The system of patriarchy (men holding authority and excluding women from it) has been entrenched in Christian theology through centuries of traditions and misguided teachings and practices. The two largest US Christian denominations—Evangelicals and Catholics—exercise and teach male-only leadership.
This has marginalized and excluded women’s God-given gifts and service—a practice that hurts everyone. Through misinterpreted/mistranslated Bible texts, girls and women are devalued, and women’s gifts and leadership are undermined, resulting in a limited talent pool and abuse.
CBE engages the original context and language of Scripture to show that the Bible teaches that women and men are equally created in God’s image for shared governance in all spheres. Properly interpreted, Scripture teaches the fundamental equality of women and men of all ethnic groups, all economic classes, and all age groups, based on the teachings of Scriptures such as Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
CBE’s Publications
CBE publishes an award-winning magazine and an academic journal with articles on issues related to a biblical view of women’s equality and mutuality in the home, church, and world. All our online content is free. Print editions of Priscilla Papers and Mutuality are also available through a subscription.
“I have been a sponge, soaking in your articles and reading the many books I found on your website. I pray that God would use you to help me heal from the many years of feeling frustrated and abandoned by the church.” —CBE supporter
Priscilla Papers is CBE’s journal and provides interdisciplinary scholarship on topics related to a biblical view of women’s equality.
Mutuality magazine + blog offers inspiration, encouragement, and information on practical issues related to Scripture and the mutuality between men and women.
Bible Translation Project
CBE’s international team of scholars is translating over 500 Bible verses (more than 70 different passages) to provide exegetically-sound, gender-accurate, and accessible English translations of key passages often mistranslated to devalue women.
Alvera Mickelsen Memorial Scholarship
Statistics prove that educating and empowering women leads to human flourishing for entire communities. Every year CBE provides financial assistance to women who are pursuing a master’s degree in a ministry field related to preaching, communications, writing, youth ministry, pastoral, or nonprofit work.
Transforming Lives Around the World
CBE also advances human flourishing through multimedia resources (podcasts, e-learning courses, and radio spots), scholarly research and publications, an abuse prevention resource, and through partnerships with pastors in Africa. These resources and partnerships reach people from many backgrounds and traditions, and across geography, culture, denominations, and racial barriers to break down patriarchal beliefs that oppose the teachings of Scripture.
You can change lives through these projects with your generous support of CBE.
Just as women and men are stronger when they lead together, your financial support will help CBE expand our resources and serve more people around the world.
