297. TNE TALKS: “Nice Churchy Patriarchy”

The New Evangelicals Podcast

Summary

Tim and Liz Cooledge Jenkins discuss her book, Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women's Humanity from Evangelicalism, and her journey unpacking the toxic aspects of conservative evangelicalism. She explores the concept of patriarchy and how it manifests in imbalanced power dynamics and restricts women's agency.

Takeaways

• Patriarchy is any structure or system that involves imbalanced power between genders, particularly men and women.
• Patriarchy restricts women's agency and discourages them from embracing their full humanity.
• The concept of patriarchy is often disguised as complementarianism in conservative evangelical contexts.
• The biblical mandates used to justify patriarchal norms are often based on American cultural norms rather than biblical principles.
• Mainline churches, despite their traditional appearance, often have more progressive and inclusive theology compared to white evangelical churches.
• Patriarchy is deeply ingrained in both the church and broader society, but it is not impossible to dismantle.
• Valuing characteristics traditionally associated with femininity, such as empathy and collaboration, is essential for building more inclusive and equitable spaces.
• Honest conversations, diverse perspectives, and a reevaluation of traditional interpretations of scripture are necessary for challenging and changing patriarchal systems.
• The intersection of patriarchy and the church requires a critical examination of leadership structures and a commitment to empowering women and other marginalized groups.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:01 Unpacking the Toxicity of Conservative Evangelicalism

10:02 Challenging Patriarchy and Reclaiming Women's Humanity

14:35 Examining Biblical Interpretations and Cultural Norms

24:21 Merging Contemporary Vibes with Deep Theology

26:26 Effective Ways to Fight the Patriarchy

28:12 Initiating Conversations with Women in the Congregation

29:33 The Need for Women in Leadership

31:11 Reflecting the Diversity of the Body of Christ

33:27 Challenging Traditional Leadership Models

39:19 Perceptions of Church Diversity

41:21 Sharing Power and Embracing Feminine Characteristics

46:45 The Sin of Empathy

48:19 Conclusion

Liz's Website | lizcooledgejenkins.com

Liz on Instagram | @lizcoolj

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