Happy Thursday! Continuing the Need to Know season of The Right Side Up podcast, today we get into our first conversation with two contributors to the book. My dear friend Bob Ekblad is joined by Janet Munn, an author, speaker and leader in the Salvation Army. In this conversation, we explore the intersection of gender, power, and faith within the church. We reflect on need for a reimagined understanding of God that transcends traditional male-centric views. What is the church’s history of female leadership? What power dynamics distort equality today? How do allies get involved? Find answers to all those questions and more.

Show Notes

Link to order the book: Need to Know: Empowering Female Leadership and Why It’s Essential for the Future of the Church

Keywords

God, gender, power, church, leadership, women, equality, community, advocacy, nonviolence

Takeaways

* God is described as both male and female in scripture.

* The distortion of power dynamics harms both men and women.

* Women must be empowered to lead and serve in the church.

* The church needs to reimagine its structures to be more inclusive.

* Active nonviolence is essential in addressing social injustices.

* Voices of women are crucial for the health of the church.

* Encouragement to persist in advocacy for gender equality.

* The original biblical narrative supports mutuality between genders.

* Jesus' choice of women as the first witnesses to the resurrection is significant.

* Allies are needed to help amplify women's voices in the church.

Sound Bites

* "God is not male."

* "We need allies who will help us."

* "Distortion of power causes great damage."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Need to Know season and the book

01:55 Reimagining God's Gender

09:39 The Gap Between Theory and Practice

24:08 Rethinking Power and Spiritual Authority

34:16 Practical Steps for Gender Equity

42:04 Holding Leaders Accountable and Leaving Spaces that Do Not Value Women

46:24 Reimagining Church Structures and Systems