Susan, as far as what you had in the Conclusion, apparently, my notes don’t include what you had in the conclusion. I need to stop thinking I can remember things and just write them down! Thank you for directing mine, and whoever reads the post, to the conclusion and your advice to women in abusive churches. Thank you.

Thank you for reading my book and reviewing it well. I’m so glad you related to it so personally. You are right…I wrote the book for YOU but the you that you were eight years ago! It would be so interesting to hear about how you processed your own decision-making about the church. Somehow Jesus saved you from (and for) the church. How?

My own leanings about the social action women need to take is laid out in the Conclusion of the book, where I imply that a constructive course of action would be to leave hurtful churches and find healing, blessing ones. (This is the course of action I eventually chose, after trying to change things in the church I was attending). Egalitarian churches are out there, and I list a few denominations which have made public statements about this issue, as well as point readers to the Christians for Biblical Equality website which also lists specific churches state-by-state.

Changes in other churches will happen, to some degree, by a more responsible understanding of how to read the Bible. This was how I tried to change the church I had been in–I co-taught an adult Sunday School class on Jesus and Women. But this was before seminary and so I didn’t know much myself about reading the Bible. Evangelical churches tend not to teach people how to read the Bible well. That’s why I include an appendix on hermeneutics and also appendices addressing specific Scriptures like I Timothy 2 and the submission verses. I grew up in the church and I had never even heard of the word hermeneutics, in the context of the Bible, until I was 28 years old, and I don’t think I’m unusual. (It’s not necessary to go to seminary to learn how to read the Bible well, but it helps those like me who don’t read books on hermeneutics on the weekends!).

Others have said the book is for men, too, and that they are part of the social action equation in the church. I believe that is absolutely true.

Thanks again for your personal and helpful review. I look forward to hearing the “rest of the story” about your journey of healing and finding your rightful place in Jesus’ church!

Warmly,
Susan