Andy Rowell | Church Leadership Conversations

Director of Youth Ministries position at Blacknall Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC

Related update April 13, 2008
It was announced today at Blacknall, that my wife, Amy Rowell, will be the new Director of Children's Ministry (20 hours per week) starting May 5th.  Amy has a BA in Christian Education and Psychology from Taylor University and an M.Div. from Regent College.  She worked as a director of children's ministry at Granville Chapel in Vancouver, British Columbia from 1999-2002 and served as a professor of Christian Educational Ministries at Taylor University from 2005-2007.  Amy and I hope that Blacknall finds a great Director of Youth Ministries.  See below.  

Original Post April 6, 2008

There is a full-time youth ministries position open at Blacknall Presbyterian Church, the evangelically-minded PCUSA congregation, where Amy and I are members.  They are only taking applications until April 30, 2008 so forward this to people who are interested right away.  I have placed the official job position announcement at the bottom of this blog post. 

Why Blacknall would be a great place to serve.
I have listed four reasons below about why Blacknall is a great church.  Maybe I can help persuade some great people to apply.   Below my reasons I have posted the official announcement and details. 

1. It is a theologically strong congregation. Blacknall is a very evangelical PCUSA congregation.  The PCUSA denomination is more liberal on the whole than the Presbyterian Church of America but at Blacknall, Scripture is taken very seriously.  Music and sermons are theologically rich.  Long-time Senior Pastor Allan Poole is a Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary graduate who regularly takes summer courses at my alma mater Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Allan teaches a course called "The Pastor's Vocation" at Duke Divinity School with Dean Greg Jones and Dr. Susan Jones.  A couple of Duke Divinity School faculty, a number of theology and biblical studies doctoral students at Duke, and a few parachurch staff attend Blacknall.  The congregation also has high degree of involvement in ministries of social justice and missions.
2. It is a growing congregation.  They have had great growth in the number of youth involved and so they have made the decision to increase their staff in youth ministry.  According to the 2006 PCUSA online statistics, Blacknall's worship attendance was 535 then.  It is probably about the same or larger now. 
3. It is has a great location right by Duke.  Blacknall is situated one block from Duke University, next door to the cheapest (and some say the best) burritos in town at Cosmic Cantina, across the street from the trendy Whole Foods, and just off 9th Street (a great little strip of coffee shops and restaurants).
4. It has a family atmosphere.  Though with an attendance over 500 Blacknall is getting large, it still has a family feel.  One example of this is that congregation members are given the opportunity to stand up and share prayer requests with the rest of the congregation before the Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession in the worship service.  The congregation has a mix of older and younger people.  Worship services have a mix of traditional liturgical elements such as the Lord's prayer and Nicene/Apostle's Creed but are otherwise quite informal.  The pastor wears a tie and blazer but unlike many other PCUSA congregations, not a robe.   The congregation dresses informally.  The church permits both infant baptisms and baby dedications - many PCUSA churches just have infant baptisms.  This demonstrates the number of people who attend Blacknall from free church backgrounds. 
   

The official posting from the April 6, 2008 Blacknall bulletin:
Director of Youth Ministries Job Announcement - Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time Director of Youth Ministries position to provide successful leadership and vision for middle and high school students.  This individual will have primary programming and ministry responsibilities for all aspects of the high school ministry, work with an existing part-time middle school staff position, develop a comprehensive vision and sequence for Christian growth, and provide direction and leadership for this important relational ministry.  For more information, please contact Artie Kamiya, Search Committee Chair (919-818-6486). Closing Date: April 30.

Youth and Children's Ministry Positions Open

My friend Rob Rienow, Family Pastor at Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, IL, has asked me to spread the world about some positions that they have open in youth and children's ministry.  They are particularly looking for people who are interested in a home centered approach to youth and children's ministry.  He has invited me to post his letter on the blog. 

Rob is an outstanding leader, supervisor and speaker.  He has been at Wheaton Bible for fifteen years.  You can learn more about him and his philosophy at his Visionary Parenting site or by listening to WBC sermons.   

Wheaton Bible Church is the church where I grew up and my mom still attends there.  It has about 2200 people in attendance.  They are currently building a new facility.

I have posted previously about How to Search for a Christian Ministry Position

Letter from Rob Rienow

Dear friends,

I wanted you to know that Wheaton Bible Church is currently looking three major positions in our Children's and Youth Ministries. I thought that you might be able to help!

We are committed to finding people who are already familiar with and committed to a theology of ministry that puts parents first in the discipleship process. We need people who believe their primary job as youth and children's ministers is to inspire and equip families become centers. Ben Freudenberg calls this "home centered, church supported" discipleship. That is what we are after as we move into the future at Wheaton Bible Church.

Here are the three positions that we are looking for right now:

1. Elementary Director - serving on the larger Childrens and Family team, supporting the parents of our elementary school kids - 400 kids with their families.
2. High School Pastor - serving on the larger Student and Family team, supporting the parents of our high schoolers - 350 students with their families.
3. Girls Discipleship Director - serving on the larger Student and Family team, supporting the parents of our teen (both hs and jr) girls - 225 girls with their families.

If you are interested in any additional information about these positions, or you know potential candidates that you can send my way, I would be grateful for your help. Feel free to email me back, or direct potential candidates to email me their resume at rrienow@wheatonbible.org

God's Love,

Rob Rienow
Family Pastor
Wheaton Bible Church
www.wheatonbible.org
www.visionaryparenting.com

How to Search for a Christian Ministry Job

This is a letter that I wrote to senior Christian Educational Ministries majors and minors at Taylor University but I think it is applicable to almost anyone searching for a Christian ministry position.

Dear Senior Christian Educational Ministries Capstone Folks and some other CE Senior Minors in my classes,

I have been talking with a number of you and told you that I would email you a list of job-search websites. I have listed them at the bottom of this email. I think ChurchStaffing.com, Willow Creek Association's Exchange, and Youth Specialties's Job Bank are the most important. Here is what they are useful for: they give you an idea of the kind of positions that are out there.

Why Ministry Job Search Websites are Mostly Useless:

But I have got to tell you: hardly anyone gets a job by getting a position listed on an internet job site. I can hardly think of anyone that has actually gotten a position that way. (I have married two couples who met on the internet. I think that it is more likely to find a spouse than a job by searching on the internet). Before JR Kerr was hired, the teaching pastor position at North Way was listed for a long time at ChurchStaffing.com . . . but that is not how JR got the job. Someone on staff at North Way had met him and invited him to come down and meet with the senior pastor and just talk and see if there might be a fit . . . and there was.

So I have written more below about a better way to search for a ministry position.

How employers actually look for people to hire:

As Richard Bolles says in What Color is Your Parachute, most employers search for people in the following way. (I'm paraphrasing from memory here. Bolles actually gives the statistics). First, people hiring look at the people who are already part of the organization and see if any of them could fill the position. In the church, they look at volunteers from the church or someone who is working in another position in the church who might be reassigned. Second, they think of other people they know (in other churches, parachurch organizations, friends, relatives, acquaintances, etc.) Third, they ask trusted friends if they know of anyone who would be good. Fourth, they will post the position internally. They will post the position description in the bulletin and maybe on their website. Fifth, they will post the position opening more broadly. They may post it on Youth Specialties, ChurchStaffing.com, Willow Creek Association, a denominational site, Taylor's Career Development office, a local Christian newspaper or email Taylor CE profs. Sixth (and almost never for ministry ads), they may post the position in the newspaper want-ads.

How to find out about good positions:

The point is that if you wait for positions to be posted publicly on the internet or in the newspaper, a lot of the good ones will be already gone! But if you call someone in the church leadership and tell them about what you are interested in and ask them if they can give you any advice, you may be one of the first people who gets considered. People cannot resist being asked for advice. We all feel honored to give advice! The person you ask may have just been to a pastor's prayer meeting and hear that First Baptist down the street is looking for a Youth Pastor. Pray for God to be moving ahead of your phone call or email!

So, I would encourage you to contact churches and especially people that you respect and like. Probably if you like them, you will probably like the ministry positions they know about. If they are megachurch, they will know of other megachurch positions. If they are emerging church, they will know of other emerging positions. If they are a great youth pastor, they will know the other great youth pastors in the area. Just tell them what you are looking for and ask them if they have any advice for you and ask them if there is anyone else they recommend talking to.

Better than talking on the phone with them is meeting with them in person. They will see how charming you are and seeing you in person will inspire them to really think how they can help you! Email them or phone them and say this: "From all I hear about you, I feel like I could really learn a lot from you. Is there any way I could drive to where you work and take you out to lunch or to Starbucks someday and hear about what it is like to do ministry to youth in the inner-city? I think that is what I'm interested in and I would love to just get any advice you can give me. I'm a senior so I'm thinking about what I want to do next. If that's not possible to meet with you, is there a good time I could call you?"

Tell your relatives, friends in the area you are interested in, your home church pastor, pastor at Taylor, cousins, other students . . . everyone and let them know what you are looking for. "I'm interested in doing college ministry in a church, do you know of any positions open like that? Or do you know any really cool people that do college ministry in a church who I could ask for advice?" This will help you get leads and in the process you will learn what you are really interested in and what you're not interested in. For example, Cousin Billy will tell you he has a college ministry position open at his church in Arizona and after some soul-searching you may realize that Arizona is too far away from your jr-at-Taylor-fiance.

I think in the end, if you work hard like this, you will probably get a few options to choose from and you will probably make a better decision rather than just taking the first job that comes along.

The most important thing to look for:

I really think the most important thing is for you to be under an immediate supervisor who you admire and have respect for their ministry skills. If you spend time with them and realize that they don't seem to know what they are doing, are a terrible speaker, are not very relational, etc. but you are still tempted to go there because the position looks cool, I would think twice before going there. You want to think: "This is really someone I could learn from." Not that they are necessarily going to be your special mentor / guru / father figure, but for most people your immediate supervisor makes the difference between ministry being miserable or a joy. If you have a supervisor who believes in you and is wise in ministry, you can get through the learning curves and stresses of ministry.

Know what you are looking for but also keep an open mind:

It is good to try to articulate what you are really interested in - for example, leading worship and working with sr. high students, etc. If you just say, "I'm looking for a job" they won't remember you when a youth pastor / worship leader position comes up. But if you tell them specificallly what you are interested in, they will remember you! But also be a little open-minded and flexible about what you might enjoy doing. My wife Amy thought she wanted to do women's ministry but ended up loving children's ministry because essentially she ended up encouraging, praying for, counseling, nurturing, equipping and empowering volunteers - much like she had hoped to do in women's ministry.

How to find out what you are interested in:

If you are not sure what you want to do, ask permission to shadow someone for a day or most of a day. I give you permission to skip a day of classes to do it (or do it on a Sunday)! Again, the person you shadow will get to know you a bit and will probably be able to think of some other leads for you to check out. After that day, you will probably be able to say: I totally want to do do what that guy does. Or, I think I'd like to shadow someone from children's ministry and see if I like that a bit better.

Don't get stereotyped as a secretary:

I would not encourage you to take an "administrative assistant" position. Some of you are good at administration and like it but that doesn't mean you need "administration" in your title. You will do administration in every position (answer email, return calls, organize events, etc.) but a secretary position means that you need to sit at your desk and answer the phone no matter what. For example, if someone in the youth group comes in to your office crying, you want to be able to spend time with them and care for them. If you are in a secretarial position, that is not your job. They will be ok with it once but will be unhappy if that is a pattern. If you are in a ministry position, you will be expected to care for people! Make sure you take a ministry position because you will learn more and you are trained for that! I had a Taylor CE grad friend who took a youth pastor secretary position and the people always looked at her that way even though she could have done a better job than the youth pastor!

Accepting the job:

When you are "candidating" (visiting a church and talking to the church about working there) and negotiating a contract, feel free to talk to me or Phil Collins or another ministry person you respect from another church, to get advice. I think it is good for you to be paid something - hopefully enough to live on (especially if they are asking you to work full-time). Volunteering at a ministry and working a "regular job" elsewhere is ok but you will get a lot more attention and responsibility if the church is paying you and I think you will learn more this way. But I don't think you need to be paid big bucks in your first position. Learn now, earn later.

Let me know if you have more questions.

May the Lord guide each of you into the right position where you can learn, grow spiritually, be fulfilled, work hard and make a difference.

andy

A couple of sites for looking up sample salaries:

• ELCA Youth Ministry Network Salary Survey - You need to get a free login.
• 2006 Leadership Network Salary and Economic Outlook Report - Again you have to get a free login.  This is larger churches so the salaries tend to be higher. 
• You can also buy a book which gives you information about this.  The 2007 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff It is $29.95 or you can download just the section you are interested in for $9.95.
• Many denominations post salary guidelines.  If you find more, list them in the comments. 

Some Ministry Job Search Websites

Christiancareercenter.com
christian-careers.com
ChristianJobs.com
Christianitytoday.com
Churchjobs.net
Churchjobsonline.com
ChurchStaffing.com
Kingdomcareers.com
ministryjobs.com
ministrysearch.com
pastorsearch.net

Bethel Seminary Placement Index
Fuller Theological Seminary - Career Services
Gordon Conwell's MinistryList.com

American Baptist Home Mission American Baptist Personnel
Evangelical Covenant Church Seeking Staff
Evangelical Presybyterian Church Opportunity List
Presbyterian Church USA Opportunity List
Willow Creek Association — The Exchange
Willow Creek Community Church Employment Opportunities

Youth Specialties Job Bank
YouthPastor.com

What can I do with a major or minor in Christian Educational Ministries at Taylor University?

Taylor students (and their parents) often ask: what can I do with a minor or major in Christian Educational Ministries? This is the handout we give them. See below.

To learn more about what courses make up a Christian Educational Ministries major or minor, click here.

If you want to know how to find a Ministry position, see my post about that here. 

If you're curious, I taught two sections of "Teaching and Learning Strategies," two sections of "Program and Curriculum Development" and the "Senior Capstone" course this year. See my earlier posts about the sites we visited in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and relevant books and articles on ministry in Philadelphia .

My wife Amy has taught three sections of "Personal Foundations for Ministry" and a course entitled "Ministry By Women in the Contemporary Context."

Amy and I are both majored in Christian Educational Ministries at Taylor University and graduated in 1998.

Opportunities for Christian Educational Ministries Majors and Minors

Church (From small to megachurch) – Pastor, Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor, Christian Education Director. Pastor of specialized ministry: children, youth, Jr. high, Sr. high, student ministries, family ministries, college ministry, young adults, next generation, singles, men’s, women’s, adult ministries, pastoral care, worship arts, outreach, missions, evangelism, discipleship, spiritual formation, special needs, small groups, recreational ministries, administration, executive pastor, church planter, etc.

Para Church –Youth For Christ, Young Life, InterVarsity, Campus Crusade, Navigators, etc.

Missions – trainer, linguist, church planter, discipler, evangelist, curriculum developer, house parent, teacher, community development, student mobilizer, short term missions leader, rehabilitation.

Inner City – church planter, youth center director, ministry with youth, community development worker, recreation director, house parent.

Christian Camping – conference, wilderness, director, assistant director, retreat center director

Christian College – resident hall director, student development leader, professor of Christian education, student ministry director, practicum supervisor.

Writing – Sunday school/children, youth, adult curriculum, books, magazine editor, book editor.

Christian high school – Bible teacher, director of missions, coach.

Chaplain – hospital, military

Media Specialist – film, music, video, communications.

Training for some of these positions could be further supplemented by taking courses outside of the Christian Educational Ministries department (Accounting, Biblical Literature, Church Music, Communication – New Media, Early Childhood Education, English Writing, Intercultural Studies / Missions, International Business, International Studies, Management, Physical Education, Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology).

Philadelphia Christian Ministries Bibliography

Since we were visiting Philadelphia Christian ministries I found a number of resources by and about the people we were visiting there. If you are interested in living in Philadelphia, this bibliography would be a great resource for you.

Books

Revolution and Renewal: How Churches Are Saving Our Citiesby Tony Campolo, Bruce Main Westminster John Knox Press (March, 2000)

Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your Community With Good News and Good Works (Paperback)by Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson, Heidi Rolland Unruh Baker Books (March, 2002)

Scandal Of The Evangelical Conscience: Why Are Christians Living Just Like The Rest Of The World? by Ronald J. Sider Baker Books (February, 2005)

Good News and Good Works: A Theology for the Whole Gospel (Paperback)by Ronald J. Sider Baker Books (February, 1999)

Urban Ministry: The Kingdom, the City, & the People of God (Hardcover)by Harvie M. Conn, Manuel Ortiz InterVarsity Press (February, 2001)

One New People: Models for Developing a Multiethnic Church (Paperback)by Manuel Ortiz InterVarsity Press (August, 1996)

School(s) for Conversion: 12 Marks of a New Monasticism (Paperback)by Rutba House (Editor) Cascade Books (January, 2005)

If Jesus Were a Senior: Last-Minute Preparations for Postcollege Lifeby Bruce Main Westminster John Knox Press; 1st ed edition (February, 2003)

Articles

The Simple Way – Shane Claiborne Articles:
1.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/009/16.38.html
The New MonasticismA fresh crop of Christian communities is blossoming in blighted urban settings all over America.by Rob Moll
September 2005, Vol. 49, No. 9, Page 38

2. Third chapter of
The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radicalby Shane Claiborne
Zondervan (February 1, 2006)
http://www.thesimpleway.org/shane/sampler.pdf

Ron Sider Articles:
3.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/111/12.0.html
Ron Sider's Unsettling CrusadeWhy does this man irritate so many people? cover story of the April 27, 1992 issue of Christianity Today

4.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/004/32.70.html
The Evangelical ScandalRon Sider says the movement is riddled with hypocrisy, and that it's time for serious change.Interview by Stan Guthrie
April 2005, Vol. 49, No. 4, Page 70
Andy Crouch Articles:
6.
http://www.culture-makers.com/articles/on_the_journey_to_greatness
On the Journey to Greatness
Jonah, Jeremiah, Jeff, and the impact of faithfulness.
Andy Crouch
7.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/011/12.36.html
The Emergent MystiqueThe 'emerging church' movement has generated a lot of excitement but only a handful of congregations. Is it the wave of the future or a passing fancy?By Andy Crouch
November 2004, Vol. 48, No. 11, Page 36

You might also want to read Brian McLaren’s response at http://www.anewkindofchristian.com/archives/000271.html

You might also want to read Tony Jones’s response http://theoblogy.blogspot.com/2004/10/emergent-mystique.html

See also Andy Crouch’s response to all the blogging: http://theoblogy.blogspot.com/2004/10/andy-crouch-responds.html

8.http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/006/31.53.html Rites of PassageSelf-improvement is our culture's most durable religion.By Andy Crouch
June 2003, Vol. 47, No. 6, Page 53

9.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/004/25.98.html
Compliant but ConfusedUnpacking some myths about today's teens.by Andy Crouch
April 2005, Vol. 49, No. 4, Page 98
Manny Ortiz Article:
10.
http://www.wts.edu/publications/articles/ortiz-interview.html
Carl Trueman Interview of Manuel Ortiz
First published in Themelios, the journal of the Religious and Theological Studies Fellowship, January 2004.

Tony Campolo Article:
11.
http://www.ctlibrary.com/8862
The Positive ProphetTony Campolo is a ferocious critic of Christians left and right. Why do people still flock to hear him?Ted OlsenJanuary 1, 2003

12.
http://www.tonycampolo.org/overthetopforjesus.pdf
A booklet on Tony’s ministry. You do not need to read this.

13.
http://www.tonycampolo.org/media.php
Sermons to listen to by Tony Campolo. This is just for fun.

14.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/chester_county/cities_and_neighborhoods/13082755.htm Building ties across cultures A former garage in Kennett Square helps shape friendships among youths of different backgrounds.By Susan WeidenerInquirer Suburban Staff Posted on Sun, Nov. 06, 2005

Other Articles (some you have to pay for online):

Title: Downward Mobility in an Upscale World.Author: Shane ClaibornePublication: The Other Side (Magazine/Journal)Date: November 1, 2000Publisher: The Other SideVolume: 36 Issue: 6 Page: 10

Title: Yeast of the Pharisees.(Room For Grace)Author: Shane ClaibornePublication: The Other Side (Magazine/Journal)Date: July 1, 2004Publisher: The Other SideVolume: 40 Issue: 4 Page: 9(1)

Bruce Main in
Up & Comers, Part 2November 11, 1996 Christianity Today

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/009/17.12.html
A More Demanding FaithChristian history is full of attempts to lead a more radical faith.by David Neff
September 2005, Vol. 49, No. 9, Page 12

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2096/is_1_55/ai_n13798048
On evangelicals and interfaith cooperation: an interview with Tony Campolo by Shane Claiborne
Cross Currents, Spring, 2005 by Shane Claiborne

Pittsburgh Ministry Sites Visited During Senior Capstone Trip

Pittsburgh:

North Way Community Church – megachurch of 5000 where my friend JR Kerr is teaching pastor. We spend almost every day for 9 days seeing different aspects of this church.

Pittsburgh Fellows - internship program

Pittsburgh Project Saleem Gabril (President of Pittsburgh Project) - neighborhood development

Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation and Pittsburgh Youth Network; John Stahlwert (President of Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation) - drawing city Christian leaders together.

B.J. Woodworth of The Open Door Emergent Church Plant (PCUSA)

Union Project - community center run by Christians

Hot Metal Bridge Emergent Church Plant

In the Blood Tattoo Parlor Newspaper article

World Vision Gifts in Kind - one branch of the biggest Christian organization in the world.

Urban Impact Ed Glover - community development especially ministry to kids using basketball and other means.

Summers Best Two Weeks Camp - huge camp facility about 2 hours from Pittsburgh.

Sam Deep (International Leadership Coach) - business consultant from Christian perspective

Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) - outreach to college campuses - known for its training and effectiveness.

Philadelphia Ministry Sites we visited during Senior Christian Ministry Capstone Trip

CrossWorld missions organization where we stayed at guesthouse

Palmer Theological Seminary - formerly known as Eastern Baptist Seminary. Good racial and gender mix where Keener and Sider teach.

Craig Keener - prolific outstanding New Testament scholar and commentary writer. Incredible personal story and expert in New Testament backgrounds. He is currently working on huge book of Acts commentary.

Ron Sider at Evangelicals for Social Action [Well-known evangelical social action advocate]

The Simple Way [urban poor, community living]

Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church (African-American, 5,000 attendance - people wait for an hour to get in. It is that good.)

Tenth Presbyterian Church [megachurch, PCA]

Aaron Messner (Minister of Preaching of 10th Pres). Historically famous church of Barnhouse and Boice in Philadelphia.

Dan Steinfield – Delaware County Christian School and Camp Teekna [huge suburban Christian school, and growing summer camp ministry]

Willowdale Chapel Greg Lafferty [Non-denom, medium-size; former jr. high pastor at Saddleback]

The Garage [Junior High Ministry, Community outreach to youth - especially Hispanic mushroom factory workers' children]

Andy Crouch [Christianity Today writer]

Westminster Theological Seminary [PCA - influenced independent seminary]

Manny Ortiz and Susan Baker at Westminster Theological Seminary - urban ministry experience

UrbanPromise with Bruce Main in Camden, NJ [urban ministry to youth, inner-city school]

Eastern University Tony Campolo EAPE - well known speaker

Scott and Fairlight Collins-Jones of Woodland Presbyterian Church [emergent, PCUSA, medium-size]

Other ministries in Philadelphia which we would have liked to visit:
BuildaBridge International
Campus Crusade Philly Metro- Home
Circle Of Hope Home Page
Covenant Fellowship Church- Welcome
Eastern University Duffy Robbins
Greater Exodus Baptist Church, Online.
liberti
Lutheran Settlement House
Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen
PhillyEmergent
Project H.O.M.E.
The Well - Feasterville, PA

Bibliography of Key Biblical Commentaries for Women in Ministry Issues

1 Timothy, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians and Genesis are the location for the main "problem passages" for women in ministry. Here are some of the most important commentaries on those books. 1 Timothy 2 Complementarian The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text (New International Greek Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)by George W. Knight Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (August 1, 1992)

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 46, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (mounce) (Hardcover)by William D. Mounce
Nelson Reference (May 1, 2000)

The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus: God's Good News for the World (The Bible Speaks Today) (Paperback)by John R. W. Stott
InterVarsity Press (June 1, 2001)

The First and Second Letters to Timothy : A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Anchor Bible) (Hardcover)by Luke Timothy Johnson
Anchor Bible; 1st ed edition (March 20, 2001)

Egalitarian

The Pastoral Epistles: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary (International Critical Commentary Series) (Paperback)by I. Howard Marshall
T. & T. Clark Publishers, Ltd. (July 22, 2004)

1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (Hardcover)by Walter L. Liefeld
Zondervan (August 1, 1999)

First and Second Timothy and Titus: Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Thomas C. Oden
J. Knox Press (November 1, 1989)

1-2 Timothy & Titus (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) (Hardcover)by Philip H. Towner
InterVarsity Press (May 1, 1994)

1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (Paperback)by Gordon D. Fee
Hendrickson Publishers (April 1, 1989)

1 Corinthians 11; 14:34-35

Complementarian

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Greek Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)by Anthony C. Thiselton
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (December 1, 2000)

1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by David E. Garland
Baker Academic (November 1, 2003)

1 Corinthians (Hardcover)by Craig L. Blomberg
Zondervan (April 10, 1995)

Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14 (Paperback)by D. A. Carson
Baker Academic (October 1, 1987)
Egalitarian

The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by Gordon Fee
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (July 1, 1987)

1-2 Corinthians (New Cambridge Bible Commentary) (Hardcover)by Craig S. Keener
Cambridge University Press (June 13, 2005)

First Corinthians (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Richard B. Hays
Westminster John Knox Press (September 1, 1997)

Ephesians 5:21-33

Complementarian

Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by Harold W. Hoehner
Baker Academic (January 1, 2003)

Egalitarian

The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (New International Commentary on the New Testament) (Hardcover)by F. F. Bruce
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (October 1, 1984)

Ephesians (IVP New Testament Commentary Series) (Hardcover)by Walter L. Liefeld
InterVarsity Press (March 1, 1997)

Ephesians (Hardcover)by Mr. Klyne Snodgrass
Zondervan (July 7, 1996)

Not Sure whether egalitarian or complementarian

The Letter to the Ephesians (Pillar New Testament Commentary) (Hardcover)by Peter T. O'Brien Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (October 1, 1999)

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 42, Ephesians (Hardcover)by Andrew T. Lincoln
Nelson Reference (November 6, 1990)

Ephesians: Translation and Commentary on Chapters 4-6 : Anchor Bible 34A (Anchor Bible) (Paperback)by Markus Barth
Anchor Bible (September 3, 1998)

Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Ralph P. Martin
Westminster John Knox Press (February 1, 1992)

Genesis 1-3

Genesis (Hardcover)by Bruce K. Waltke, Cathi J. Fredricks
Zondervan (August 1, 2001)

Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 1 Genesis 1-15 (wenham) 406pp (Hardcover)by Gordon J. Wenham
Nelson Reference (October 9, 1987)

Genesis: Interpretation : A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching) (Hardcover)by Walter Brueggemann
Westminster John Knox Press (March 1, 1982)

Genesis 1-11: A Continental Commentary (Hardcover)by Claus Westermann
Augsburg Fortress Publishers; 1st Fortress Press ed edition (May 1, 1994)

The Book of Genesis (New International Commentary on the Old Testament Series) 1-17 (Hardcover)by Victor P. Hamilton
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (November 1, 1990)

The New American Commentary: Genesis 1-11:26 (New American Commentary) (Hardcover)by Kenneth A. Mathews
Broadman & Holman Publishers (January 1, 1996)

Genesis (Hardcover)by Dr. John H. Walton
Zondervan (October 1, 2001)

Women in Ministry Bibliography

Egalitarian and Complementarian

Egalitarian: http://www.cbeinternational.org/

Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity Without Hierarchy (Paperback)by Ronald W. Pierce (Editor), Rebecca Merrill Groothuis (Editor), Gordon D. Fee (Editor)
InterVarsity Press; 2nd edition (August 1, 2005)
The most comprehensive, scholarly, and recent (2005) presentation of the biblical egalitarian view. Contra: The Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood’s response at http://www.cbmw.org/journal/editions/10-1.pdf

Two Views on Women in Ministry (Paperback)by Craig Blomberg, Thomas R. Schreiner, James R. Beck, Ann L. Bowman, Linda L. Belleville, Craig Keener
Zondervan (June 1, 2001)
Excellent and updated essays by excellent scholars Linda Belleville and Craig Keener

Paul, Women, and Wives: Marriage and Women's Ministry in the Letters of Paul (Paperback)by Craig S. Keener
Hendrickson Publishers (November 1, 1992)
Craig Keener is an excellent commentator whose speciality is backgrounds. Make sure you get the version with the new 2004 preface.

A Mind for What Matters: Collected Essays (Paperback)by F. F. Bruce
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (November 1, 1990)
See chapter 17 "Women in the Church: A Biblical Survey." This essay is also available at the Christians for Biblical Equality website http://www.cbeinternational.org/new/free_articles/ffbruce.shtml

Listening to the Spirit in the Text (Paperback)by Gordon D. Fee
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (September 1, 2000)
See chapter 6: "Gender Issues: Reflections on the Perspective of the Apostle Paul."

Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry (Paperback)by Stanley J. Grenz, Denise Muir Kjesbo
InterVarsity Press (November 1, 1995)
A prolific evangelical theologian weighs in and summarizes the issues

Slaves, Women & Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis (Paperback)by William J. Webb
InterVarsity Press (May 1, 2001)
An excellent work exploring the important hermeneutical issues.

Gender & Grace: Love Work & Parenting in a Changing World (Paperback)by Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen
InterVarsity Press (May 1, 1990)
The classic work by the brilliant scholar asking how far psychological data supports the idea of natually different roles for men and women.

Women Leaders and the Church: 3 Crucial Questions (3 Crucial Questions) (Paperback)by Linda L. Belleville
Baker Books (March 15, 2000)
This is a fairly popular work. Her more technical work is in Discovering Biblical Equality and the Two Views book.

Dictionary of New Testament Background (Hardcover)by Craig A. Evans (Editor), Stanley E. Porter (Editor)
InterVarsity Press (November 1, 2000)
See Keener's articles on "Marriage," "Family and Household," and "Headcoverings."

Finally Feminist: A Pragmatic Christian Understanding of Gender (Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology) (Paperback)by John G., Jr. Stackhouse
Baker Academic (December 1, 2005)

Good News for Women: A Biblical Picture of Gender Equality (Paperback)by Rebecca Merrill Groothuis
Baker Books (January 1, 1997)

Women Caught in the Conflict: The Culture War Between Traditionalism and Feminism (Paperback)by Rebecca M. Groothuis
Wipf & Stock Publishers (July 1, 1997)

Junia: The First Woman Apostle (Paperback)by Eldon Jay Epp
Augsburg Fortress Publishers (October 1, 2005)

A Woman's Place: House Churches In Earliest Christianity (Paperback)by Carolyn Osiek, Margaret Y. MacDonald, Janet H. Tulloch
Fortress Press (November 1, 2005)

The Journey Back to Eden : Restoring the Creator's Design for Women and Men (Paperback)by Glen G. Scorgie
Zondervan (October 1, 2005)

The Fall of Patriarchy: Its Broken Legacy Judged by Jesus & the Apostolic House Church Communities (Paperback)by Del Birkey
Fenestra Books (February 1, 2005)

Familiar "Leadership" Heresies Uncovered (Paperback)by Bruce C. E. Fleming
Wipf & Stock Publishers (January 1, 2005)

Putting Women in Their Place: Moving Beyond Gender Stereotypes in Church and Home (Paperback)by Joe E. Trull (Editor), Audra E. Trull (Editor)
Smyth & Helwys Publishing (June 1, 2003)

Woman Be Free (Paperback)by Patricia Gundry
Suitcase Books (June 1, 1977)

Courage And Hope: The Stories of Ten Baptist Women Ministers (Baptists) (Paperback)by Pamela R. Durso (Editor), Keith E. Durso (Editor)
Mercer University Press (September 30, 2005)

Instruments for His Glory: Releasing Women to Minister in Harmony with God and Manby Joyce Strong
Charisma House (July 1, 1999)

Is It I, Lord?: Discerning God's Call to Be a Pastor (Paperback)by James O. Chatham
Westminster John Knox Press (December 1, 2002)

A Time for Risking: Priorities for Women (Paperback)by Miriam Adeney
Multnomah Pub (July 1, 1987)

Middle:

Men and Women in the Church: Building Consensus on Christian Leadership (Paperback)by Sarah Sumner
InterVarsity Press (March 1, 2003)

Complementarian: http://www.cbmw.org/

Two Views on Women in Ministry (Paperback)by Craig Blomberg, Thomas R. Schreiner, James R. Beck, Ann L. Bowman, Linda L. Belleville, Craig Keener
Zondervan (June 1, 2001)

The Feminist Gospel: The Movement to Unite Feminism With the Church (Paperback)by Mary A. Kassian
Crossway Books (April 1, 1992)

Man and Woman in Christian Perspective (Paperback)by Werner Neuer
Crossway Books; 1st U.S. ed edition (February 1, 1991)

Biblical Foundations for Manhood and Womanhood (Foundations for the Family Series) (Paperback)by Wayne A. Grudem (editor)
Crossway Books (November 1, 2002)

The Role of Women in Ministry Today (Paperback)by H. Wayne House
Thomas Nelson Inc (March 1, 1990)

Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth : An Analysis of More Than 100 Disputed Questions (Paperback)by Wayne Grudem
Multnomah (November 4, 2004)

Man and Woman in Christ: An Examination of the Roles of Men and Women in Light of Scripture and the Social Sciences (Hardcover)by Stephen B. Clark
Servant Pubns (June 1, 1980)

Leadership for Women in the Church (Paperback)by Susan Hunt, Peggy Hutcheson
Zondervan (October 20, 1991)

Equality in Christ?: Galatians 3:28 and the Gender Dispute (Paperback)by Richard Hove
Crossway Books (September 1, 1999)

Biblical Womanhood in the Home (Foundations for the Family Series) (Paperback)by Nancy Leigh Demoss (Editor)
Crossway Books (January 1, 2002)

Building Strong Families (Foundations for the Family Series) (Paperback)by Dennis Rainey (Editor)

The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective (Paperback)by Martha Peace
Focus Publishing (September 1, 1996)

Called to Womanhood: The Biblical View for Today's World (Focal Point) (Paperback)by Beth Impson
Crossway Books (June 1, 2001)

Where's Mom?: The High Calling of Wives and Mothers (Paperback)by Dorothy Kelley Patterson
Crossway Books (June 1, 2003)

The Feminist Mistake: The Radical Impact Of Feminism On Church And Culture (Paperback)by Mary Kassian
Crossway Books (May 30, 2005)

Different by Design (Macarthur Study Series) (Paperback)by John, Jr. MacArthur
Chariot Victor Publishing (June 1, 1994)

Different by Design: God's Master Plan for Harmony Between Men and Women in Marriage (Paperback)by H. Dale Burke
Moody Publishers (March 1, 2003)

Does Christianity Squash Women?: A Christian Looks at Womanhood (Paperback)by Rebecca Jones
Broadman & Holman Publishers (August 1, 2005)

Embracing Authority: Learning to Live Joyfully in God's World (Paperback)by John Kitchen
Christian Focus (September 1, 2002)

Gender Roles and the Bible: Creation, the Fall, and Redemption a Critique of Feminist Biblical Interpretation (Paperback)by Jack W. Cottrell
College Press Publishing Company (December 1, 1994)

God, Marriage, And Family: Rebuilding the Biblical Foundation (Paperback)by Andreas Kostenberger, David W. Jones
Crossway Books (November 11, 2004)

Male Spiritual Leadership (Paperback)by F. Lagard Smith
21st Century Christian (October 1, 1998)

Men and Women, Equal Yet Different: A Brief Study of the Biblical Passages on Gender (Paperback)by Alexander Strauch
Lewis & Roth Publishers (September 1, 1999)

Pastoral Leadership for Manhood and Womanhood (Foundations of the Family) (Paperback)by Wayne A. Grudem (Editor), Dennis Rainey (Editor)
Crossway Books (February 1, 2003)

Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Paperback)by John Piper, Wayne A. Grudem (Editor)
Crossway Books (April 1, 1991)

Rocking the Roles: Building a Win-Win Marriage (Paperback)by Robert Lewis, William Hendricks
Navpress Publishing Group; Rev Update edition (January 1, 1999)

Role Relationships of Men and Women: New Testament Teaching (Paperback)by George W. Knight III
P & R Publishing (June 1, 1989)

What's the difference?: Manhood and womanhood defined according to the Bible (CBMW practical living series) (Unknown Binding)by John Piper
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (January 1, 1989)

Women and Men in Ministry: A Complementary Perspective (Hardcover)by Robert L. Saucy (Editor), Judith Tenelshof (Editor)
Moody Publishers (May 1, 2001)

Women, Creation, and the Fall (Paperback)by Mary A. Kassian
Crossway Books (March 1, 1990)

Women and Ministry: What the Bible Teaches (Paperback)by Daniel M. Doriani
Crossway Books (April 1, 2003)

Women In The Church: An Analysis And Application Of 1 Timothy 2:9-15 (Paperback)by Andreas J. Kostenberger (Editor), Thomas R. Schreiner (Editor)
Baker Academic; 2nd edition (August 1, 2005)