Oct
19
Written by:
Different Voice
10/19/2009 7:00 AM
In the first part of this series, I provided some discouraging statistics about the gap in presence and participation between women and men, and I encouraged you to begin thinking about your own Christian education ministries and who you most reach. This week, I'll touch on the theological concepts that might undergird your men's ministries. Obviously this space is limited, so I encourage you to do further reading on your own in the recommended books listed below.
There are not a lot of Christian education books that adequately address gender differences between men and women and how to effectively minister equally to both groups. Those who go looking for information on male spirituality will undoubtedly quickly come across David Murrow's Why Men Hate Going to Church, a book with some interesting and useful research and ideas but a rather simplistic theology about gender. Murrow contends that the decline in men in the church is because the church has been "feminized" and that the best way to get men involved in the church again is to emphasize risk, reward, accomplishment, heroic sacrifice, action, and adventure in its programming (which of course derive from his simplistic understanding of Jesus' life.)
One much stronger and more useful book is Coming of Age: Exploring the Identity and Spirituality of Younger Men by David Anderson and others. Anderson writes, “Inherent in the teachings and life of Jesus Christ is an authentic, egalitarian, and mutual understanding of humanity, gender, and gender relationships. This understanding of humanity and the new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) provides a compelling vision for American Christianity and the lives of women and men in the twenty-first century.” (p. 22)
For Anderson, the “Muscular Christianity” (like that promoted by Murrow and practiced in many conservative churches) is a dead end. It challenged what was seen as a distorted Christian faith that had skewed the nature of Christ, the power of God, and the character of humanity. But in so doing, it was (and often is) equally distorted, calling Christian men to another narrow range of theological and human characteristics that reinforce patriarchy with its many destructive impulses.
A key meta-theme of scripture is that of covenantal relationships between God and humanity, between humanity and creation, and between humans themselves. It is the exploration of our covenantal relationships as well as the ways we individually experience and express faith that is critical today. Christian education and other church ministries should reflect both the distinctive traits of men and women, but it should also encourage a broader range of helpful human traits, behaviors, and practices for both men and women within the life and ministry of the church. Men as well as women should be encouraged to be authentic in the midst of relationships and to pursue equality, mutuality, and interdependence in both society and in the church.
In short, Christian formation opportunities can certainly be created which will appeal to a greater extent to one gender or the other (and in the final part of this series, I'll suggest a number of possibilities that often appeal to men.) However, your groups and events need to stress community and covenantal relationships so that both men and women grow in their understanding of themselves as co-creators with each other and with God.
~ by Tim Gossett
Recommended reading list related to this post:
- The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine by Matthew Fox
- Coming of Age: Exploring the Identity and Spirituality of Younger Men by Roland Martinson, et al.
- The Journey of Men by Wesley Kendall
- 40 Days in the Wilderness: Meditations for African American Men by Kwasi Issa Kena
- Journeymen: A Spiritual Guide for Men (and for Women Who Want to Understand Them) by Kent Ira Groff
- Passion, Power & Praise: A Model for Men's Spirituality from the Life of David by James Harnish
- Pilgrim Prayers for Single Fathers by David Albert Farmer
- Strong in Heart: Biblical Men of Compassion by Marjorie Kimbrough