Co-Laborers, Co-Heirs: A Family Conversation - Softcover

Smith, Brittany; Serven, Doug; Sauls, Scott; Britton, Paige; Kiern, Becky; Ribera, Jessica; Alsup, Wendy; Garriott, Maria; Lauterbach, Rondi; Wright, Sarah Viggiano

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1733592156 ISBN 13: 9781733592154

Publisher: Storied Publishing, 2019

Synopsis

While our church doctrine teaches that men and women are co-laborers and co-heirs in Christ, does our practice reflect that truth? And what do we lose in our failures? To serve effectively together as brothers and sisters, we must be able to speak about good and hard things. These essays by our sisters and mothers in the church can help us know, grow and do better. Here are redemptive celebrations, gentle corrections, and winsome invitations from the diversity of women God has given as gifts to the church body. Read and listen well so that may we better serve each other and God's kingdom.

About this title

Review:

This is a wonderful, much-needed book. The story of Emma and the movement acknowledging women should be in ministry is worth far more than the price of the book. It is a book every pastor and elder should have to read before taking up their office and before making any decisions about whether or not women should serve in ministry. Of course they should! They are indeed fellow-laborers in God's kingdom and are needed in every church in the world. 
Jerram Barrs, Professor, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri 

Every word here resounds with love for the Body of Christ and with a desire to see men and women working together in the ways God intends. Anyone who hopes for the PCA to flourish in the future ought to listen closely to these voices.
Amy Peterson, Author, Dangerous Territory: My Misguided Quest to Save the World

It's hard for me to express how enthusiastically I'm recommending this book. As I read it, there were times that I took a screenshot and sent it with a yes!!! this!!! There were other times when it touched a deep hurt, and I realized how so much of what these sisters and brothers are saying about gender relationships in the church must be said. Women, you are not alone. Men, please hear our voices and don't give into an easy knee-jerk reaction by calling this liberalism or feminism. It's not. It's a call to do the hard work of finding ways to honor the imago Dei in us and utilize the gifts the Spirit has given us--all to the church's benefit. 
Elyse Fitzpatrick, Author, Finding the Love of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation

A great part of humility is listening. Here is a book from sisters and brothers in the Church telling their stories--stories of frustration, stories of service, and stories of grace. I have strong views based on Scripture about reserving church office to qualified men. However, in upholding that view, I have not always listened to or honored women in the Church as well as I could have. I am trying to do better. The biblical word for that is repentance, and this book is a valuable aid toward that end. While one does not have to agree with every conclusion reached, we are required by our Lord to listen, and to listen well, so that we do not miss out on the full breadth of gifts and wisdom that Christ gives to his Church. We are to remember King David, who submitted to Abigail, because she was right and he was wrong. In this book, we have a host of Abigails and their supporting brothers. May we listen well.
Christopher A. Hutchinson, Author, Rediscovering Humility

An insightful work that captures a wide variety of voices in the church that are honestly and faithfully seeking wisdom in how women can serve and be served in the church. If you are in the PCA, wherever you stand on women's roles in the church, you will come away with a new perspective. 
Alan Noble, Professor, Oklahoma Baptist University; Editor-in-Chief of Christ and Pop Culture; Author, Disruptive Witness

About this edition

• Publisher: Storied Publishing
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1733592156
• ISBN 13: 9781733592154
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 318