Women and Ordination in the Christian Churches

This book provides an exploration of Christian experiences of ordaining women from theological, sociological, historical and anthropological perspectives, by leading contributors from both academic and church contexts.The growth of women's ordained ministry is one of the most remarkable and significant developments in the recent history of Christianity. This collection of essays brings together leading contributors from both academic and church contexts to explore Christian experiences of ordaining women in theological, sociological, historical and anthropological perspective. The key questions include: How have national, denominational and ecclesial cultures shaped the different ways in which women's ordination is debated and/or enacted? What differences have women's ordained ministry, and debates on women's ordination, made in various church contexts? What 'unfinished business' remains (in both congregational and wider ministry)? How have Christians variously conceived ordained ministry which includes both women and men? How do ordained women and men work together in practice? What have been the particular implications for female clergy?And for male clergy?What distinctive issues are raised by women's entry into senior ordained/leadership positions? And how do Episcopal and non-Episcopal traditions differ in this?

"This substantial volume of essays ... [and their] deliberations ... offer a 'state of the art overview of women in ministry at the beginning of the 21st century' ... All its chapters are both accessible and informative..." - John Drane, Theological Book Review, Vol 21 No 1, 2009--Sanford Lakoff "Theological Book Review ", Mention Book News, February 2009, Mention --Book News, February 2009, Mention -Book News, February 2009, Review in Theologische Literaturzeitung 35, 2010

Dr. Ian Jones is Director of St. Peter's Saltley Trust and formerly Research Associate at the Lincoln Theological Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, University of Manchester. His publications on the history and sociology of contemporary Christianity include: Women and Priesthood in the Church of England: Ten Years On (2004)." Janet Wootton is minister of Union Chapel, Islington, and founder-co-chair of the International Congregational Theological Commission. The Revd Dr Kirsty Thorpe is a minister in the United Reformed Church.