agreed with the notion that one party has God’s stamp of approval, but we do ask our congregants to seriously pray through the issues that are at hand and seek God’s voice in how to vote.
I appreciated your insights into Fuller’s work, especially given your friendship with him. I also was curious about the reception that he received from the Women in his congregation. I had never heard of the Complementarian-Egalitarian view before- I am curious if you know anyone else who has this perspective?
Hi, Jen,
I actually had never heard of it put that way either. I imagine it is lived out often where women have leadership roles in the church but also revere their husband as the authority in the home. I know this is a heavy debate for which I am not articulate enough to engage in. My question is “does different need to mean unequal?” If females and males bring different giftings and strengths to the table is one more than and the other less than? And what if the idea of “headship” which is clearly stated in Scripture, means responsibility and covering and a dying to self instead of control, maybe women wouldn’t feel so repulsed by it. Just thinking out loud.
Hi Esther!
Thank you for your fascinating post. I am thrilled that you know Brett Fuller and his family so well. I am sure you are aware of the struggles he has gone through, which he wrote about in his books. You wrote, “His story adds to the ongoing narrative that begs for a different future.” In your opinion, does your writing describe the heavy challenges ahead and the great hope to realize the struggle for a life that humanizes humans where equality and justice are truly felt and experienced by everyone?