Frontline Women

Description

Frontline Women is a collection of writings on women’s issues from those who have had mission field experience. Each author has special interest and expertise in the area in which he or she has written.
In the past we have failed to understand the significance of gender in mission work. Though women have historically been the majority in mission service, they have not been allowed much say in policies or strategizing. This book deals with gender differences in many areas of life and how that affects service to God in mission work. Women’s God-given gifting is meant to complement that of men and needs to be recognized, appreciated, and made use of in the day-by-day functioning of missions. In some mission agencies changes are being made in regard to women’s role and care. In this edition the authors have updated and added new information from their research and experience.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Philosophie et théologie
• Growth
• Christian Church

Informations

• Publié par: William Carey Publishing
• Date de parution: 27 juin 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781645080237
• Langue: English

Extrait

Many young women are struggling to find an appropriate place in today’s mission world. This helpful book is honest and realistic, showing how “women’s issues” are not a side-light in mission, but are genuinely everyone’s concern. I want to give a copy to a friend who is grappling with some of these matters.
Elizabeth S. Brewster Associate Professor, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
This unique book realistically describes the personal and spiritual problems that women encounter when caught up in the cross-cultural and spiritual task of proclaiming and demonstrating the good news of the Kingdom.
the late Arthur F. Glasser Dean Emeritus, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
Years of pain will be skipped when women read Frontline Women . With the frank disclosures and clear suggestions in this book, women will be prepared before they get to the field. Mission agencies will be equipped to bless the women on their team.
Miriam Adeney Associate Professor, Seattle Pacific University Teaching Fellow, Regent College
Women need to read this book to be encouraged. Men need to read it and wake up.
Darrell L. Whiteman, from the Foreword



Frontline Women: Negotiating Cross-cultural Issues in Ministry Copyright © 2003, 2012 by Marguerite G. Kraft
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher, except brief quotations used in connection with reviews in magazines or newspapers.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishers. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB ® are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.
Published by William Carey Library 1605 E. Elizabeth Street Pasadena, CA 91104 | www.missionbooks.org
Kelley K. Wolfe, editor Cheryl Warner, copyeditor Alyssa E. Force, cover and interior design Rose Lee-Norman, indexing Cover photo copyright © by Fotosearch.com. All rights reserved.
William Carey Library is a ministry of the U.S. Center for World Mission Pasadena, CA | www.uscwm.org
Digital eBook Release Primalogue 2015 ISBN 978-0-87808-882-9
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Frontline women : negotiating cross-cultural issues in ministry / Marguerite G. Kraft, editor. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-87808-399-2 1. Women in missionary work. 2. Women missionaries. 3. Christianity and culture. I. Kraft, Marguerite G. BV2610.F76 2012 266.0082--dc23 2012024071

CONTENTS
Foreword to the Revised Edition
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Contributors
Introduction Marguerite G. Kraft
ONE Distinctly Female Marguerite G. Kraft
TWO Created to Serve Marla Campbell
THREE Making Adjustments Favorably Marla Campbell
FOUR Constraints and Opportunities Laurel A. (Cocks) McAllister
FIVE Dealing with Loss Dianne B. Collard
SIX Negotiating Reality Single Sharon E. Soper
SEVEN Negotiating Female Missionary Roles Cross-culturally Donna Downes
EIGHT Emotional Straight Talk Ruth Ann Graybill
NINE Combating Chronic Stress by Restoring God’s Image Sheryl Takagi Silzer
TEN Helping Finishers Bridge the Gap Dianne B. Collard
ELEVEN High Alert to Enemy Attacks Marguerite G. and Charles H. Kraft
TWELVE In the Line of Fire Steve Hoke and Judith E. Lingenfelter
Scripture Index
Index
Endnotes

FOREWORD TO THE REVISED EDITION
“Men do not ask the question, ‘Can I be a leader?’…They assume they can be a leader without even questioning this assumption” (p. 73). “Men may ask the guidance questions of where and how, but they assume they can be leaders. Women, however, begin with a prior question about the very possibility of their involvement in ministry as a leader, a question men do not have to ask” ( Leadership Development for Women in Christian Ministry, Elizabeth Glanville, Dissertation, 2000, 278).
I grew up as an MK in Latin America and I was blessed with some healthy and godly role models of women in cross-cultural ministry, and some men who were not threatened by strong women with leadership gifts. Although working within a culture where there was considerable machismo, and in a theologically conservative organization where women’s roles were very carefully proscribed, these women ministered within the opportunities they were given, and often carved roles that stretched the limits of the gender-role definitions. Due to the lack of workers on the field the women’s gifts were needed and utilized, but ironically when they were on furlough they were at times not even allowed to report on their ministry, while the men were invited into the pulpit to share their heart and their ministry experiences.
One of my colleagues, Dr. Bobby Clinton has noted,
In all the case studies we have done with males no male has been refused a leadership position because of his gender. If they are refused some leadership position it is because of lack of experience, giftedness, fit for ministry, or political reasons. Not so with women. Perfectly gifted women with good experience and who are fit for a given leadership position have often not even been considered for such a position just because of gender. (Class notes for ML530)
The authors in Frontline Women address the assumptions, the experience, and the challenges of women in cross-cultural ministry. As Donna Downes points out (p. 125), a woman’s gender at times interferes with ministry not because of anything inherent in her, but because of cultural or organizational constraints. In my own experience I have watched women missionaries struggle in a very male-oriented agency in a male-oriented society, at times becoming frustrated, but often finding ways to “fly under the radar” and accomplish ministry goals without raising too many hackles. To borrow from Sharon Soper’s analogy, these women had to be chameleons “of changing colors…adapt[ing] to unpredictable circumstances, diverse social environments, and leadership authorities, forming a natural camouflage to ensure…survival and success on the mission field” (p. 101).
Yet this survival and success often comes at considerable personal cost. The various authors in this book have helped raise awareness of some of the issues surrounding the cost for women in cross-cultural ministry, and have given many practical suggestions for dealing with the barriers that women face—suggestions for changing the systems as well as for ways to work and thrive within the systems.
The themes raised in this book can provide a basis for women and men in ministry to listen to one another and to dialogue regarding the barriers and opportunities that they face—issues such as role deprivation, undefined roles, male dominance, need for women’s voices to be heard in decision-making, differing experiences of men versus women in culture shock and cross-cultural settings, cultural gender factors, and theological presuppositions regarding gender roles. Hoke and Lingenfelter suggest: “It would also help if the men on a mission team were aware of how they can be good brothers to the women on the team and help be a buffer and protect them” (p. 264).
The research, case studies, anecdotes, and practical suggestions in this book will prove helpful for: Women considering mission to help them realistically face what may lie before them Women missionaries struggling to find their role Women missionaries and their male colleagues to dialogue on these issues Sending agencies and sending churches in considering how their structure and policies can facilitate or hinder ministry Field supervisors Pre-field trainers Counselors of missionaries and of returning missionaries
This book carefully addresses the experiences of American women. I trust that this book will also set an example that will stimulate women from other cultures to write about the situations women face in their respective cultures and ministries.
The goal is to better fulfill the call of God in and through the lives of both women and men. As Meg Kraft writes, “As the genders work together and listen to each other, we can better accomplish God’s work” (p. 18).
Elizabeth Brewster retired associate professor of language and culture learning and mission Fuller Theological Seminary, School of World Mission, Pasadena, CA

FOREWORD
“While it is possible to be a missionary, and possible to be a woman, it is impossible to be both at the same time.” This was the solemn conclusion of my colleague Eunice Irwin at a consultation in which Dana Robert’s (1996) important book, American Women in Mission , was discussed. Irwin based her conclusion that she couldn’t simultaneously be a woman and a missionary on twelve years of cross-cultural ministry in the Philippines, and even more years in dealing with the male- dominated hierarchy of her mission sending organization.
Unfortunately, my colleague Eunice is not alone in her assessment of what it means to be a woman in mission today. Women in mission have often felt, and been, marginalized, isolated, and ignored. And yet, since the first two American women missionaries were appointed in 1812, women have played a very significant role in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ around the world. But that role has often been fraught with ambiguity, and as Meg Kraft notes in her introduction, “For too long missionary women have struggled silently.”
This book through a dozen chapters gives voice to that frustration and to the many things about which they are legitimately