Scale the of Evidence Mountains
Tell Her Story
Women in Scripture and History
July 26–28, 2024 | Denver, Colorado
Name Badge
Tag Key
Tags on name badges are color coded according to the key on the right.
If you have a question, please find a staff member or volunteer with an orange lanyard.
CBE Staff and Volunteers
Speakers and Student Paper Winners
Sponsor
Exihibitor
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:28, NIV
Welcome to “Tell Her Story: Women in Scripture and History,” CBE’s 2024 International Conference!
Dear Friends,
Welcome to CBE’s 2024 International Conference, “Tell Her Story: Women in Scripture and History.” Thrilled and honored to share this event with you, we celebrate this opportunity to explore Scripture’s teaching that women and men alike are gifted and called for ministry according to God’s pleasure. This weekend, we’ll also explore the stories of women in Scripture and history that often go untold. During this conference we will celebrate the many women leaders as they have demonstrated how God’s gifting and calling is not bound by gender, race, or class. We will have the opportunity to see the importance of partnerships that bridge generations. Finally, we will see the impact of Christian hierarchy as it has and continues to foster abuse in Christian homes and churches throughout the world. I trust that God will use this event to inspire our calling as followers of Jesus. Thank you for joining us and please know I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.
If this is your first CBE conference, we welcome you with much joy and appreciation for your partnership! We pray that the sessions will enrich your life, and through you, the lives of those in your community.
As a nonprofit organization comprised of Christian women and men from around the world, CBE makes known the biblical foundation for women’s shared leadership in the home, church, and world. CBE’s supporters along with our church, institution, and organization members stand together to advance the biblical basis for women’s shared leadership and ministry worldwide.
If you are here alone or if you and your friends would like to share a meal with others, please speak to our conference coordinator, Carrie Silveira, or our team of staff and volunteers. They would also be delighted to answer any questions you might have about the conference or CBE’s ministry worldwide.
If you are conflicted over which workshops to attend, don’t worry! All conference sessions will be recorded and available shortly on the conference app for attendees and online at www.cbeinternational.org. In addition, you will want to visit the conference bookstore in the Sierras and Teton room. There you will find a few resources for further reading! If you like to travel, consider joining CBE in South America, next year for our 2025 international conference.
Thank you again for sharing this time with us. If CBE might improve your conference experience, please tell us. Again, welcome to CBE’s 2024 conference, “Tell Her Story!”
Mimi Haddad, PhD President of CBE International
Visit the CBE Bookstore in the Sierras and Teton room.
Find the best egalitarian titles, works by conference speakers, and tables full of discounted books.
CBE Conference Bookstore Hours
Thursday, July 25, 2024
1 pm—6 pm
Friday, July 26, 2024
8 am—9:45 am
12:30 pm—1:45 pm
4:30 pm—5:45 pm
8:30 pm—9:30 pm
Saturday, July 27, 2024
8 am—9:45 am 12:30 pm—1:45 pm 4:00 pm—5:45 pm 8:30 pm—9:30 pm
Sunday, July 28, 2024
8 am—9:45 am 12:30 pm—1:45 pm
Located in the Sierras and Teton room.
See page 6 for venue map.
Official pictures and video footage may be taken throughout the conference for marketing and promotional purposes. If you take pictures and would like to post them online, please consider tagging CBE on social media using the hashtags #Denver2024 and #TellHerStory
Follow Us
Facebook (CBE International)
X (@CBEInt)
Instagram (@cbeinternational)
LinkedIn (CBE International)
Subscribe to our YouTube and SoundCloud channels.
FLOOR PLAN
The exhibitor’s hall will be located in the ballroom foyer.
AMPHITHEATER
BALLROOM FOYER
Mt. Evans, Mt. Elbert, Mt. Sopris, and Mt. Powell rooms will be converted into the DoubleTree Ballroom for devotions, keynote sessions, dinners, and vespers.
SERVICE AREA
SERVICE AREA
In case of max capacity, an alternate floor plan will be provided.
POOL
LOBBY
SIERRAS
JACKDAW
COLORADO TETON
POOL LOBBY
SIERRAS
BALLROOM FOYER
JACKDAW
COLORADO
TETON
AMPHITHEATER
SCHEDULE
All times listed are Mountain Daylight Time (MDT/GMT-6)
All keynote lectures and workshop B sessions will be live-streamed for virtual participants. All lectures and workshops will be recorded and available to watch on CBE’s conference app and website in the coming months.
JULY 25th
JULY 26th THURSDAY FRIDAY
3:30 pm – 6:00 pm Early Registration and Check-In | Lobby
Check-in at our registration table to pick up your name badge and workbook. Visit the bookstore and exhibitor’s hall, and connect with other conference participants as they arrive.
8:00 am – 9:00 am Registration and Check-In | Lobby
Check-in at our registration table to pick up your name badge and workbook. Visit the bookstore and exhibitor’s hall, and connect with other conference participants as they arrive.
9:00 am – 9:45 am Devotions | DoubleTree Ballroom
Liz Testa
10:00 am – 11:15 am Keynote Session 1 | DoubleTree Ballroom
Her Story Alone: Identity and Authority without Contingency
Nijay K. Gupta
11:30 am – 12:30 am Workshop Block 1
Workshop 1.A | Mt. Powell Room
Words for God 101: An Introduction to Gendered Language and Imagery in Scripture
Charles Read
SCHEDULE
11:30 am – 12:30 am Workshop Block 1
Workshop 1.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Women in Missions: Leaders on the Field, but Not at Home
Alan Myatt
Workshop 1.C | Mt. Elbert Room
The Women of Israel: Treasures from Ancient Near Eastern Literature
Hélène Dallaire
Workshop 1.D | Mt. Evans Room
The Power of Intergenerational Relationships
Raewyn Orlich and Eric Webster
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Lunch
Visit nearby restaurants for lunch! The DoubleTree Hotel also provides free shuttle service to locations within a five-mile radius (must be scheduled in the morning). Lunch is not included with registration.
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm Keynote Session 2 | DoubleTree Ballroom
Breaking Chains: Pursuing Biblical Equality in Faith and Practice
Taffi Dollar
3:30 am – 4:30 am Workshop Block 2
Workshop 2.A | Mt. Powell Room
The Foreign-Outcaste Woman Transformed into the Strong Woman in the Bible: In the Works of Katharine Bushnell of Chicago
Boaz Johnson
Workshop 2.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Issues of Gender and the Engagement of Faith Leaders in Ethiopia
Seblewengel Tilahun
SCHEDULE
3:30 am – 4:30 am Workshop Block 2
Workshop 2.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Dangerous Congregations: When Power and Authority Take Over
Kathy Myatt
Workshop 2.D | Mt. Evans Room
Honoring Our Stories: Cultivating Belonging for Women in Ministry (Bilingual Session in Spanish and English)
Liz Testa
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm
Student Paper Presentations | Amphitheater
Taking Ownership of the Church Landscape: The Daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1–11
Jazmine Lawrence
Reframing and Re-norming Her Story
Marlene Molewyk
Naaman’s Servant Girl
Rosalie Brown
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner | Double Tree Ballroom
This dinner will be a CBE hosted buffet dinner for all registered in-person conference participants. In case of overflow, additional tables will be available in the Colorado room. Dinner is included with in-person registration.
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Keynote Session 3 | DoubleTree Ballroom
Phoebe, Deacon of the Church of Cenchreae and Leader of Many, Including Me
Philip B. Payne
9:00 pm – 9:30 pm Vespers | Double Tree Ballroom
Charles Read
SCHEDULE
JULY 27th SATURDAY
8:00 am – 9:00 am Registration and Check-In | Lobby
Check-in at our registration table to pick up your name badge and workbook, and visit the bookstore and exhibitor’s hall.
9:00 am – 9:45 am Devotions | DoubleTree Ballroom
Taffi Dollar
10:00 am – 11:15 am Keynote Session 4 | DoubleTree Ballroom
The Central Role of Old Testament Prophetesses
Hélène Dallaire
11:30 am – 12:30 am Workshop Block 3
Workshop 3.A | Mt. Powell Room
Planned Giving: Increase Your Impact
Kurt Knoll
Workshop 3.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Created to Thrive: Cultivating Abuse-Free
Faith Communities
Barbara Murray
Workshop 3.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Julian of Norwich: A Medieval Feminist
Charles Read
Workshop 3.D | Mt. Evans Room
Church Fathers Explain Head in 1 Corinthians
11:3 as Source
Philip B. Payne
SCHEDULE
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Lunch
Visit nearby restaurants for lunch! The DoubleTree Hotel also provides free shuttle service to locations within a five-mile radius (must be scheduled in the morning). Lunch is not included with registration.
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm Keynote Session 5: Panel | DoubleTree Ballroom
A Familiar Picture: An Update on CBE’s
Translation Project
Jeff Miller with Boaz Johnson, Cynthia Long Westfall, and Philip B. Payne
3:30 am – 4:30 am
Workshop Block 4
Workshop 4.A | Mt. Powell Room
Examining Julia Smith’s (1792–1886)
Translation
Karen H. Jobes
Workshop 4.B | Mt. Sopris Room
“Victim-Blaming” and the David and Bathsheba Narrative
J. Dwayne Howell
Workshop 4.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Unlikely Partnerships: Mentorships
Bridging Age, Race, Gender, and Class
Kimberly Dickson
Workshop 4.D | Mt. Evans Room
Women in Ministry in the Biblical Narrative: An Overview
Cynthia Long Westfall
SCHEDULE
4:45 pm – 5:45 pm Fellowship Time
Connect with other egalitarian conference participants, visit our bookstore, or check out the exhibitors in our exhibitor hall!
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Dinner and Awards Ceremony | DoubleTree Ballroom
A CBE-hosted banquet dinner celebrating CBE’s 2024 award recipients. We are thrilled to recognize and honor these long-time advocates of women’s biblical equality. Registered in-person conference participants, award winners, and their ticketed guests are welcome. In case of overflow, additional tables will be available in the Colorado room. Dinner is included with in-person registration; award winner guests may purchase a banquet ticket in the CBE bookstore.
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm Keynote Session 6 | DoubleTree Ballroom
Telling Her Story in Such a Time as This Karen H. Jobes with Mimi Haddad
9:00 pm – 9:30 pm Vespers | DoubleTree Ballroom
Charles Read
SCHEDULE
JULY 28th SUNDAY
8:00 am – 9:00 am Registration and Check-In | Lobby
Check-in at our registration table to pick up your name badge and workbook, and visit the bookstore and exhibitor’s hall.
9:00 am – 9:45 am Devotions | DoubleTree Ballroom
Ron Pierce
10:00 am – 11:15 am Workshop Block 5
Workshop 5.A | Mt. Powell Room
Should I stay or should I go?
Rob Dixon
Workshop 5.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Women Mystics, Martyrs, Missionaries, Movers, and Shakers: God’s Strong Rescuers in History
Mimi Haddad
Workshop 5.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Priscilla and The Explosion of Woman Church Planters Today
Terran Williams
11:30 pm – 12:30 pm Keynote Session 7 | DoubleTree Ballroom
What’s in a Name...or a Title?
Cynthia Long Westfall
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Worship and Communion | DoubleTree Ballroom
Kathleen Rankin
July 25th, Thursday
1 pm—6 pm
July 26th, Friday
8 am—9:45 am 12:30 pm—1:45 pm 4:30 pm—5:45 pm
8:30 pm—9:30 pm
July 27th, Saturday
8 am—9:45 am 12:30 pm—1:45 pm 4:00 pm—5:45 pm
8:30 pm—9:30 pm
July 28th, Sunday
8 am—9:45 am 12:30 pm—1:45 pm
CBE Bookstore provides vetted egalitarian resources. Books available through other conference venders may not have been vetted by CBE for inclusion in CBE’s bookstore.
Review books for CBE Bookstore!
CBE is looking for committed volunteer book reviewers to vet and review books.
CBE reviews all kinds of books on women and Christian faith, and we depend on volunteers to make it happen! Our reviewers provide thoughtful analysis and recommendations for the egalitarian community. They also help us vet books for inclusion in CBE’s bookstore.
Visit cbe.today/bookreviews to learn more and apply.
Ways to Give
Explore the ways you can support CBE. You can give by scanning the QR codes, visiting the website urls , or using the envelopes at the event.
Why CBE Is Needed
“Research has consistently found that men who hold hierarchical views about gender roles and relationships are more likely to perpetrate violence against women” (live.com). UN Women studies also show that giving women equal authority is necessary for human flourishing.
How CBE Meets the Need
CBE’s work demonstrates that by exposing and correcting the inequities of women, communities change and grow opportunities for women. When perception changes, women are valued and given freedom to participate in leadership roles worldwide.
As the largest portal of egalitarian resources, CBE’s website reaches more than one million people around the world each year with 4,000 resources in many languages. It uniquely educates people seeking answers to Scripture’s teaching on women. CBE also engages an extensive global network of diverse partners who are thought-leaders, humanitarians, biblical scholars, and women pioneers from more than one-hundred denominations and sixty-five countries.
Together we skillfully advance women’s biblical equality by creating and leveraging CBE’s award-winning resources that expose the social and moral flaws that result from Christian and cultural patriarchy.
You Are Needed
YOU can help us continue this essential work by giving securely online at cbe.today/donate, use your camera to scan the QR code, or note “flourishing” when you use the envelope.
“When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.” –Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General
Growing an Egalitarian Footprint in South America
Latin America is “a portrayal of negative effects of high levels of patriarchy.”¹ “As successful as religious actors have been in pushing Latin America towards democracy, justice, and human rights, issues of gender inequality seem to have been left behind.”²
CBE’s 2023 international conference in São Paulo, Brazil, helped us begin a movement in South America to set the record straight on what the Bible teaches about the biblical equality of women and men. We plan to continue that momentum with CBE’s 2025 international conference in South America. South American egalitarians are eager to attend the conference to build alliances and help with egalitarian momentum in South America.
It is crucial that we provide scholarships so more people can attend the conference in South America. The scholarships will be used to bring in students, pastors, and others who cannot afford to pay the registration fee. Understanding women’s biblical value and equality is essential to empowering their life, work, and studies.
1. https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses/123/.
2. https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/responses/the-church-and-gender-inequality-in-latin-america.
Help us introduce egalitarian resources into a society that experiences persistent inequality and violence against women by giving securely online at cbe.today/sa , use your camera to scan the QR code, or note “South America” when you use the envelope.
Help Women Become Faith Leaders!
Religion has been called the hardest barrier that women must overcome in the path to gender equality. Together we can help women break this barrier and become faith leaders. Women leaders working beside men in ministry settings are necessary for their communities to flourish.
That is why the Alvera Mickelsen Memorial Scholarship Fund (AMMS) provides financial assistance to women pursuing a master’s degree in a ministry field related to preaching, communicating, writing, youth ministry, pastoral, or nonprofit work.
We need your help to provide scholarships for next year. Statistics show that women who work for local churches and nonprofits are often paid less and receive fewer benefits than their male counterparts. That means women preparing to serve their local church and community need scholarships to graduate without significant debt!
AMMS recipients express how receiving the scholarship was not only an answer to their prayers for financial support, but also an affirmation of their calling. Together we can help more women answer the call to lead.
Since receiving the AMMS scholarship, recipients have gone on to become pastors, educators, missionaries, and humanitarian workers. You can hear from our finalists at cbe.today/ammsfinalists.
Give securely online at cbe.today/ammsfund , use your camera to scan the QR code, or note “AMMS” when you use the envelope.
SPEAKERS
Hélène
Dallaire
Earl S. Kalland Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages |
Denver Seminary
KEYNOTE
Keynote
WORKSHOP
Hélène Dallaire joined the faculty of Denver Seminary in 2006, serving in the Old Testament Department. She is an ordained minister with the Evangelical Church Alliance, and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, and the National Association of Professors of Hebrew. Dr. Dallaire earned a PhD and an MPhil in Hebrew and cognate studies (Comparative Semitics) from Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion and an MA in biblical literature from Oral Roberts University. She completed additional work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem University College, McMaster University, and Western Pentecostal Bible College. Prior to coming to Denver Seminary, she served five years on the faculty of Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, one year at the Alliance Biblical Seminary in the Philippines, and she completed ten years of pastoral work in Canada.
Kimberly Dickson
WORKSHOP
Podcast Host | CBE International
Kimberly Dickson has studied and worked in the Middle East, East Africa, India, and in her home state of California. In these various contexts she has seen how the status of women practically affects the health and wellbeing of families, communities, and nations. Further, she has seen the welfare of entire communities transform when those who are traditionally marginalized are brought into the center of community decision making. She completed her MA in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in 2022, where she studied the Judeo/Christian faith’s perspectives on women.
Kimberly is co-host of CBE International’s Mutuality Matters podcast segment, “Global Impact: Egalitarian Activism and Human Flourishing” and hosts a new theme called “Women in Scripture and History.” Based on her experience in the field, she invites guests to reflect on the practical impacts of Christian theology, especially in regard to women, on their humanitarian work.
WORKSHOP
Senior Fellow | InterVarsity Institute
Rob Dixon lives in central California with his wife, Amy and four children, and works as a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He earned a Doctor of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he focused on discerning the attributes of flourishing mixed-gender ministry partnerships. Rob is the author of Together in Ministry: Women and Men in Flourishing Partnerships, and co-author of Penny Preaches with his wife Amy, a children’s picture book coming out in August 2024 from IVP Kids.
Rob is also co-host of CBE International’s Mutuality Matters podcast segment, “Side by Side: Women, Men, and Everyday Mutuality.”
Founder and Senior Pastor | World Changers Church International
Taffi Dollar, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, is a world-renowned author, teacher, spiritual leader, and motivational speaker. She is married to Creflo Dollar, and together they pastor World Changers Church International (WCCI) based in College Park, Georgia, World Changers Church-New York, and numerous satellite churches across the country. In addition to ministering from the pulpit, she frequently hosts prayer and Bible study meetings, retreats, workshops, and other events that empower women.
Bio and image from taffidollar.org.
Professor of New Testament | Northern Seminary
Nijay K. Gupta teaches New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. He has earned ThM and MDiv degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as a PhD in New Testament from the University of Durham, UK. He has published a commentary on Colossians (Smyth & Helwys, 2013), Worship that Makes Sense to Paul (de Gruyter, 2010), and is the author of Tell Her Story (IVP Academic, 2023).
SPEAKERS
Mimi Haddad
WORKSHOP
J. Dwayne Howell
WORKSHOP
Karen H.
Jobes
President | CBE International
Mimi Haddad is president of CBE International. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (summa cum laude). She holds a PhD in historical theology from the University of Durham, England. Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University awarded Mimi an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 2013.
Professor and Pastor | Campbellsville University
J. Dwayne Howell is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament and Hebrew at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky, and currently serves as adjunct professor at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He has also pastored in Central Kentucky for over thirty years. He and his wife, Dr. Susan Howell are active supporters of CBE.
Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor Emerita of New Testament Greek and Exegesis | Wheaton College
KEYNOTE
Keynote
WORKSHOP
Karen H. Jobes is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor Emerita of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College and Graduate School (Illinois). She earned her doctorate in biblical hermeneutics at Westminster Theological Seminary (Philadelphia) and has served as a tenured professor at Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA, 1996–2005) and at Wheaton (2005–2015). She was a translator on the NIV Committee on Bible Translation 1996–2017.
SPEAKERS
Professor of Hebrew Bible and Theological Studies | North Park University
Boaz Johnson (PhD, Trinity International University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is a professor of biblical and theological studies at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois. His writing has appeared in publications such as Christianity Today and The Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.
WORKSHOP
Kurt Knoll
WORKSHOP
Director of Member Relations | Barnabas Foundation
Kurt Knoll is the director of member relations at Barnabas Foundation, a nonprofit with the mission of helping generous Christians transfer their wealth in ways that honor God, provide for their families, and support the causes close to their hearts.
Professor of Bible | Milligan University
Jeff Miller is the former editor of CBE’s academic journal, Priscilla Papers. He holds bachelor’s degrees in pastoral ministry and church music, an MDiv, and a PhD in biblical interpretation. Since 1999 he has taught biblical studies at Milligan University in eastern Tennessee. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and has published articles in journals such as The Bible Translator, Leaven, Restoration Quarterly, StoneCampbell Journal, and CBE’s Mutuality. He and his wife Dana have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.
Jeff Miller
Boaz Johnson PANEL PANEL
SPEAKERS
Alan Myatt
WORKSHOP
Theological Education Initiative Scholar | United World Mission
Alan Myatt (BA Vanderbilt; MDiv, Denver Seminary; PhD, Denver University/Iliff School of Theology) teaches theology at the Faculdades Batista do Paraná, in Brazil and as an adjunct professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He taught at the Faculdade Teológica Batista de São Paulo and the Seminário Batista do Sul do Brasil in Rio de Janeiro. In addition to articles in Portuguese and English, he has co-authored a textbook widely used in Brazil, Teologia Sistemática (Edições Vida Nova) and an article titled “On the Compatibility of Ontological Equality, Hierarchy and Functional Distinctions” pages 22–28, in the special edition publication titled “The Deception of Eve and the Ontology of Women,” published by CBE. He also contributed to CBE’s “An Evangelical Statement on the Trinity.”
Kathy Myatt
WORKSHOP
Member Care Coordinator | United World Mission
Kathy Myatt is a psychiatric nurse practitioner with an emphasis on family and child development. A graduate of the University of Colorado with post-graduate studies at Vanderbilt University, she has extensive experience teaching courses on counseling, pediatrics, and child development. Having experienced religious abuse as a member of a Christian cult, she’s been able to speak at churches about cults as well as to aid ex-cult members reorienting to life outside. She currently provides spiritual and emotional support for missionaries as a member care coordinator with United World Mission.
Barbara Murray
WORKSHOP
Mental Health Clinician | Private Practice
Barbara Murray, LCSW, SEP has worked as a mental health clinician for twenty-four years. She currently works in private practice specializing in treating adults with a history of trauma. She and her husband have four kids and live in Colorado. Barbara has experience creating spaces for conversations about accountability and abuse free communities.
SPEAKERS
Raewyn Orlich
WORKSHOP
Philip B. Payne
KEYNOTE
Keynote WORKSHOP
PANEL
Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Nurture | La Sierra University
Raewyn Orlich serves as an associate pastor for discipleship and nurture at the La Sierra University Church in Riverside, California. Her book, In Grandpa’s Shoes: An Invitation to Intergenerational Connection, shares how her grandfather, Eric Webster (pastor and ultra-marathon runner) helped inspire her ministry and provides reflection questions for small groups. She and her physician-poet husband, Michael, are raising three members of Generation Alpha: Eleanor, Eric, and Desmond.
President
| Linguist’s Software
Philip B. Payne (PhD, The University of Cambridge) has taught New Testament in Cambridge colleges, as a missionary in Japan, and as a visiting professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Bethel Seminary, and Fuller Seminary. He is well known for seminal articles on Jesus’s parables, textual criticism, Codex Vaticanus, and women in Paul’s letters and the Bible. He has two books published with Zondervan: Man and Woman, One in Christ (2009) and The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood (2023).
Ron Pierce
DEVOTIONAL
Ron Pierce serves on
CBE’s Board of Reference.
Professor of Bible and Theology, 1976–2024 | Biola University
Ron Pierce received his PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has taught biblical studies and theology at Biola University since 1976, and currently teaches in the undergraduate program of the Talbot School of Theology there. He is co-editor of Discovering Biblical Equality: Biblical, Theological, Cultural, and Practical Perspectives (2021) with Cynthia Long Westfall and Christa L. McKirland. Ron and his wife Pat live in Fullerton, California, and have two adult children.
CBE Endorsement: Christian patriarchy, sustained through the so-called “complementarian” movement, has taken a tragic toll on women in Christian ministry and marriage. Thank you, CBE for the vital part you continue to play in helping all of God’s people thrive!
Charles Read
VESPERS
Keynote WORKSHOP
SPEAKERS
Director of Liturgy and Director of Reader Training | Norwich Diocese (UK)
Charles Read, BA, MPhil, PGCE teaches Liturgy and shares in the teaching of Systematic Theology. Although he grew up in the West Midlands, Charles spent twenty-one years in Manchester before joining the staff in 1999. After reading theology at Manchester University, he was head of religious studies in a secondary school and a reader in a large church before training for ordination at St John’s College, Nottingham. He served in a wide variety of parishes in Manchester Diocese (urban, rural, suburban, evangelical, catholic and ‘just C of E’), ending up as Team Vicar in a UPA in Salford. He has been a member of General Synod, has helped to produce the new Eucharistic prayers for Common Worship, and is involved with WATCH (Women and the Church). He is working on a PhD on inclusive language. Charles is married to Judith, and they have two boys, Jonathan and Phillip. Among the family pastimes are films, eating out, gardening, knitting, trains, and watching re-runs of The Avengers.
Director
of
Women’s Transformation + Leadership and Equity-Based Hospitality | Reformed Church of America
Rev. Elizabeth (Liz) Testa, MDiv, is a visionary leader, passionate community builder, and lover of all things multi-cultural who leads a Christian women’s empowerment movement for the Reformed Church in America. Since 2014, she and her team have encouraged, equipped, and empowered women to live into their God-given gifts and callings, and equipped faith communities to create healthy, hospitable environments where everyone’s gifts can thrive, and the body of Christ is built and strengthened for mission in the world. Raised in New York and Madrid, Spain, she is a natural bridge builder between cultures and a freedom fighter for dismantling racism and fostering equity-based hospitality in the church and beyond. Rev. Liz hosted the Lavish Hope, Stories of Resilience and Overcoming podcast for four seasons and is pursuing her doctorate in transformational preaching from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Jersey, focusing on the power of biblical women’s stories to transform faith communities, locally and globally.
SPEAKERS
Seblewengel
Tilahun
WORKSHOP
Cynthia Long Westfall
KEYNOTE
Keynote WORKSHOP
PANEL
Country Director | Ethiopia Arise
Dedicated for holistic community development, Seblewengel is engaged in capacity building of different social groups including faith leaders in areas of gender, transformative masculinity, maternal and child health, mental well-being, child protection, and holistic family and youth development. She also works to design a holistic approach to address the needs and challenges of family and youth in Ethiopia.
Associate Professor of New Testament | McMaster Divinity College
Cynthia Long Westfall, PhD, is assistant professor of New Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario. She is the author of Discourse Analysis of the Letter to the Hebrews: The Relationship Between Form and Meaning (T. & T. Clark, 2006), and Paul and Gender: Reclaiming the Apostle’s Vision for Men and Women in Christ (Baker Academic, 2016) and has been part of an urban mission to the inner city in Denver for more than twenty years. For the last five years, she has also been involved in urban ministry in the Greater Toronto area.
Cynthia lectures widely for academic, popular, and church audiences on gender and faith. She has mentored more than fifty graduate students, some of whom write and speak for CBE. She serves on the Gender and Evangelicals study group for the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS); the Regional ETS of Ontario and Quebec, and the former Front Range CBE chapter in Denver. Cindy also founded and chaired The Sophia House, transformational housing for women at risk for homelessness.
In recognition of her achievements, CBE awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
SPEAKERS
Terran Williams
WORKSHOP
Author, Pastor | terranwilliams.com, Signal Church of Cape Town, South Africa
Terran Williams from Cape Town, South Africa, is an author, church leader, dad of five, and avid surfer. He was the long-time lead teacher of a large church that prided itself in its doctrinal accuracy. When tasked with researching and writing a better defense for its complementarian theology, Terran made a shocking discovery. This led to him writing the comprehensive yet accessible, How God Sees Women: The End of Patriarchy *
*See terranwilliams.com for more.
Eric Webster
WORKSHOP
Pastor | Seventh-day Adventist Church
Eric Webster was born and grew up in South Africa. He became a minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1949 and has served as a pastor, church administrator, college professor, and editor. He has a Doctorate in Theology from Stellenbosch University.
Write for CBE and Make an Impact Worldwide
CBE’s resources are written by volunteer authors who use their gifts to share how God calls both women and men to equal leadership and authority in the home, church, and world.
You can make your own submission to Mutuality Blog + Magazine (mutuality@cbeinternational.org) and Priscilla Papers (editor.priscillapapers@gmail.com).
STUDENT PAPER COMPETITON WINNERS
Jazmine
Lawrence | Student from Acadia Divinity College
Jazmine Lawrence lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and son and attends Acadia Divinity College as a second year MA (Theology) student. She hails from Vancouver, British Columbia, growing up as one of five girls before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force for fourteen years.
Marlene Molewyk | Student from Northern Seminary
Marlene Molewyk (BA, University of Michigan; MA, Fuller Seminary; Doctor of Theological Ministry in New Testament context, Northern Seminary, June 2024) is a homeschooling mother and is on the preaching team at her church. She has previously worked in broadcast journalism, syndicated network television production, corporate communications, and marketing and PR consulting.
Rosalie Brown | Student from The Bible Seminary
Rosalie Brown is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. She earned an Master of Arts in Church History and Theology from The Bible Seminary in Katy, Texas, and is preparing to enter a Doctor of Ministry program. She loves studying the word of God and sharing what she’s learned with others.
ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP
Carrie Silveira | Conference Coordinator
Conference Coordinator and Editor of Mutuality Magazine | CBE International
Carrie Silveira is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with a dual Master of Arts in Christian Thought and Biblical Studies, as well as an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Gordon College. Having grown up as a missionary kid, she spent the last nine years working in Christian publishing in Brazil. She, her husband Jonathan, and their daughter now live in Colorado.
Amber Burgess | MC
Associate Executive Director and Marketing Manager | CBE International
Amber Burgess works for CBE as the Associate Executive Director and Marketing Manager. She received her undergraduate degree from Sterling College and graduate degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She has a passion to mentor young women who are exploring their calling to ministry, as well as feeding her love for the Old Testament and biblical languages. Amber and her husband, Kevin, live in Minnesota with their three boys where they have worked side by side in camp ministry for over ten years.
Kathleen Rankin | Worship and Communion Canon for Leadership Development | Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes
Rev. Canon Dr. Kathleen Rankin is the canon for leadership development in the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes where she oversees the discernment process and training for all those seeking ordination. She is a CBE board member and part of the leadership team of the ACNA Women’s Leadership Network where she trains facilitators and organizes Storying Groups for women leaders. Rev. Rankin was ordained in the Anglican Church in North America after completing the Master of Divinity degree from Trinity School for Ministry, where she also did her doctoral work. She is the Assisting Priest at LifeSong Fellowship in Wadsworth, Ohio, and also offers coaching and spiritual direction to other ministry leaders. She and her husband, Chuck, have four adult children and live with a menagerie of animals on their farm where she enjoys hiking, biking, gardening, a good read, and fiber arts.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Keynote Session 1
Friday, July 26th | 10:00 am – 11:15 am | DoubleTree Ballroom
Her Story Alone: Identity and Authority without Contingency
Nijay K. Gupta
In this presentation, Nijay Gupta shares some of his vision for the sequel to his awardwinning and bestselling book Tell Her Story. This follow-up book is entitled: God Spoke through Her: Women Prophets as God’s Spokespersons in Scripture. While Genesis 1–2 casts a vision for women and men leading together, there are many key moments in Scripture where women engage in leadership without men by their sides. Insofar as these moments come according to the will, calling, and blessing of God, they represent validation of the identity and authority of women leaders.
This session is a recording and will be live-streamed.
Notes
Workshop Block 1
Friday, July 26th | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Workshop 1.A | Mt. Powell Room
Words for God 101: An Introduction to Gendered Language and Imagery in Scripture
Charles Read
This workshop is a basic introduction to the gendered language for God. It will look at biblical images for God and discuss why this issue is important. It will also help us to see that the Bible describes God in a much broader variety of ways than we often think and that it is not helpful to talk about God only using male imagery. Finally, it will look at the implications of this discussion for Christian worship and for the way in which we preach, evangelise, and generally talk about God.
This session will be recorded.
Workshop 1.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Women in Missions: Leaders on the Field, but Not at Home
Alan Myatt
Missionary women have a long history of leadership on the mission field, but in many denominations are restricted from leadership positions in their home countries. This session will focus on the rich history of women in leadership in South America and Brazil, and how to help egalitarian outreach in those contexts continue to grow.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Workshop Block 1
Friday, July 26th | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Workshop 1.C | Mt. Elbert Room
The Women of Israel: Treasures from Ancient Near Eastern Literature
Hélène Dallaire
Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) literature provides a wealth of information on the status of women in the home, in public, in the economy, religion, healthcare, the law, and countless other contexts in Israel and beyond during the biblical period. From Mesopotamia to Egypt, scribes (female and male) recorded details that enlighten us on the lives of women in ancient Israel. Through the legacy of scribes, we learn about pregnancy, childbirth, youth, home life, sexuality, violence against women, barrenness, abortion, trade by women, literacy, the lives of privileged women, and much more. In this session, we will examine some of the literary treasures that help understand the role of women in Israel.
This session will be recorded.
Workshop 1.D | Mt. Evans Room
The Power of Intergenerational Relationships
Raewyn Orlich and Eric Webster
Many of us long for more meaningful intergenerational relationships and aren’t sure where to start. In this workshop, Raewyn Orlich shares how her pastor-ultramarathon runner-grandfather influenced her own calling to pastoral ministry and how she runs the race of faith. His example and encouragement empowered her to listen to the call of Jesus, despite challenges within her faith community regarding the inclusion of women as pastors. She tells the story of how her recently published book came to be, which weaves her and her grandfather’s stories together, each chapter looking honestly at topics like health, human suffering, race, gender, faith, and facing death, while also including reflection questions for intergenerational small groups. In an age that feels more divided than ever, we need safe spaces for connection and practical tools for forging strong relationships with people of all ages. This workshop aims to assist you along the way.
This session will be recorded.
Start a CBE Chapter in your area!
Take what you learn and teach others in your community about mutuality and biblical equality.
Starting a CBE Chapter in your area can provide you and others with a community of believers who will work to end gender hierarchy and theological patriarchy in your churches and communities.
Start a chapter
• At your school or seminary.
• At your church as a small group or class offering.
• With other believers you know in your region who would benefit from and be encouraged by other Christians in their understanding on women and men in the home, church, and world.
Learn more about CBE chapters at cbe.today/chapters to get started on forming one in your region.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Keynote Session 2
Friday, July 26th | 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm | DoubleTree Ballroom
Breaking Chains: Pursuing Biblical Equality in Faith and Practice
Taffi Dollar
Explore the concept of biblical equality in this thought-provoking keynote address. Delve into the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for women and men as outlined in Scripture. Uncover the historical context and significance of equality within the Bible, highlighting key passages and teachings that promote inclusivity and unity between women and men. Challenge traditional interpretations and shed light on the importance of embracing diversity and promoting equality in today’s society based on biblical principles. Join us as we examine the intersection of faith and social justice in the pursuit of a more equitable world for women and men.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Notes
Workshop Block 2
Friday, July 26th | 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Workshop 2.A | Mt. Powell Room
The Foreign-Outcaste Woman Transformed into the Strong Woman in the Bible: In the Works of Katharine Bushnell of Chicago
Boaz Johnson
Katharine Bushnell is the most important pioneer woman biblical exegete of the modern era. She served as a medical missionary in China where she encountered girls and women, who experienced trauma at the hands of men in power. Back in the US, in 1886 she investigated sexual slavery in the lumber companies of Wisconsin. As a result of this investigation the Illinois and Wisconsin senates instituted laws banning this horrible practice. Following this she investigated British army barracks in India, which were used as brothels for English Army men. As a result of this investigation, the British parliament instituted laws banning this repulsive practice and fired army leaders. These and other experiences caused her to write her magnum opus, God’s Word to Women.
This session will be recorded.
Workshop 2.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Issues of Gender and the Engagement of Faith Leaders in Ethiopia
Seblewengel Tilahun
Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. It is home to more than 116 million people, 98 percent of which acknowledge being from a particular faith background. Christianity and Islam are the two mainstream religions; faith plays an important role in the day-to-day lives of Ethiopians as people rely heavily on their religion and its teachings. Faith leaders are greatly respected across Ethiopia; what they choose to speak about influences the beliefs and actions of their communities. This workshop will examine the cultural impact of patriarchy, the prevalence of intimate partner violence, and the use of Scripture to justify ongoing inequality between women and men. Empowering faith leaders to advocate for biblical equality is key to transforming Ethiopian society.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Workshop Block 2
Friday, July 26th | 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Workshop 2.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Dangerous Congregations: When Power and Authority Take Over
Kathy Myatt
Religious abuse: how are victims seduced, who is vulnerable, and what breaks the hold? While some churches start out healthy and slowly develop abusive patterns, other groups have authoritarian DNA set in their foundation. We will look at characteristics of cults and abusive churches and examine what factors make people vulnerable to joining them. How these groups maintain their hold and what finally loosens the chains for members will be explored, as well as how women are typically viewed in such congregations and why.
This session will be recorded.
Workshop 2.D | Mt. Evans Room
Honoring Our Stories: Cultivating Belonging for Women in Ministry
Liz Testa
Too often our busy lives and individualistic society hinder us from embracing the importance of mutual encouragement and the power of story sharing. This workshop will be an interactive, energizing gathering that sparks spiritual and practical ideas for creating hospitable, transformative spaces where women in ministry feel seen, valued, and empowered, and models the inspiring, healing, connecting power of story sharing across cultures and generations. We are stronger, together! ¡Juntas somos más fuertes!
Note: This workshop will have bilingual (English-Spanish) leadership. En este taller, se habla español.
This session will be recorded.
CBE’s new eLearning course on 1 Timothy is now available!
Take a deep dive into the ancient world to explore the context and language of Scripture often used to limit women in the home, church, and world.
Learn more at cbe.today/courses or scan the QR code to get started.
Student Paper Presentations
Friday, July 26th | 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm
CBE’s three 2024 Student Paper Competition Winners will be presenting their papers.
Jazmine Lawrence | Taking Ownership of the Church Landscape: The Daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1–11
Marlene Molewyk | Reframing and Re-norming Her Story
Rosalie Brown | Naaman’s Servant Girl
Notes
Keynote Session 3
Friday, July 26th | 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | DoubleTree Ballroom
Phoebe, Deacon of the Church of Cenchreae and Leader of Many, Including Me
Philip B. Payne
Phoebe, mentioned in Romans 16:1–2, was not merely a letter carrier, but a woman in leadership in the early church. Paul writes, “Phoebe, who is deacon of the church in Cenchreae ...” “Deacon” was a local church leadership title. The phrases “receive her” and “assist in any matter” encourage people to respect Phoebe and show that Paul trusts her implicitly. An examination of secular usage argues that prostatis should be translated “leader,” not “helper” or “benefactor,” and probably not “patron.” None of the examples BDAG cites (or I have found) for prostatis means “a woman in a supportive role” or “benefactor.” Some even mean “president.” Finally, we will explore the significance of Paul’s statement, “including me.” This shows that Paul applied to himself his injunction in Ephesians 5:21 that all believers “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Notes
Keynote Session 4
Saturday, July 27th | 10:00 am – 11:15 am | DoubleTree Ballroom
The Central Role of Old Testament Prophetesses
Hélène Dallaire
Did you know that the course of Israelite history changed dramatically through the message of Old Testament prophetesses? Many lives were saved because of their wisdom, knowledge, and courage. Have you ever wondered if the status of prophets and prophetesses was equal in Israelite society? Why are all prophetic books of the Bible named after men and none after women? Come and journey through the Old Testament to meet amazing women of God whose voices made an impact on biblical history.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Notes
Workshop Block 3
Saturday, July 27th | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Workshop 3.A | Mt. Powell Room
Planned Giving: Increase Your Impact
Kurt Knoll
Many people give from their wallets or bank accounts because it is familiar, but regularly from your bank account is probably not the most cost-effective way for you to give. You may be able to increase your impact—and experience significant tax benefits—by making a planned gift to ministry.
Sponsored by the Barnabas Foundation. | This session will be recorded.
Workshop 3.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Created to Thrive: Cultivating Abuse-Free Faith Communities
Barbara Murray
This workshop will equip and empower attendees to return to their congregations and start the conversation about transforming them into abuse-free communities. Learn how Barbara used CBE resources to create a simple course with the goal of educating congregations and holding them accountable.
“Created to Thrive was born out of the desire to equip pastors and Christian leaders with the resources to respond wisely to reports of abuse and to create a space in their church or organization where all members can flourish. The contributors, each highly qualified in their respective fields, tackle topics related to abuse, exposing myths and their dangerous consequences and proposing remedies and best practices.”
– Created to Thrive: Cultivating Abuse-Free Faith Communities
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Workshop Block 3
Saturday, July 27th | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Workshop 3.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Julian of Norwich: A Medieval Feminist
Charles Read
This workshop will outline the life and teachings of Julian of Norwich (~1343–1416) who lived in medieval England. Julian exercised spiritual leadership in a context where women could not be ordained. What might her teachings, especially talking about Jesus as our mother, have to say to us in our discussions of the maleness of Jesus? How might this idea be used in prayer and devotion, as well as in theology today? Some of the debates and ideas which we have today are not new but have a long history in Christian thought.
This session will be recorded.
Workshop 3.D | Mt. Evans Room
Church Fathers Explain Head in 1 Corinthians 11:3 as Source
Philip B. Payne
One of the most common passages used to support patriarchy is 1 Corinthians 11:3, “the man is head (kephalē) of woman.” Church fathers, however, overwhelmingly describe “head” in 1 Corinthians 11:3 to mean “source”: Cyril of Alexandria, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Athanasius, Cosmas Indicopleustes, Cyrillus Hierosolymitanus, Eusebius, Photius, Chrysostom, and “Ambrosiaster.” Secular Greek dictionaries explain why the Septuagint avoids kephalē when “head” meant leader. BDAG (BauerDanker-Arndt-Gingrich: A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature / revised and edited by Frederick William Danker) misleads.
This session will be recorded.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Keynote Session 5
Saturday, July 27th | 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm | DoubleTree Ballroom
A Familiar Picture: An Update on CBE’s Translation Project
Jeff Miller with Boaz Johnson, Cynthia Long Westfall, and Philip B. Payne
CBE is engaged in a Bible translation project. From 2019 to 2024, a team of nine scholars has been working on a selection of about 500 verses, addressing bias against women that has accrued over time. Each entry includes a fresh translation together with notes that explain the translation choices.
A project update in the summer issue of CBE’s magazine, Mutuality, gives two examples: Genesis 49:24–25, because it describes God’s care as “blessings of the breasts and of the womb.” And 1 Corinthians 9:3–5, in which the CBE Team translates Paul’s rhetorical question as, “Don’t we have the right to travel with a spouse who is a believer; like the other apostles, the Lord’s siblings, and Cephas do?”
In this keynote session, translation team members Boaz Johnson, Jeff Miller, Philip B. Payne, and Cynthia Long Westfall will give further examples from the project.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Notes
Workshop Block 4
Saturday, July 27th | 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Workshop 4.A | Mt. Powell Room
Examining Julia Smith’s (1792–1886) Translation
Karen H. Jobes
This workshop will take a closer look at Julia Smith’s (1792–1886) translation of Scripture in comparison to today’s modern English versions. Although the translation of the Bible is an ancient practice dating back to the 3rd century B.C., female Bible translators have been a rare and relatively modern happening. This session will present and reflect on Julia Smith’s (1792–1886) translation of Scripture as perhaps the first Bible to be translated by a woman.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Workshop 4.B | Mt. Sopris Room
“Victim-Blaming” and the David and Bathsheba Narrative J. Dwayne
Howell
Many denominations have been affected by sexual abuse by their leaders in the past several years and the cover-ups that sought to hide it. Victims caught in such abuse are again victimized by institutions that were willing participants or entrapped by the leadership. Referred to as “victim-blaming”, this occurs when the leadership seeks to absolve itself by deflecting personal accountability onto the victim. This is also related to toxic masculinity in churches, where submission of females to males is emphasized. Often women are kept subordinate because they are seen as weak and are responsible for controlling men’s sexual desires. These situations set up opportunities for males to dominate the females, which leads to abuse.
The David and Bathsheba narrative of 1 Samuel 11 provides an example of such abuse. While the biblical text does not accuse Bathsheba of any wrongdoing in the narrative, various interpretations of the text seek to place Bathsheba as the temptress leading David astray. This session looks at these interpretations that blame Bathsheba for David’s fall and the implications for preaching and church leaders today.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Workshop Block 4
Saturday, July 27th | 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Workshop 4.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Unlikely Partnerships: Mentorships Bridging Age, Race, Gender, and Class
Kimberly Dickson
Despite human frailty, God restores people and nations through the most unlikely of partnerships. Though Eli was tainted by his sons’ corruption, God was not deterred by his humanness. God knew that Eli was the best person to train and mentor Hannah’s son, Samuel. This partnership changed the nation. Naomi left the land of Judah with her family and hoped for a better future. She returned widowed, childless, and bitter. But through her foreign, widowed daughter-in-law, God restored faith, life, and hope to Naomi. And together, Naomi and Ruth paved a way for the future of Israel. This pattern of unlikely partners continues through the New Testament with Paul’s many co-workers, on to Jerome and Paula, Leoba and Boniface, and down to today. The power of partnerships that honor the differences brought by age, sex, race, and class could change families, churches, organizations, and nations.
This session will be recorded.
Workshop 4.D | Mt. Evans Room
Women in Ministry in the Biblical Narratives: An Overview
Cynthia Long Westfall
Get to know the powerful stories of women who participated in God-ordained service throughout the Bible. Together we will explore women whom God raised up as prophets, women who behave like prophets because their words are recorded as Scripture, and women of valor who were approved by God when they stepped outside of the norms expected of women. There will be a focus on how women in Jesus’s ministry were commended as ministers, were models of faith, and were treated with value. Finally, the session will describe how Acts portrays the central role that women played in the spread of the gospel. The cumulative impact of these God-inspired stories is that there is no function of “authority” or ministry relevant to the early church for which women are not commended.
This session will be recorded.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Join CBE as a church and organization member!
Members receive many membership perks that allow them to receive resources and special discounts through CBE, including conference tickets. Schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations have benefited from their membership with CBE by creating spaces where both women and men can thrive together in shared leadership and authority.
Head to CBE’s conference bookstore to learn more or go to cbe.today/orgmembers
Purchase your church and organization membership online at cbe.today/orgsale or scan the QR code to receive at least 15% off the membership price!
Keynote Session 6
Saturday, July 27th | 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | DoubleTree Ballroom
Telling Her Story in Such a Time as This
Karen H. Jobes with Mimi Haddad
The Lord has always empowered both women and men to serve his purposes. We see this in Scripture and in life. But we also see that women’s voices and stories have not always been heard. The book of Esther is a good example of how gender mutuality between Esther and Mordecai achieved God’s redemptive purposes through divine providence. In our own times the Lord has increasingly been raising up women to various forms of ministry in mutuality with our Christian brothers. We’ll consider our own stories in light of how the book of Esther speaks into such a time as this.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Notes
Workshop Block 5
Sunday, July 28th | 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Workshop 5.A | Mt. Powell Room
Should I stay or should I go?
Rob Dixon
Many women (and men) hold egalitarian convictions but are engaged in complementarian faith communities. This can be a challenging place to be! In this workshop, Rob Dixon will use research developed in partnership with April Fiet to offer guidance for how to navigate this situation. We will explore some reasons both for staying and for leaving, offer guidance for making this difficult decision, and provide a helpful framework for living out each decision in as healthy a way as possible.
This session will be recorded.
Workshop 5.B | Mt. Sopris Room
Women Mystics, Martyrs, Missionaries, Movers, and Shakers: God’s Strong Rescuers in History
Mimi Haddad
This workshop explores how God has gifted and called women throughout history, and how their leadership led to the flourishing of the church morally, spiritually, intellectually, and socially.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Workshop 5.C | Mt. Elbert Room
Priscilla and The Explosion of Woman Church Planters Today
Terran Williams
Priscilla and today’s multitude of woman church planters/leaders have this in common: they have been overlooked in the conversation about whether the Spirit of God regards gender when he chooses people to plant, care for, and teach churches.
This session is a recording and will be live-streamed.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Hosted By
Angela RavinAnderson
Mimi Haddad
Kim Dickson
Layla Van Gerpen
Rob Dixon Tara Korpi
Todd Korpi
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Keynote Session 7
Sunday, July 28th | 11:30 pm – 12:30 pm | DoubleTree Ballroom
What’s in a Name...or a Title?
Cynthia Long Westfall
Are women excluded from leadership or ministry in the church because a woman is never referred to as a “pastor,” “elder,” or “teacher” in the New Testament? The fact is that specific men are not described with these titles either (except when authors are describing themselves). However, Junia is called an “apostle” (Rom. 16:7), Phoebe is called a “deacon” (Rom. 16:1), and Philip’s four daughters are called “prophets,” (Acts 21:9). Furthermore, Priscilla represents a number of women who are described as ministers, patrons, teachers, and co-laborers in a way that recognizes women as ministers to Jesus and identifies them as central participants in Paul’s ministry team. The New Testament describes women with the same terms that it uses to describe men who are called to leadership in the church.
This session will be recorded and live-streamed.
Samba to South America in 2025!
CBE’s 2025 International Conference will be held in South America. Dates and more information are coming soon!
CONFERENCE SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS
Thank you to our sponsors!
Make sure to visit our sponsors and exhibitors in the Ballroom Foyer.
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
EXHIBITING SPONSORS
ADVERTISING SPONSOR
Subscribe to CBE’s Award-Winning Publications
Mutuality magazine’s mission is to share egalitarian theology and explore its impact on everyday life. Mutuality magazine and its articles has been recognized with thirty-five Christian journalism awards from the Evangelical Press Association.
Priscilla Papers is CBE’s academic journal. Winner of twenty-one Evangelical Press Association awards, it provides peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary evangelical scholarship on topics related to a biblical view of women’s equality and justice.
Receive new issues at your home address!
Visit cbe.today/ subscriptionsale, scan the QR code, or visit our conference bookstore for a sale flyer and save 15% on your subscription!
