Defining the terms of the gender-role debate
When discussing the role of women in the church, Christians use terms including “egalitarian,” “complementarian” and “traditionalist.” They often disagree on what these terms mean.…
Cheryl Mann Bacon
Correspondent
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Thinking theologically about gender
ABILENE, Texas — When Ken Cukrowski of Abilene Christian University works with congregations that are studying or considering changes to women’s roles in worship assemblies,…
Women’s roles: a divisive issue but not a new one
When high-profile congregations among Churches of Christ announce a transition to public participation by women in worship — or that women will be welcome in…
Delving into the history of black churches
Edward J. Robinson’s newest book, “Hard-Fighting Soldiers: A History of African American Churches of Christ,” takes its title from a popular song in black congregations…
Carl Brecheen, longtime ACU Bible professor and half of marriage seminar duo, dies at 90
Writing for ACU Today at Abilene Christian University in Texas, Cheryl Mann Bacon reports on the death of Carl Brecheen, a longtime Bible professor best…
Thankful for an imperfect holiday
I love Thanksgiving. The first 10 years of my life were spent in a small farming community in northeastern Colorado where my parents moved just…
A ‘mission critical’ president
Ohio Valley University inaugurated Michael Ross as its new president Sept. 20 — an unlikely calling for an optimist. And he wasn’t looking for a…
Best practices for dismissing a minister
Somewhere in the unwritten but badly needed handbook for elders are three rules: 1. Do hard things well. 2. Do painful things kindly. 3. If…
Worst practices for dismissing a minister
Talking with ministers who have lost their jobs can feel repetitive. And depressing. The ministers don’t all paint themselves as perfect or without weakness or…
‘If this is ever not going well … would you please tell me?’
Ministers don’t come with a "good church-keeping seal of approval" or a money-back guarantee. They make mistakes, which should surprise no one. If Moses, Jonah,…
