Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introduction / Rebecca Merrill Groothuis and Ronald W. Pierce -- Setting the stage (the historical backdrop) -- The changing roles of women in ministry : the early church through the 18th century / Ruth A. Tucker -- Evangelical women in ministry a century ago : the 19th and early 20th centuries / Janette Hassey -- Contemporary evangelicals for gender equality / Ronald W. Pierce -- Looking to scripture (the biblical texts) -- Equality with and without innocence : Genesis 1-3 / Richard S. Hess -- From Old Testament law to New Testament gospel / Ronald W. Pierce -- Women leaders in the Bible / Linda L. Belleville -- Jesus' treatment of women in the Gospels / Aída Besançon Spencer -- Praying and prophesying in the assemblies : 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 / Gordon D. Fee -- Learning in the assemblies : 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 / Craig S. Keener -- Male and female in the new creation : Galatians 3:26-29 / Gordon D. Fee -- Mutual love and submission in marriage : Colossians 3:18-19 and Ephesians 5:21-33 / I. Howard Marshall -- Teaching and usurping authority : 1 Timothy 2:11-15 / Linda L. Belleville -- A silent witness in marriage : 1 Peter 3:1-7 / Peter H. Davids -- Thinking it through (logical and theological perspectives) -- The priority of spirit gifting for church ministry / Gordon D. Fee -- The nature of authority in the New Testament / Walter L. Liefeld -- Biblical priesthood and women in ministry / Stanley J. Grenz -- "Equal in being, unequal in role" : exploring the logic of woman's subordination / Rebecca Merrill Groothuis -- The subordination of Christ and the subordination of women / Kevin Giles -- Addressing the issues (hermeneutical and cultural perspectives) -- Biblical hermeneutics : basic principles and questions of gender / Roger Nicole -- Hermeneutics and the gender debate / Gordon D. Fee -- A redemptive-movement hermeneutic : the slavery analogy / William J. Webb -- Gender equality and homosexuality / William J.Webb -- Feminism and abortion / Sulia Mason and Karen Mason -- Living it out (practical applications) -- In search of holy joy : women and self-esteem / Joan Burgess Winfrey -- Marriage as a partnership of equals / Judith K. Balswick and Jack O. Balswick -- Nature, culture and gender complementarity / Cynthia Neal Kimball -- Helping the church understand biblical equality / Mimi Haddad and Alvera Mickelsen -- Toward reconciliation : healing the schism / Alice P. Mathews.