Discernment

Behind the Why

The discernment decision was announced at Highland the morning of April 18, 2021. A class led by two Elders walking through the biblical principles behind the discernment decision was offered later that evening. An additional document entitled "Behind the Why" was emailed and mailed out to members that week.

"Behind the Why" Document

Women's Roles Discernment Timeline

This was a long process, and we wanted you to see the steps involved along the way.

1999 – Formal Elder Discussions Begin

September – December  2000 – The Elders determined that scripture supports increased roles for women in worship at Highland and began exploring the best way for the congregation to study and participate in communal discernment. A Women’s Roles Task Group was formed.

February 2001 – Women’s Roles Task Group created several teams to help the congregation study and process

March 2001-April 2002 – Congregational Bible Studies, Small Group Discussions, Listening Projects and Surveys began

May 2002 – Elders Affirmed that women will have increased roles in worship and leadership at Highland except in preaching and serving as elders.

January 2004 – Highland Implementation Team began developing areas of worship where women were invited to read scripture, pray, and serve communion

Fall 2017 – elder selection process – only male names were considered, but the elders announced a gender in leadership discernment period would begin within two years

September 2019 – announced decision to include women in preaching assemblies and begin a study about women elders 

November 2019 – church-wide combined Bible classes regarding women serving as elders 

January/February 2020 – additional class discussions regarding women elders

February/March 2020 – congregational listening sessions with elders regarding women elders

October 2020 – elders approved men and women as elders

March 2021 – final elder vote on implementation timeframe

April 11, 2021 – teaching on unity

April 18, 2021 – announcement of men and women as elders

Fall 2021 – Creation of Elder Leadership Transition Team

June 2022 – Creation of Elder Nomination Team

Fall 2022 – Elder Nomination Process Begins

December 2022 – elders determine that only married elders will be selected at this time, but will engage with the congregation in a future process of discerning whether unmarried people may serve as elders in the future.

February 3, 2023 – announcement of prospective elders

February 12, 2023 – videos of retiring elders

February 19, 2023 – ordination of eight new elders, 2 men, 6 women

Resources

This is a compilation of resources suggested by various elders and church members. Highland Church of Christ, its elders, and its staff do not necessarily endorse or agree with all of the views expressed in these resources, but they are a useful way to begin personal study and further discussion. As you begin your individual study, please consider consulting resources on both sides of the dialogue. These resources are provided to the body in the hope that they, in combination with our individual and corporate reflection, discussion, prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, will help us discern God’s will for Highland. Note: All of the bolded text is a link to the source.

Recent blog posts and church publications from the Churches of Christ:

Older articles by Church-of-Christ scholars:

A statement from elders at a DFW-area church striving to be Bible-based: “Women and Ministry at IBC” (Irving Bible Church)

Video of a preacher from the Churches of Christ: Jarrod Robinson’s lecture on Gal. 3:26-28 at the Pepperdine Lectures in 2014

Videos of a New Testament scholar from the Churches of Christ: Ken Cukrowski, “A Fly On the Wall: What Elders are Thinking at Gender-Inclusive Churches” Youtube videos in 5 parts, from ACU Summit 2010.

Essay from N. T. Wright, a New Testament scholar: “Women’s Service in the Church”

Video of N. T. Wright on the topic: “Women as Church Teachers and Leaders”

A statement from elders at a DFW-area church striving to be Bible-based: “The Future of Leadership at Bent Tree” (Bent Tree Bible Fellowship)

Two Views on Women in Ministry, edited by James Beck — from a series that attempts to bring thinkers into conversation with one another, by allowing each to present their views, and then the others to respond.  This volume offers two essays from each “side” of this issue, with all authors responding to one another.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart — an excellent introduction to the ways that the different “genres” in the Bible need to be read in ways that respect those genres.  (Without guidance, most of us tend to use the same “reading strategies” for those different parts of the Bible, regardless of their differences).

How I Changed My Mind about Women In Leadership: Compelling Stories by Prominent Evangelicals, ed. Alan F. Johnson — a collection of first-person narratives by Christians from a variety of denominational backgrounds on how they have moved (as the publisher says) “from a more or less restrictive view to an open inclusive view that recognizes a full shared partnership of leadership in the home and in the church based on gifts not gender.”

Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles: A Case for Gender Roles in Ministry, by Kathy Keller — a very short (48-page) book by the co-founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. She explains her argument from Scripture why there is only one role in the church reserved only for men, but at the same time she is a strong advocate for the elimination of unbiblical practices that limit the roles of women in ministry.

Neither Complementarian nor Egalitarian: A Kingdom Corrective to the Evangelical Gender Debate, by Michelle Lee-Barnewall — an author seeking to take neither position and to root her thoughts in Scripture and kingdom values.

The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible, by Scot McKnight — This thoughtful and challenging work focuses on how different strategies for reading the Bible tend to produce different outcomes.

Essays on Women in Earliest Christianity (2 volumes), ed. by Church-of-Christ author and former ACU professor Carroll D. Osburn (at ACU in the Brown Library —Stanley Reading Room, call numbers 261.8344 O81E V.1 and 261.8344 O81E V.2.)

Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy, edited by Ronald W. Pierce, Rebecca Merrill Groothuis, and Gordon D. Fee — a book containing essays by more than two dozen evangelical scholars.  There are sections on church history, Scriptural texts, theology, culture, and practical applications for the church. As the publisher says, “they offer a sound, reasoned case that affirms the complementarity of the sexes without requiring a hierarchy of roles.”

God’s Good Design: What the Bible Really Says about Men and Women, by Claire Smith — written by an Australian woman who earned a PhD in New Testament. She looks closely at seven key Bible passages about men and women and how they should relate together. She addresses common objections and applies the teaching of the Bible simply and practically to our relationships at home and in the church.

Resources from within the Churches of Christ:

Resources from other Protestant groups and individuals:

Listening Sessions

In September of 2019, the Highland Elders shared that Highland would begin a congregational discernment process concerning whether spiritually gifted women should be considered to serve in the role of Elder at Highland. A team was assembled from among the congregation to suggest to the Highland Elders ways that Highland could discern this question together. From that team's recommendation the Highland Elders determined a course forward that included a listening phase. Members were invited to participate in this portion of the process by either attending one of the small group listening sessions or by completing a written response. This block is written in present tense as it contains the information sent out to members at the time of writing.

Listening Sessions Overview

It is important to the Highland elders that information and participation be offered in a variety of formats to be inclusive for the entire congregation. The small group listening sessions are designed to provide a space for members to voice their responses to the discernment process questions. These two questions are also available in a form that is able to be filled out (online or physical) if desired.

Schedule for Listening Sessions (2020)

Wednesday, February 19 – 7:00-8:00pm
Sunday, February 23 – 10:00-11:00am
Monday, February 24 – 6:00-7:00pm
Sunday, March 1 – 10:00-10:45am
Sunday, March 1 – 5:00-6:00pm
Monday, March 2 – 6:00-7:00pm
Wednesday, March 4 – 7:00-8:00pm
Sunday, March 8 – 10:00-10:55 am, no childcare available

(Note: These last two gatherings did not happen as Highland pivoted to be online-only due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.)

Sunday, March 15, 10:00-10:55am

Sunday, March 22, 6:30-7:30pm: We’ll have a churchwide gathering so the elders may share what they heard during the listening phase.

Response Questions for Listening Sessions
Written Responses Overview

During this discernment process, it is important to the Highland elders that information and participation be offered in a variety of formats to be inclusive for the entire congregation. The questions included in the written response are the same questions that will be presented during the small group listening sessions.

All written responses, both online and paper copies, must be signed and will be held in confidence. Paper copies of your written response may be dropped in the locked box located at the Info Center in the Atrium. If you attend a listening session, you may also give a paper copy of your written responses to the elders present.

You may attend a listening session and complete a written response.

Online Response Form

Covid-19 Discernment Process Update

The church wide gathering where the Elders intended to share what they heard during the listening phase did not happen as planned due to Covid-19. Instead, Shane Hughes gave this video update in September of 2020.

Discernment Announcement on April 18, 2021

You can watch the announcement given during Highland's worship service beginning at the 32:37 mark, or read the announcement script.

Announcement Script
Additional Resources

There are 9 video resources we have placed behind a password to protect the recorded individuals: 5 adult Bible classes and 4 Elders sharing their discernment stories. Please contact Suzetta Nutt if you would like the password to view these resources.

Discernment Videos