Psychology professor Dr. Richard Beck is pushing for an equal involvement of women in his church and in Churches of Christ in general.
Beck, chair of the Department of Psychology, authored a post on his blog, Experimental Theology, titled “A Letter for Highland on Women’s Roles,” highlighting the differences between his view and the church’s practice on the issue. Beck attends Highland Church of Christ, where women participate in worship more than at most Churches of Christ but are not allowed to serve in a preaching position or as elders.
Beck wrote on his blog two weeks ago that he was making public a decision from two years ago to not participate in any activity at Highland where women were not allowed to participate. He said he decided this was the best way to express his belief and continue to be a member at Highland.
“I decided to stay at Highland but still live at peace with my conscience on this issue,” Beck said. “I didn’t want to just let this fester inside of me, and I didn’t want to leave the church, so I needed to find a middle ground. This way I can stay, but still feel comfortable about my disagreement with its beliefs.”
Since 2003, women at Highland have served on the worship team, taught adult Bible classes, lead prayers and offered communion thoughts. But the church has stopped short of inviting women to preach or serve in church leadership.
Most Churches of Christ and some other Christian churches are even more restrictive of women’s roles, citing several Scriptures limiting the practice. For example, the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:34, “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.”
Also, in 1 Timothy 2:12 Paul writes, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”
Beck said his goal is not to protest or criticize the church, but to limit himself only to what any church member may be allowed to do.
“I’m not doing this to try to convince the elders to change their minds,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll change their mind, I’m trying to articulate a way for me to honor certain personal beliefs. I don’t know who’s right or wrong, but I interpret the Scriptures more progressively than the patriarchal point of view.”
Stormy Higgins, 2012 chairman of the elders at Highland, said he read the blog post on Monday and said the elders have not discussed Beck’s post. While he is chairman of the group of elders, he said he does not speak for the other 32 elders collectively. He said he appreciated Beck’s thoughts on the issue and his courage for expressing his opinion. However, he said while some church members agree with his point of view, most of the more than 1,800 Highland members do not share Beck’s views. Rather, their points of view vary along the spectrum of the issue.
“The church has always struggled with how to live out the will of God and love of God in a human context that is often clouded by cultural issues, a variety of histories and traditions and a very selfish human nature,” Higgins said. “There will always be some for which we cannot move fast enough and others who believe the whole discussion is inappropriate. A part of my role as one of the leaders is to listen to the voices of the popular and unpopular points of view, then to discern the next step in leading the congregation from where we are today to a place where we better reflect the will and love of God.”
About 10 years ago, Beck served as chair of a committee at Highland that reevaluated its traditional practices in worship. The committee helped to make changes that would allow women to teach Bible classes, and during morning worship, lead prayers, read Scripture, welcome and offer communion.
“I commended the elders and said we made good progress,” said Beck. “But then I expressed my frustration that we need to go forward. I decided this is one way I can stand in solidarity with my sisters in Christ, and now I’m making this public.”
Joyce Haley, instructor of advertising in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and member at Highland, joined Beck’s all-male teaching team in an adult Bible class shortly after the change allowed women to do so.
The class was led by Beck, Dr. Bill Rankin and Paul Lakey. Haley said after praying about it, she accepted their offer to join their team as a way to publicly support the new position Highland had taken. She said Beck’s measured thoughtful approach to the issue helped to encourage discussion of an emotional and controversial topic carefully. She agrees that the church hasn’t done everything for women’s equality that it should.
“Many doors opened for women at Highland 10 years ago, but we stopped short of realizing an inclusive vision,” Haley said. “Women’s voices are still not being fully heard. I’d like to think Richard’s stand could make a difference.”
Beck said he’s heard many positive reactions from women who are Highland members, but no reactions from the church itself or its elders.
Beck’s blog can be found at experimentaltheology.blogspot.com. The post titled “A Letter for Highland on Women’s Roles” was published online on Aug. 29.
